About Moonbeam

Presented by Jenkins Group and Independent Publisher Online, the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards are designed to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading. Awards will be given in 30 categories covering the full range of subjects, styles and age groups that children’s books are written and published in today.

As our society has become more complex and growing up more complicated, children’s book authors and publishers have risen to the occasion, creating books that not only celebrate the joys of childhood, but also help kids and families deal with its challenges. The Moonbeam Awards will recognize and reward the best of these books and bring them to the attention of parents, booksellers, librarians – and to children themselves.

The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards are presented by publishing services company Jenkins Group, Inc. of Traverse City, Michigan. Jenkins Group has been involved in book packaging, marketing and distribution since 1988, and many of its founders and employees now have children and grandchildren who strongly influence the company culture with their youthful exuberance and love of books.

2008 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards Guidelines

Who May Enter
Authors, illustrators, publishers and self-publishers of children’s books, written in English and intended for the North American market. Print-On-Demand and other independent authors are welcome to enter their books themselves.

Eligibility
Books that are published with a 2007 or 2008 copyright or that were released in 2007 or 2008 are eligible. 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.

Submission for more than one category is acceptable. 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. All books entered become the physical property of Independent Publisher Online and will eventually be donated to local libraries and charities.

Judging Process
Judging will be based on content, originality, design, and production quality, with emphasis on innovation and social relevance. Our judging panel includes experts from the fields of editing, design, reviewing, bookselling and library. Three to six semi-finalists per category will be named on about October 3rd; final results to be announced October 17th, 2008.

Deadline
All entries must be made online or postmarked by August 16, 2008. We will confirm your entry via email.

Awards
A gold medal will be awarded to the winner of each category; runners-up in each category will receive silver medals. Honorable mentions in each category will receive bronze medals. Gold, silver and bronze seals will be available to all in their appropriate award levels.