2025 American Legacy Book Award Winner
We are delighted to announce that Miss Dorothy’s Garden: 9 BEE Attitudes to Grow By is a WINNER in the Best Cover Design, Children’s Nonfiction category of the 2025 American Legacy Book Awards—and also named a FINALIST for Children’s Picture Book Hardcover Fiction!
That’s right—our beautiful book is being recognized in both form and content! 🎉
This prestigious national contest, presented by American Book Fest, celebrates Independent & Mainstream Excellence in Publishing—and this year’s winners were selected from thousands of entries from around the world. Miss Dorothy’s Garden stood proudly among books from powerhouse publishers like Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Scholastic, Wiley, Hachette, and more.
Jeffrey Keen, President and CEO of American Book Fest, noted the incredible competition this year, saying the 2025 contest yielded “thousands of entries from authors and publishers around the world, which were then narrowed down to the final results.”
🔗 See the full list of winners and finalists here.
Why This Win Matters
This honor is another joyful milestone in our journey to share Dorothy Witherspoon’s legacy of service, kindness, and community impact with children and families around the world.
As you may know, Miss Dorothy’s Garden was inspired by Dorothy’s 100-year legacy of faith, family, and public service—including nearly 40 years as a psychiatric emergency nurse and her leadership in education, mental health, and the church.
These new awards recognize not only the heart behind the story—but also the exceptional talent of our creative team:
Author: Gwendolyn Faye
Illustrator: Robin Swaby
Publisher: Myriad Press
Program Host: Vivid Academy
Our Mission is Blooming
This recognition comes on the heels of being named a finalist in the 2024 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards in the Picture Books, Early Reader category and the 2025 Next Generation INDIE Book Awards in the Children's Picture Book (Non-Fiction) (All Ages) and Children's Picture Book #OurVoices categories.
Each honor helps us grow the Miss Dorothy’s Garden Legacy Project—including our BEE Buddy Program, Garden Parties, and MyStoryBook Workshops for children in the U.S. and South Africa.
Every award fuels our work.
Every reader helps us sow kindness.
Every partner takes this movement farther.
Ready to help us grow a garden of kindness?
🌱 Become a Sponsor
📘 Buy the Book
📥 Download a BEE Buddy Guide
