Szilvia S. Jennings Receives National Recognition Through the NYC Big Book Award®

Award-Winning Children’s Book Sophie Moon and the Honeybees Inspires Young Readers to Build Courage and Connect with Nature

COLUMBUS, OH, UNITED STATES, September 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Sophie Moon and the Honeybees , an uplifting children’s early chapter book authored by Szilvia S. Jennings, has officially been named a Distinguished Favorite at the 2026 NYC Big Book Awards. Celebrated for its unique blend of emotional resilience and environmental science, the book provides young readers with a heartwarming roadmap for conquering fears through the quiet wisdom of the natural world.

The NYC Big Book Award recognized the STEM, intergenerational bonding, mindfulness, personal growth, and environmental stewardship themes contained in Sophie Moon and the Honeybees, and awarded Jennings a Distinguished Favorite in the category of Childrens Inspirational.

The competition is judged by experts from different aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, designers, booksellers, librarians and professional copywriters. Winners and distinguished favorites are based on overall excellence.

Sophie Moon and the Honeybees is a charming and educational story about personal growth. It begins with nine-year-old Sophie Moon who spends spring break at her grandfather’s log cabin expecting a new puppy, only to be surprised with a package of honeybees to install in a new hive. Though initially disappointed, her curiosity takes over as she dives into the world of beekeeping under her grandfather's loving guidance. As the school year unfolds across the passing seasons, Sophie turns to the beehives for solace, finding that "whispering to the bees" helps her navigate shifting friendships, conquer her personal anxieties, and discover the confidence to overcome her greatest fears.

The book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IngramSpark, Tertulia, and other fine online book retailers.

NYC Big Book Award received book submissions worldwide. Attorneys, Doctors, Entrepreneurs, Film & Television writers, Historians, and Journalists, from well established authors to first time indie authors as well as small and large presses participated.

Entries this year were received from the United States as well as countries such as Australia, Canada, China, Dubai, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea United, Sweden, Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Cities represented among the entries were Auckland, Baltimore, Dallas, Frankfurt, Hollywood, Johannesburg, Manhattan Beach, New Orleans, NYC, Philadelphia, Sydney, and West Palm Beach.

Publishers included Beacon Press, Berrett-Koehler, Casemate, Edinburgh University Press, Forbes Books, Kiplinger Books, NYU Press, Palgrave Macmillan, Penguin Random House, Rizzoli, Routledge, The White House Historical Association, University of California Press, University of Nebraska Press, Weaving Influence Press, and Wiley.

We have an amazing list of authors from around the globe participating this year, said awards sponsor Gabby Olczak. I’m so excited to share these books with a worldwide readership!

To view the list of NYC Big Book winners and distinguished favorites, please visit: https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/

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About Szilvia S. Jennings
Szilvia S. Jennings lives in rural Ohio with her husband and seven busy honeybee hives. Her middle school years were greatly influenced by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince. Taming the fox to make friends with, taking care of the rose with kindness are great ethos to live by.

Her first debut middle-grade chapter book, Sophie Moon and the Honeybees, reflects the patience, kindness, and fortitude needed to achieve personal wishes and dreams. These dreams included mastering the English language besides Hungarian, a little French and Chinese. She also holds a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics and years of experience teaching children the magic of stories and the English language.

She loves spending time outdoors in all seasons, harvesting honey and coming up with fresh story ideas on sleepless nights.

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NYC Big Book Award, https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/, is announced every fall. NYC Big Book Award is open to all authors, publishers, and illustrators, and includes submissions from the big five publishers. Join us for the Independent Press Award, deadlines every December 15th, is open to independent authors and publishers, visit: https://www.independentpressaward.com/winners

And, join us for the Awards Dinner on April 10th, https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/awardsdinner, held at the BookCAMP event, April 9-10, 2027, https://www.ipabookcamp.com, where recipients from both programs will walk on stage to receive their awards. )"

Gabby Olczak
NYC Big Book Award
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