Sky Lantern Contest
Sky Lantern Award
Winners announced on February 4th, 2025
The Sky Lantern Award celebrates the brilliance of children’s literature designed to illuminate young minds. This accolade honors outstanding picture books that not only captivate through storytelling but also inspire and educate. As we look to the sky for guidance, these books, like lanterns, light the way for young readers, fostering a love for learning and exploration.
The Sky Lantern Award is a beacon of recognition in the vast expanse of children’s literature, encompassing the wide spectrum of picture books. From narratives that inspire young readers to explore new worlds to educational tales that spark curiosity, this award celebrates the kaleidoscope of storytelling within the picture book genre. Each book, like a lantern in the sky, contributes its unique brilliance to the literary constellation.
Join us in celebrating the magic of picture books that, like sky lanterns, inspire the imagination of young readers, creating a luminous path towards a lifelong love of literature with the Sky Lantern Award.
Guidelines
Who May Enter
Authors, illustrators, and publishers worldwide are eligible to enter their children’s books. Works must be written in English or bilingual with English and have an October 2022-2024 copyright.
Award Divisions:
- Self-Published
- Traditionally Published
- Youth Author (Ages 13-18)
- Debut Author: Authors publishing their first book
Eligibility
- Submitted books must have been published between 2022 and 2024 and be available for purchase.
- We reserve the right to revoke any award if the guidelines are not followed.
- The book must be available for purchase when the award is announced around the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Book Criteria
- Only physical books are accepted; ebooks are not considered at this time.
- There are no specific categories; however, the submitted book must be illuminating, offering inspiration, education, and engagement.
- The book must contain an ISBN and be available for purchase.
- This award is only available for books for young readers. Picture books, flap books, popup books, board books are all accepted.
How to Enter
- Fill out the entry form online.
- Make payment and submit.
- Send two copies of your book to:
Babooky Contests
Sky Lantern
8977 S 1300 W #3002
West Jordan, UT 84088
USA
- All entries must be postmarked by the final entry deadline of December 31, 2024.
Submission
- Books will not be returned, but will be donated when the contest is over.
- Multiple books can receive the award in any given year.
- Please do not submit a title that was submitted in the past.
Fee
- We pride ourselves on maintaining low submission fees at $50 for authors, publishers, small publishing houses, students, and traditional publishers alike.
Deadline
- All entries must be postmarked by the final entry deadline of Dec. 31, 2024.
Judging
- Entries for the Sky Lantern will be evaluated based on their content, originality, design, and production quality.
- Emphasis is placed on the illuminating, inspiring, educational, and enduring qualities of submitted books, ensuring they shine brightly in the expansive sky of children’s literature.
- Our esteemed judging panel includes experts from diverse fields, such as editing, design, reviewing, bookselling, teachers, and libraries.
Awards
- A medal in recognition of their outstanding achievement in children’s literature
- 100 Sky Lantern stickers to place on your award-winning book
- Permanent listing as a winner on our website
- Featured in a dedicated section of our newsletter, reaching our engaged community of readers, parents, and industry professionals
- A chance to share your book on Babooky TV, presenting their work to a wider audience through our platform
- $300 credit toward Babooky printing
- Complimentary picture book edit by Precision Editing