Our 7th Annual Awesome Young Authors’ Awards event is a special celebration that recognizes and honors children who have become published authors through our program and on their own. Here are the benefits of participating in our contest and why parents or guardians should encourage their children to apply. ⭐ https://www.theayaawards.org ​1. Recognition and Achievement: Awesome Young Authors’ Awards & Community provides a platform for amazing children to be recognized for their exceptional achievement as published authors. It celebrates their creativity, hard work, and dedication to writing. Being honored at the event boosts their confidence and validates their accomplishments. ​2. Community Support and Encouragement: Awesome Young Authors’ Awards brings together a community of fellow young authors, parents, educators, and supporters. It creates a supportive and encouraging environment where children can connect with others who share their passion for writing. The camaraderie and positive feedback from the community further motivates and inspires young authors. ​3. Networking Opportunities: Awesome Young Authors’ Awards & Community provides valuable networking opportunities for children and their families. They can connect with publishing professionals, authors, educators, and other individuals in the literary field. These connections can open doors for future collaborations, mentorship, and guidance, supporting the young authors in their writing journey. ------- ⭐**Awesome Young Authors' Book Contest Rules and Submission Guidelines** We are excited to announce the Awesome Young Authors' Book Contest, a platform for talented young writers to showcase their creative works! Below are the rules and submission guidelines for this contest: **Eligibility:** ⭐1. The contest is open to children/youth authors who live in the United States and Canada ages 5 to 20 years old. Parent & child book collaborations are welcomed. ⭐ 2. Participants must be the published authors of the submitted work and have obtained necessary permissions for any collaborative efforts. ⭐**Submission Guidelines:** 1. Submissions must be original literary works written by the participants. Collaborative works are allowed, but all contributing authors must be within the eligible age range. 2. Genres accepted: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Cookbooks, Comic Books, and Short Stories. 3. Entries must be in English or Spanish. 4. Book submissions must have an ISBN. (An ISBN is an International Standard Book Number) 5. Submissions should be sent in electronic format (PDF preferred) to the upload folder on this form. Acceptable book submission formats are - PDF, JPEG, Ebook ⭐**Judging Criteria:** Entries will be evaluated based on creativity, originality, and writing style. ⭐ **Important Dates:** - Submission Period: July 1, 2026 through July 31, 2026. - Winners Announcement: October 1, 2026 Winners will be announced on our website and social media pages on October 1, 2026. ⭐ **Prizes:** 1st Place: - Personalized Gift Box with Award Plaque, Souvenir T-shirt,,bookmark and more! $500 value. - Certificate of Achievement - $200 gift card to a local bookstore or Amazon & Gifts from our sponsors - Award winning Awesome Young Author highlights on our website & social media platforms. ⭐ 2nd Place: - Personalized Award Plaque, Souvenir T-shirt, and bookmark. - Certificate of Achievement - $100 gift card to a local bookstore or Amazon & gifts from our sponsors -- Award winning Awesome Young Author highlights on our website, & social media platforms. ⭐ 3rd Place: - Personalized Award Plaque, Souvenir T-shirt, and bookmark. - Certificate of Achievement - $50 gift card to a local bookstore & gifts from our sponsors - Award winning Awesome Young Author highlights on our website & social media platforms. **Publication Rights:** - Authors retain copyright of their submissions. **Notes:** - Inappropriate or offensive content will result in disqualification. - All decisions made by the judges and AYAAC contest organizers are final. We look forward to receiving your creative submissions and celebrating the awesome young authors who contribute their unique voices to the literary world!