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Entry Information & Categories

2025 Moonbeam Book Awards

Celebrating Youthful Curiosity and Discovery Through Books and Reading Since 2006

The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards celebrate exceptional children’s literature that spark curiosity, creativity, and imagination. With over 45 categories, from picture books to young adult fiction, there’s a place for every kind of children’s book.

Submissions for the 2025 awards are open to authors, illustrators, publishers, and self-publishers worldwide of children’s books written in English and Spanish. Books published between 2023 and 2025 are eligible. All entries must be finished books, submitted in either print or eBook format.

Program: Moonbeam
Price: $99.00 per category

View Guidelines

Entry Information


Select Categories

General Categories
Durable book for the littlest readers.
Picture books teaching the basic ideas of he alphabet, counting/numbers, or bilingual.
Books featuring activities within or accompanying with a focus on arts and crafts.
Educational, Science, History- Books featuring activities within or accompanying with educational elements.
Category recognizing outstanding illustrators (anyone can nominate the book)
Picture books with simple messaging meant for younger children.
Picture books with simpler, even more fantastical, stories.
Picture books with more classic story elements that might feature more detailed plot elements.
Simple stories meant to be read by new solo readers, might feature some illustrations but not picture books.
Chapter books with a story rooted in real life experiences for a pre-teen audience.
Chapter books with fantastical elements, alternative histories, or set in a fantasy world.
Chapter books a plot involving a mystery or suspense.
Chapter books set in the past.
Chapter books dealing with real issues that might be more sensitive than the average preteen life experience.
Chapter books with a story rooted in real life experiences for teens.
Chapter books with fantastical elements, alternative histories, or set in a fantasy world for teenage/new adult readers.
Chapter books a plot involving a mystery or suspense for teenage/new adult readers.
Chapter books set in the past for teenage/new adult readers.
Chapter books dealing with real issues that might be more sensitive than the average teenage/new adult life experience.
Chapter books with religious or spiritual elements.
Books of poetry for young readers or teens.
Nonfiction picture books about any subject.
Nonfiction chapter books about any subject.
Stories featuring an animal/pet as part of the story or as the main character.
Nonfiction picture of chapter books about any animal/pet.
Books featuring instructions for readers to get involved with issues they care about or about leaders of movements.
Illustrated stories for any age group from younger readers to young adults/new adult.
Nonfiction books about religion, religious/spiritual leaders, or religious/spiritual leaders.
Fiction or nonfiction books about any holiday for young readers to young adult.
Book submitted with an item (or several items) tied to the book.
Any Spanish language book for young readers to young adult.
Books with information about environmental issues or with tips about being good environmental stewards.
Books about specific health issues or health in general for preteens and/or teens.
Books about self-esteem, mindfulness, dealing with anxiety, and other mental health issues.
Nominees must be first time picture book authors.
Nominees must be first time chapter book writers of any genre.
Books by nominees who wrote their manuscripts when the author was under 18. Author can be over 18 when nominated.
Pictures books with two or more volumes per series, and one volume’s copyright/release date must fall within the 2023-2025 timeframe.
Chapter books with two or more volumes per series, and one volume’s copyright/release date must fall within the 2023-2025 timeframe.
Nonfiction books with two or more volumes per series, and one volume’s copyright/release date must fall within the 2023-2025 timeframe.
Books written and illustrated by the author.
Fiction or nonfiction books focusing on a specific culture or cultural celebrations.