Best Children’s Illustrated Picture Book 2023

Entries are invited for our new illustrated picture book competition. We’re searching for exciting stories that young children will ask for again and again!

Show us stories in development: rough sketches for the majority of the book, carefully positioned text, and at least two finished double-page spreads in colour. If you have a picture book that is ready for publication or a self-published one, you can enter, too. Entrants can submit individually or collaborate in illustrator/author pairs.

Prizes

Top 10 Shortlisted Entries

Your story included in The Winners’ Collection, which is sent to literary agents and publishers to help your work get noticed.

Your biography and a page of your story included in our Winners’ Gallery on the Searchlight Awards’ website, which agents, publishers, friends and family can access.

First Prize

All the above, with your story recognised as the Competition Winner, plus £500 in Cash.

Key Information

Submissions from 3^rd October 2022 to 1^st March 2023, midnight UK time

Judge: Caroline Wakeman of Caroline Wakeman Literary Agency

Entry fee per story: £9

Results published: 31^st May 2023

Please read the rules below before entering the competition

Read the Rules

Our Judge

Caroline is judging our Best Children’s Illustrated Picture Book 2023

Enter Now

This competition is now closed.

Competition Information

There are three rounds of reading and judging. The first is undertaken by our dedicated Searchlight Awards’ founder, Kim Donovan. Stories are then allocated to a team of experts in children’s writing/illustration, all with recognised qualifications and experience of Writing for Young People/Creative Writing or Illustration.

Here are some of the things our judges will be looking for:

Originality
Writing craft
Voice
Characters we care about
Artistic quality
Storytelling for artwork
Layout of text and artwork
Appealing to both a parent and young child

Your picture book must be suitable to read aloud to a young child.
Finished books are accepted.
For picture books in development, please provide rough sketches and carefully positioned text for the majority of the book and at least two finished double-page spreads. We would like to see the cover, too, which can also be rough artwork.
Please don’t include your name on the book cover as stories are read blind.
Submit one file, as a PDF. Maximum file size 10 MB.
Rhyming stories are allowed.
Entries need to be in English.
Entries are welcome from individuals or illustrator/author pairs.
Multiple entries are permitted. However, we require a separate entry form and a new payment each time.
Stories cannot be altered after they are submitted. Refunds are not given if a story is withdrawn.
Entrants must be 16 years and over.
Stories must be previously unpublished. However, self-published picture books are eligible.
Entries from illustrators and authors worldwide are welcome.
Entries must be the work of the entrant (s).
While entrants retain full copyright, by entering the Best Children’s Illustrated Picture Book 2023 competition you give permission, if shortlisted, for us to publish your name, photograph, biography and a page of your story on the Searchlight Awards’ website.
By entering the Best Children’s Illustrated Picture Book 2023 competition you give permission, if shortlisted, for us to include your story in the Winners’ Collection, which will be sent to UK literary agents and publishers. If you do not wish to have your story promoted to agents/publishers you may opt out on the entry form.
The decision of the readers and judge is final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding judging. We are unable to provide individual feedback.
The competition organisers have the right to change the judge.
Results will be posted on the Searchlight Awards’ website and winners will be emailed on 31^st May 2023.
By entering the Best Children’s Illustrated Picture Book 2023 competition, entrants agree to these rules.