Official rules
Everything you need to know about entering the First Stories Prize or Featured selection.
Contents
01
Who can enter
02
Cycle eligibility
03
Submission requirements
04
Judging criteria
05
Selection & awards
06
Fees & refunds
07
Rights & ownership
08
Disqualification
01
Prize track: books published Jan 1–Dec 31 of the cycle year, with an official ISBN and verifiable publication date.
Featured track: any in-market picture book, regardless of publication date.
Self-published books are eligible on both tracks. Books must be written primarily in English.
02
Your publication date determines which seasonal cycle you enter. Featured books may be submitted to any open window.
| Cycle | Publication dates | Submission deadline | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Jan 1 – Mar 31 | April 15 | May 1 |
| Summer | Apr 1 – Jun 30 | July 15 | August 1 |
| Fall | Jul 1 – Sep 30 | Oct 15 | Nov 1 |
| Winter | Oct 1 – Dec 31 | Jan 15 | Feb 1 |
03
Interior PDF: page-sequential, all spreads, min 300 DPI, not password-protected.
Cover PDF: single-page, full-bleed, minimum 300 DPI.
Author bio and a synopsis of up to 150 words. One submission per book, per cycle.
04
Each book is scored by a panel of three independent judges across four weighted criteria.
| Criterion | What judges look for | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Craft & Composition | Visual storytelling, pacing, page-turn rhythm | 30% |
| Originality | Voice, perspective, freshness of concept | 25% |
| Resonance | Emotional and intellectual stickiness for child readers | 25% |
| Accessibility | Reading-level appropriateness, inclusivity of design | 20% |
05
Three books per cycle are named Finalists and receive $250 each.
One Finalist per year advances to the Grand Prize ($1,000). Featured selections receive a digital badge and site placement.
06
Prize track: $69. Featured track: $49. Entry fees are non-refundable once the window closes.
If your book is deemed ineligible before the window closes, we will issue a full refund.
07
Authors and illustrators retain all rights to their work.
By entering, you grant First Stories Prize a limited licence to display cover images for promotional purposes.
08
Submissions may be disqualified for inaccurate publication dates, password-protected files, or false author information.
The Prize panel's decisions are final and not subject to appeal.