4th Competition Rules & Guidelines

4th Annual ABC’s Children’s Picture Book Competition

(Click here for the Competition Overview)

MASTER Sheet (click to download)
JUDGES ’ Sheet (click to download)

Here you will find all of the rules and guidelines which must be followed to enter the ABC’s Children’s Picture Book Competition. Please read them carefully as problems with following the entry guidelines can result in disqualification of your entry. If at any time you have a question or concern, please feel free to email Rita Mills at rita@bookconnectiononline.com.

(Click here to read an interview with Rita Mills , Executive Director of the Competition)

 

COMPETITION RULES

  • Up to five (5) entries allowed per author.
  • The copyright remains with the author of the work. Please make sure you include the following wording on your manuscript. It isn't necessary at this stage to get your manuscript copyrighted at the Library of Congress, but this simple notation on your manuscript will protect your intellectual property rights.

Example: Copyright © 2007 by (author name)

  • Entries will be judged on story content, originality, and marketability to a targeted audience.
  • All decisions made by the judges are final.
  • Entries must be postmarked no later than midnight , February 29, 2008 .
  • The Top 10 Finalists will be notified on or before May 31, 2008 .
  • If there is any deviation from the specific submission rules and guidelines, the entry may be disqualified by the judges. Processing fees are not refundable.
  • A copy of the Judge’s Routing Sheet with their assessment will be available after the competition is over upon request with a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). The SASE for the critique sheet must be sent with the manuscript at the beginning of the competition. Any critique sheet requests sent after the official entry will not be honored.
  • For notification that your manuscript was received, please send a self-addressed stamped postcard along with your entry.
  • We cannot return copies of submitted manuscripts.
  • All returned checks will carry a $35 insufficient funds fee. Any credit card charges that are rejected will result in an automatic disqualification at the discretion of the judges.
  • Employees of the The ABC’s Children’s Book Competition, as well as their immediate families, are not eligible to compete in the competition. Official judges in the competition and their immediate families are also ineligible to participate.

 

HOW TO SUBMIT — VERY IMPORTANT

• Send Three (3) Copies of Each Manuscript Entered — Typed and double-spaced on 8.5”x11” size paper.

• All 3 copies of your manuscript must have a copy of ONE of the official Routing Sheets stapled to the front of it.

TWO (2) TYPES OF ROUTING SHEETS

• These sheets can be downloaded here or we can fax or e-mail copies to you. Each individual copy of a submitted manuscript must have a routing sheet attached.

MANUSCRIPT COPIES

• ONE OFFICIAL ENTRY COPY — Staple the Master Routing Sheet to this Copy and put the following information in the UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF THE FIRST PAGE of your manuscript:

    • Name
    • Address
    • City/State/Zip
    • Phone (day and evening)
    • Email Address
    • FINAL WORD COUNT

• TWO BLIND COPIES — Staple the Judges’ Routing Sheet to the other two (2) copies of the manuscript. There should be NO CONTACT INFORMATION on these two (2) copies.

 

FINALISTS’ GUIDELINES

  • DEADLINE FOR MANUSCRIPT ENTRIES IS FEBRUARY 29, 2008 .
  • The Top 10 Finalists will be notified on or before May 31, 2008 .
  • The finalists must agree to the posting of their manuscript on the internet for a vote by the general public to determine the Grand Prize Winner.
  • The finalists must agree to participate in the internet vote to select the winner.
  • This contest is subject to all Federal, State and Municipal laws and regulations.
  • The payment of all federal, state, and local taxes is the winner’s sole responsibility. No prize substitutions, transfers or cash alternatives are permitted. Failure of the potential winner to complete, sign, and return any further requested documents within an assigned timeframe may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner at the sponsor's sole discretion. Entrant is not a winner unless registration is validated.

  • Void Where Prohibited.

 

PROCESSING FEE and PAYMENTS

    • A non-refundable processing fee of $55 must accompany each submission.
    • Multiple submissions can be sent together and paid for with the same check, money order, or charge card. We accept Visa/MasterCard, checks, and money orders.
    • All entries must be accompanied by the processing fee to be entered into the competition or they will automatically be destroyed.
    • Complete your payment information on the MASTER SHEET.

    • Make all checks payable to The ABC’s Children’s Book Competition.

 

SENDING YOUR ENTRY

  • DO NOT FOLD YOUR MANUSCRIPTS — Mail in a 9”x12” size envelope. Multiple submissions may be mailed together if all 3 copies of each manuscript entry are clipped together.
  • SEND FIRST CLASS OR OVERNIGHT MAIL ONLY.

  • Mail to:

    The ABC’s Competition
     11010 Hanning Lane
     Houston , TX 77041-5006