2009 MOONBEAM CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARDS

By Press Release - Jun 17 , 2009

The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards are well under way and quickly approaching the end of our early bird savings entry deadline on June 20th.

The third annual Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards honor the year’s best children’s books, authors and illustrators. The program is accepting entries until August 8th, 2009 for books with 2008 or 2009 copyrights or that were released in 2008 or 2009. They are open to authors, illustrators, and publishers of children’s books written in English or Spanish and intended for the North American market.

To learn more about the awards, visit our links below:

Online entry form: CLICK HERE!

Print out guidelines and entry PDF: CLICK HERE!

See last year’s Moonbeam Awards results and photos: CLICK HERE!

Download last year’s Moonbeam Awards event program (8-page PDF): CLICK HERE!

Visit the Moonbeam Awards merchandise site: CLICK HERE!

Presented by Jenkins Group and Independent Publisher Online, the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and support childhood literacy and life-long reading. Awards are given in 36 categories covering the full range of subjects, styles and age groups that children’s books are written and published in today.

The 2008 contest attracted 1,085 entries, and 138 Moonbeam medals were awarded to authors and publishers from 30 U.S. states, four Canadian provinces, and four countries overseas.

Early-bird entry fee deadline is June 20th ($85 fee); the final deadline is August 8, 2009 ($95 fee). **Note that this cut-off date is two weeks earlier than originally announced.**

Judging is based on content, originality, design, and production quality, with emphasis on social relevance and age appropriateness. Our judging panels include experts from the fields of editing, design, teaching, bookselling and library, and many categories are judged by teachers and their students. Results will be announced on September 15th, 2009 and presented during the West Virginia Book Festival in Charleston, WV on October 10, 2009.

2009 MOONBEAM CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARDS CATEGORIES

1. Board Book/Cloth Book
2. Alphabet/Counting Book
3. Pop-up/Cut-out
4. Activity Book 1 – Games, Arts & Crafts, etc.
5. Activity Book 2 – Educational, Science, History
6. Book with Music/Theatrical
7. Picture Book – Preschool
8. Picture Book – 4-8 Year Old
9. Picture Book – All Ages
10. Juvenile Fiction – Early Reader/1st Chapter books
11. Pre-Teen Fiction – General
12. Pre-Teen Fiction – Fantasy
13. Pre-Teen Fiction – Historical/Cultural
14. Young Adult Fiction – General
15. Young Adult Fiction – Fantasy/Sci-Fi
16. Young Adult Fiction – Horror/Mystery
17. Young Adult Fiction – Historical/Cultural
18. Young Adult Fiction – Religion/Spirituality
19. Young Adult Fiction – Mature Issues
20. Children’s Poetry
21. Non-Fiction – Picture book
22. Non-Fiction – Young Adult
23. Multicultural – Picture book
24. Multicultural Non-Fiction – Young Adult
25. Comic/Graphic Novel
26. Religion/Spirituality
27. Holiday
28. Book with Merchandise (plush toy, etc.)
29. Spanish Language Book
30. Environmental Issues
31. Health Issues
32. Mind-Body-Spirit/Self-Esteem
33. Reading Skills/Literacy
34. Best First Book (by an author) – Picture Book
35. Best First Book (by an author) – Chapter Book
36. Best Illustrator

For more information contact: Jim Barnes, Awards Director
ph: 1.800.706.4636 x1011 email: info_at_moonbeamawards_dot_com