Guidelines & Eligibility

CLICK HERE to download printable mail-in entry form.

CLICK HERE to enter online.

Who May Enter

Authors, illustrators, publishers and self-publishers of children's books, written in English and Spanish. Authors and illustrators are welcome to enter their books themselves.

Eligibility

Books that are published with a 2022-2024 copyright are eligible. The contest is for published books, but ISBN is not required. Submission of galley copies is permissible if finished copies are not yet available. Publishers are to select the category or categories in which the book(s) should be judged.

E-books are eligible for entry into our e-book categories, and may also be entered into our regular subject categories where they will be judged alongside print books. E-book categories are $55 when added to a regular category; otherwise the entry fee is the same as regular categories when entering an e-book category only. They may be submitted electronically in PDF format. When you enter an e-book category, you will have the option to upload your e-book after you pay online and receive a confirmation email.

How to Enter

There are two ways to enter the awards. Enter online here to pay by credit card. Or, print and fill out this entry form to pay by check. Please include your online registration receipt or completed entry form and check in the same package as the books -- unless you choose to have books shipped directly from a supplier. In that case, have them use "Moonbeam Awards" in the mailing address and we will know to look up your online entry and print out a copy when books arrive. To ensure you get your confirmation and are updated through the judging process, please add moonbeam[at]jgibookawards.com, notifier[at]jgibookawards.com, and amys[at]jenkinsgroupinc.com to your email address book and check your spam folder for any potentially missed communications.

Submission and Fees

Submitting a title into more than one category is acceptable, but an entry fee is charged for each category entered. Submit two copies of the title per category entered. For example, when you enter two categories, please send four books; when entering three categories, please send six books. Mail books to:

Moonbeam Awards 2024
Jenkins Group
1129 Woodmere Ave - Suite B
Traverse City, MI 49686

All books entered become the physical property of the Jenkins Group and will eventually be donated to local libraries and charities. E-book entries will be erased after the awards results are announced.

Deadline

All entries must be either made online or mailed with a check by the final entry deadline of August 11, 2024, and then there is a ten-day grace period for books to arrive at our offices. So, the 'drop-deadline' is August 21, 2024 and the beginning of judging.

Judging Process

Judging will be based on content, originality, design, and production quality, with emphasis on innovation and creativity. Our judging panel includes experts from the fields of editing, design, reviewing, bookselling and library. Three to five medalists per category will be named on or about September 28, 2024. Awards will be presented during the Traverse City Children's Book Festival in Traverse City, Michigan on November 9, 2024. All medalists and their guests are invited to attend the event.

Awards and Presentation

Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded in each category. Each winning book receives a medal, a personalized certificate, and 20 sample seals. Extra award seals are available to all medalists in rolls of 250 and 1000, and hi-res versions of the medalist artwork is available for purchase for reproduction on book covers and promotional materials. Preview merchandise here.

Award Ceremony and Book Festival

The awards ceremony is held on the evening of the Traverse City Children's Book Festival, a family-oriented gathering of authors and book lovers, packed with entertaining activities meant to inspire kids' love of books. The Festival is held at the historic Traverse City Opera House and is tied in with Shop Your Community Day, a high-traffic shopping day.

"I am thrilled to have received a 2020 gold medal from Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. It’s such an honor to be included among your winners. Your reputation and critical acclaim as an award company are already helping us reach a broader audience of kids and grown-ups, especially through social media. And the award merchandise you offer is just beautiful. The metallic foil seals look great on my book cover. I am so glad I entered your contest and even gladder to have won. Thank you again for this award and for helping us spread our message about the environment."

- Lorie Givens, author of Pogo the Porpoise with a Purpose, 2020 Medalist

"My book is now in Barnes and Noble, Books Inc. in the San Francisco Airport, several independent bookstores and at least 10 libraries (and counting). Many libraries won’t purchase from indie authors/publishers unless the novel has some critical acclaim and have won awards. Winning a Moonbeam Children’s Book Award has made my marketing journey a lot easier. Thank You."

- Veda Ramsay, 2015 Medalist

"I am happy to report I am now on my second printing of Tator’s Swamp Fever after selling out over 4,000 copies! There is no doubt the Moonbeam Award I won has helped my sales. I have taken advantage of you’re marketing, your plaques and use your gold sticker seals on my books."

- Diane Shapley-Box, 2014 Medalist

"I want to share how happy I am to have received the Moonbeam Children's Book Award! On Sunday I was contacted by a Regional Museum, and have already fulfilled their first order. They're very excited to have the book on hand for the holidays. I'm fulfilling orders daily, and can tell you that doors are opening as a result of winning the award. It does make a difference!"

- Mary Martin Weyand, 2015 Medalist

"Thanks for these award opportunities. I can’t tell you how inspired my daughter has been because of Moonbeam. It makes a real difference."

- Chuck Duffie, father of Nora Duffie, 2015 Medalist