CHILDREN’S BOOK CONTEST – ~~SPEAK UP TALK RADIO~~ Author & Podcast Services with a Charitable Twist

It’s a first! Two adult and two child/young adult judges will judge your book.

One grand prize winner will receive

30-minute Authors on Fire interview with Pat Rullo
four different 60-second spots to air for the four weeks following your entire interview
PLUS: Your full interview will be heard on iHeart Radio with over 80 million registered users, as well as additional online venues – Spotify, Stitcher, Spreaker, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Deezer, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, and many, many more (a $297 value)
a Behind the Words Literary Conversation written interview (a $75 value)

in addition to the rest of our prizes.

1st Quarter 2025 in Progress

January 1 – March 31, 2025

Winners Announced on or before April 25, 2025

Because we always do things with a fun twist – your children’s book will be judged by two qualified adult judges and two child/young adult judges. After all, children are the audience, so why not allow them to have a say?

We have assembled young authors and avid readers, ages 6 – 18, who are delighted to read and offer their input. Their scoring will account for 25% of the total score with questions such as: Would you read this book again? Would you share this book with your friends? Would you like to see this book in your school/town’s library? What did you like best about this book?

It’s our way to get your book into young hands while at the same time offering budding authors and readers an opportunity to take part in an actual book-judging process.

ALSO:

Your entry fee is tax deductible to you and funds our pillowcase and children’s book project. We send handmade, fun, and colorful pillowcases and children’s books to shelters for women and children who are experiencing homelessness.

Your book entry makes a difference, and we thank you.

CATEGORIES:

Adventure – Animals/Pets – Bedtime – Best Cover Design-Fiction – Best Cover Design-Nonfiction – Bilingual – Biography – Board Book – Book Cover Design/Fiction – Book Cover Design/Nonfiction – Book Interior Design Fiction – Book Interior Design Nonfiction – Chapter Book – Children’s Literature – Christian Fiction – Christian Nonfiction – Coming of Age – Cookbook – Cross-genre – Diversity – Dual Language – Early Chapter Book – Early Readers 5-8 – Educational

Fable – Fairy Tale – Fantasy – Fiction – Folklore – Graphic Novel – Grief/Death – Health/Mental Health – Historical Fiction – Historical Nonfiction – Holiday – How To – Humor – Illustration – Interactive – Inspirational/Motivational – Juvenile Fiction – Juvenile Nonfiction – LGBTQ Fiction – LGBTQ Nonfiction – Multicultural – Mystery – Nature – Nonfiction

Picture Books Ages 4-8 – Picture Book – Poetry – Pre-School Ages 2-4 – Pre-Teen Fiction – Pre-Teen Nonfiction – Realistic Fiction – Religious – Science Fiction – Series – Sleuth – Spanish Version of any category – Special Needs – Sports – Teen – Travel – Young Adult Fiction – Young Adult Nonfiction – Young Author/written by teenage 13-18 – Young Author/written by age 12 and under

QUIRKY CHILDREN’S BOOK CATEGORIES

CELEBRATING CONTENT

Epic Escapades Award
Books featuring exciting and daring adventures that go beyond the ordinary.

Fanciful Fun Award
Books that are simply fun, full of humor, and imagination.

Furry Friends Award
Books featuring animals that do extraordinary things.

Monster Mash-Up Award
Books about friendly or funny monsters who are a little out of the ordinary.

Mystery Mayhem Award
Books full of puzzling adventures and unexpected twists.

Out-of-the-Box Adventures Award
Books where characters do things in the most unexpected and creative ways.

Superheroes and Sidekicks Award
Books featuring ordinary kids with extraordinary powers or funny sidekicks who steal the show.

Unlikely Friendships Award
Books about unusual pairs of characters who form the most unexpected bonds.

Unlikely Heroes Award
Books where the hero is someone (or something) you least expect.

Whimsical Wonders Award
Books that are filled with magic, wonder, and quirky characters.

CELEBRATING ILLUSTRATIONS

Art that Pops Award
Books where the illustrations have a three-dimensional or lively feel, leaping off the page in exciting ways.

Artful Adventures Award
Books where the illustrations create their own narrative, making the artwork just as essential as the words.

Dazzling Details Award
Books with intricate, detailed illustrations.

Epic Expressions Award
Books where the characters’ emotions are captured with exceptional expressiveness through illustrations.

Illustration Innovation Award
Books with groundbreaking or unconventional illustration styles that push artistic boundaries.

Picture Perfect Pizzazz Award
Books where the illustrations steal the show, full of vibrant colors, dynamic scenes, and creative compositions.

Whimsical Wonders on Every Page Award
Books where every illustration feels like a magical or whimsical work of art.

CELEBRATING LAYOUT

Creative Composition Award
Books where the layout cleverly enhances the narrative with thoughtful arrangements of text and illustrations.

Dynamic Design Award
Books with layouts that feel energetic and full of movement, with text and illustrations that shift and change in exciting ways.

Interactive Impressions Award
Books where the layout invites interaction, such as flip pages, pop-ups, or dynamic designs that engage the reader in a fun, physical way.

Visual Vibes Award
Books where the layout is not only functional but also conveys the mood of the story through the use of space, color, and design.

Are we missing any categories? If so, let us know. Email pr@speakuptalkradio.com