In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson explains how children’s books, picture books, and low content books are eligible for a wide range of awards, despite common myths to the contrary.
Hannah Jacobson
Part 2 of our 6-part series dispelling common misunderstandings about book awards
As we continue our series dispelling common misunderstandings about book awards, today we explore opportunities for children's books, picture books, and low content books. Many independent authors believe these specialized categories have limited recognition in the awards landscape, but the reality is much more encouraging.
The Myth: Specialty Books Have Limited Award Opportunities
A persistent misconception among self-published authors is that awards primarily recognize traditional adult fiction and nonfiction, leaving children's literature, illustrated works, and low content books with few options for recognition.
This belief prevents many talented creators from seeking the validation and marketing advantages that awards can provide.
The Reality: A Diverse Landscape of Recognition
The truth is that the book awards ecosystem has evolved significantly over the past decade. Understanding how specialty books are judged can improve your submission strategy and award-winning success.
Evaluation Criteria: What Judges Look For
Children's literature spans an enormous range of the publishing market and, accordingly, has a robust awards ecosystem. From board books for toddlers to middle-grade novels, numerous competitions specifically honor excellence in children's publishing across multiple categories and age ranges.
Children's books are typically evaluated on:
- Age-appropriate content and language
- Educational or emotional value
- Engagement and entertainment factors
- Design and production quality
Picture books, with their unique blend of visual storytelling and concise text, have dedicated award categories that recognize their artistic merit and narrative structure.
Picture books receive additional scrutiny for:
- Illustration quality and consistency
- Text-image integration
- Visual storytelling elements
- Production values
Perhaps the most pervasive misconception concerns low content books (journals, workbooks, coloring books, and similar publications). Many authors of these specialized formats do not even consider award submissions, assuming no opportunities exist.
Awards for low content books evaluate functionality, design innovation, creativity, and production quality rather than traditional narrative elements.
Low content books are assessed based on:
- Functionality and usability
- Design innovation
- Quality of instructions or prompts
- Physical construction and durability
While dedicated awards provide targeted recognition (for children's books, as an example), don't overlook broader opportunities. Many general book awards also include categories for these formats, and genre-specific competitions often welcome uniquely formatted entries that fit their themes
Key Takeaways
Today's independent authors have more opportunities than ever to gain recognition for children's literature, picture books, and low content publications. The award landscape has expanded over the years to recognize the unique contributions these books make to the publishing world.
By overcoming the misconception that these formats lack award opportunities, you open new paths for recognition, marketing, and professional growth.
As always, be sure to research competition guidelines carefully, ensure your submissions meet format-specific requirements, and consider both specialized and general award opportunities. The recognition from these awards can provide important validation, marketing advantages, and professional credentials that help your book succeed in today's competitive marketplace.
Watch for the next installment in our series, where we'll delve into another common misunderstanding about book awards and reveal the truth that can help you succeed as an independent author.
About Hannah Jacobson, ALLi Awards & Story Marketing Advisor
Hannah Jacobson is the founder of Book Award Pro: the company that leads the industry in helping authors find the perfect reviews and awards for their books.
Book Award Pro is the industry expert on accolades, operating the world's largest database of legitimate reviews and awards. Every year, authors spanning 6 continents win thousands of new awards, receive valuable reviews, and market their books in one easy-to-use platform.
Book Award Pro has been a trusted ALLi Partner Member since 2020. Hannah is the ALLi advisor for awards and story marketing, and contributes to ALLi resources including the Book Award & Contest Ratings page, Book Prizes & Awards for Indie Authors guidebook, and the Ultimate Guide to Winning Book Awards.
Begin your award-winning journey for free or connect with Hannah and Book Award Pro on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Find out more
For more information on applying for book awards that are open to indie authors, you can purchase our short guide, available in multiple formats on our bookstore: Book Prizes & Awards for Indie Authors.
Members enjoy free access to the ebook.
Thoughts or further questions on this post or any self-publishing issue?
If you’re an ALLi member, head over to the SelfPubConnect forum for support from our experienced community of indie authors, advisors, and our own ALLi team. Simply create an account (if you haven’t already) to request to join the forum and get going.
Non-members looking for more information can search our extensive archive of blog posts and podcast episodes packed with tips and advice at ALLi's Self-Publishing Advice Center.
