CHANDLER, AZ (June, 2012) - In a contest where judges rarely give even one book a perfect score, it is astounding to note that seven entries in the third annual Purple Dragonfly Book Awards competition earned a perfect 80 out of 80 possible points.

Perfect scores were given to these first-place winners: Nate Rocks the World by Karen Pokras Toz for the Chapter Book category, also the $300 Grand Prize winner; Wilson Learns Manners! by Susan Castriota for Charity/Making a Difference; Our Salt Water Aquarium by Tom and Gretchen Stuckey for Picture Book Ages 6 and Older; and a four-way tie in the Picture Book Ages 5 & Younger category between Chippy Chipmunk: Babies in the Garden by Kathy M. Miller, Over in the Forest: Come Take a Peek by Marianne Berkes, Jo MacDonald Saw a Pond by Mary Quattlebaum, also the $100 drawing winner, and Jo MacDonald Had a Garden, also by Quattlebaum.

"Our judges really had their work cut out for them this year," says Linda F. Radke, president of Five Star Publications, Inc., the sponsor of the Dragonfly Book Awards. "We had an unprecedented number of high quality, deserving entries."

The other first-place winners are: I Am Stumped by Lisa Rivard in the School Issues Category, Chippy Chipmunk: Babies in the Garden for the Animals/Pets category, Moon Over Bioko: Sea Turtles of Bioko Island by author Heidi Rader and illustrator Holly Smith for Best Illustrations, Twisted: Tales to Rot Your Brain Vol. 1 by Nora Thompson for Fiction Collection of Short Stories, Would You Still Love Me IF... by Danielle Leibovici for the General category, Queen Vernita Visits the Islands of Enchantment by Dawn Menge for Outdoor Recreation, Chippy Chipmunk: Babies in the Garden for Photography.

"Judging a book contest by the point rating system is the fairest way to run things because if five entries in one category share the same first-place score, we award all five of them first-place certificates rather than drawing straws and penalizing the other four entries," explains Radke. �Plus, a minimum score of 72 out of 80 is required for a first-place award, 64 out of 80 for a second place and 56 out of 80 for an honorable mention - even if there is only one book entered in a category � which means the scores are truly reflective of the quality of the books that win."

The Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, which honors all genres of books in 50 categories, is currently in progress with an October 1, 2012 deadline. However, Royal Dragonfly submissions postmarked August 1, 2012 or earlier are eligible for the Early Bird reward: a free e-copy of The Economical Guide to Self-Publishing or Promote Like a Pro: Small Budget, Big Show. The fourth annual Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest is already underway with a March 1, 2013 early bird deadline and May 1, 2013 final deadline. There is no publication date restriction as long as the titles entered are still in print. For complete winners' lists including second placers and honorable mention, rules and entry forms for the contests, visit www.FiveStarBookAwards.com. For more details on Five Star Publications, email info@FiveStarPublications.com or call 480-940-8182.