About Us
About Us
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Celebrating Youthful Curiosity and Discovery
Through Books and Reading Since 2006
Our Mission
The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards shine a light on exceptional children’s literature and the talented creators behind them, recognizing the importance of fostering a love for reading among young audiences. Our mission is to celebrate works that inspire imagination, promote diversity, and encourage lifelong learning. By honoring authors, illustrators, and publishers who contribute valuable insights and engaging stories, we acknowledge their dedication to nurturing the next generation’s love for books. Each award highlights the transformative power of storytelling and the vital role these creators play in shaping the future of children’s literature.
Our Entrants
Our Beginnings and Growth
The inaugural Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards drew a total of 862 entries from authors and publishers in 45 U.S. states, 6 Canadian provinces, and 7 countries overseas. An awards presentation was held in conjunction with the 2007 Children’s Humanities Festival in Chicago.
The 2nd annual Moonbeam Awards attracted over 1,000 entries, and the awards ceremony was held in Denver, Colorado, during the American Library Association mid-winter conference. Our 3rd annual awards presentation event took place as part of the West Virginia Book Festival in Charleston, West Virginia.
Today, the Moonbeam Awards receives thousands of entries per year from over 20 countries.
Our Staff
Amy Shamroe
Book Awards Director
231.933.2934
Amy has been with Jenkins Group for more than 15 years now. Books have always been a huge part of her life, and her favorite thing about her job is connecting with authors and hearing their stories! Contact her for questions about book award categories, deadlines, the process, or other awards opportunities.
Emily Slater
Book Awards Director
231.360.2954
Emily has been with Jenkins Group since 2021, working in both Book Awards and Book Distribution. Her degree in communications, coupled with a lifelong love of books, drives her passion for connecting people and their stories to a broader audience.
She enjoys spending time with family and friends and connecting with her local community through volunteer work. She and her husband are co-circus wranglers of four kids and three pony-sized dogs.
Jerrold Jenkins
Founder & CEO
231.883.5365
In 1988, Jerrold founded Jenkins Group, a leading publishing services firm that assists individuals and corporations with custom solutions tailored to fit a variety of budgets and timelines.
Driven by a passion for honoring the year’s best books, Jerrold launched a series of book awards programs in 1996. Today, Jenkins Group proudly presents six prestigious book award contests: the Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards, Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, Axiom Book Awards, Axiom Business Book Awards, eLit Book Awards, and Axiom Christian Book Awards.
A graduate of Alma College, Jenkins worked as a financial and investment management group account executive before his publishing career.
Jim Kalajian
President & COO
231.933.0445 ext. 1006
Jim oversees the daily operations at Jenkins Group, ensuring seamless workflows across both customer-facing and back-office functions, with a focus on the custom book publishing and book awards divisions.
He joined the company in 1999, bringing over a decade of operational and organizational change experience from his time at the leading consulting firm, Accenture. Jim applies his expertise in finance, IT, process management, human resources, and communication across all teams within Jenkins Group. His skills in problem-solving, project planning, change management, and quantitative analysis drive continuous improvement for both clients and employees.
Jim holds a B.S. in Engineering Arts from Michigan State University.