The 2016 edition of . . . THE CROOKIES!

Welcome to the second annual edition of The Little Crooked Cottage Book Awards — otherwise known as ...

THE CROOKIES! 

The Cottagers have been busy considering all the brilliant titles on our Little Crooked Bookshelf, and we’ve carefully chosen winners for each respective category. Without further ado, the envelopes, please …

Most versatile protagonist: Apple from What’s an Apple? by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli

Coolest hair on a bear: Big Puff's afro in the Super Happy Party Bears series by Marcie Colleen

Most (eventually) lovable villain: The Snurtch from The Snurtch by Sean Farrell, illustrated by Charles Santos

Best one-liner: "Whishhhhh.” —Boggan from The Wish Tree by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Chris Turnham

Most stylishly accessorized milk carton: Milk from Milk Goes to School by Terry Border

The MVP Award, for most valuable picture book element: The removable pancake from Pancakes! An Interactive Recipe Book, illustrated by Lotta Nieminen

Mr. Pig's Pig of the Year: Peddles from Peddles by Elizabeth Rose Stanton

BFFs we'd most like to invite us to a sleepover party: Penny & Jelly from Penny & Jelly: Slumber Under the Stars by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Thyra Header

Squiggliest plot twist: I o U . . . .vvVVvv^ (translation: Oh, no! It’s a shark!) from A Squiggly Story by Andrew Larsen and Mike Lower

Most beautiful cover: Beautiful by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Joanne Lew Vriethoff

Best soundtrack: Punk Skunks by Trisha Speed Shaskan and Stephen Shaskan

Most adorable duo: Ella and Penguin from Ella and Penguin Stick Together by Megan Maynor,  illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet

Stinkiest protagonist: Smelly Baby from Lucy's Lovey by Betsy Devany, illustrated by Christopher Denise

Best adapted (from real life) picture book: Toby by Hazel Mitchell

Most gorgeously illustrated maps: Charles Darwin's Around The World Adventure by Jennifer Thermes

Loudest barker: Emerson from Emerson Barks by Liza Woodruff

And finally, the character least likely to have asked to be in this list: Snappsy from Snappsy the Alligator by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Tim Miller

CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners, and to all the children's book characters, authors, & illustrators we’ve hosted at the Cottage this year. Keep up the good work, and best wishes to you and yours (and whatever amazing new books you’re working on) in 2017!