Source: Raab Associates

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators has just announced that The Golden Kite Awards, given annually to recognize excellence in children’s literature, will, beginning with the 2006 competition, grant cash prizes of $2,500 to author and illustrator winners in four categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Picture Book Text, and Picture Book Illustration.

SCBWI’s Board has also made the unprecedented decision to recognize the work of editors and art directors who play pivotal roles in shaping the Golden Kite-winning books. Editors of winning books will receive $1,000, and for the winning book in the Picture Book Illustration category, an additional $1,000 will be given to the book’s art director. Authors and illustrators will also receive an expense-paid trip to Los Angeles to attend the award ceremony at the Golden Kite Luncheon at SCBWI’s Summer Conference in August.

“Editors and art directors are a vital force in the creation of quality books for children, but are not recognized by other award committees. We wanted to honor their commitment to quality literature,” said SCBWI President Stephen Mooser.

“It’s critical for the public to know about the best books for children,” added Mooser. To that end, SCBWI will produce a half hour film featuring the four winning books and their creators. The film, which will include interviews with winning authors and illustrators, will be distributed on DVD to 1,000 outlets for promotion, including chain bookstores, independent bookstores, reviewers, and television, radio and print media. SCBWI will also work with publishers to see that Golden Kite recipient books are promoted across all media.

“It is our priority to see that the Golden Kite Awards become nationally recognized, so that they will eventually translate into increased book sales,” commented SCBWI Executive Director Lin Oliver. “We hope that making this promotional film available on a wide basis will assist publishers and booksellers in bringing the Golden Kite books to the attention of the public.”

In addition to the four Golden Kite Award winners, four honor book recipients will also be named by the panel of judges which consists of children’s book writers and illustrators. Instituted in 1972, the Golden Kite Awards are the only children’s literary award judged by a jury of peers. More than 1,000 books are entered each year. Eligible books must be written or illustrated by SCBWI members, and submitted either by publishers or individuals. Submission guidelines for the 2006 awards are available at www.scbwi.org/gkinfo.htm.