Terms and conditions

1. Only first-edition paperback books published for the first time between 1 November 2023 and 31 October 2024 inclusive by a traditional UK-based publisher/imprint are eligible
2. Hardbacks are eligible ONLY if the book will not be published in paperback within 12 months of the hardback’s publication. If the paperback will be published within 12 months, please do not submit the hardback. Submit the paperback edition for the appropriate awards cycle at its date of publication.
3. Authors and illustrators (the creators) must be over 18 and AT LEAST ONE creator must be a British-born citizen or fully resident in the UK at the time of entering. It is the publisher’s responsibility to establish their authors/illustrators’ status in this respect before submitting a book
4. Publishers should obtain any necessary consent from creators before submitting their books
5. Publishers (and imprints) may submit multiple entries
6. Audio- and digital-first formats are eligible, provided the book is generally available in print format between the above eligibility dates
7. ALL baby/toddler book genres and formats are eligible
8. Rhyming picture book stories are eligible
9. Middle-grade books are not eligible. Books for the Children’s Fiction category must be highly illustrated and sit firmly within the 5–7,  6–8 or 7–9 age ranges 
10. Graphic novels are eligible
11. Story collections and story anthologies are eligible
12. Banded readers are not eligible
13. Books cannot be reissues
14. English translations of works written originally in any other language are not eligible 
15. Self-published books are not eligible, where the author is the publisher or a company has been specifically set up to publish a particular book/series 
16. Co-published works are not eligible
17. If proofs are submitted, final copies should be sent as soon as they are available 

Fee

18. There is no entry fee

Deadlines

19. The submissions window opens at 9am (UK time) on Friday 9 August 2024 and the deadline for submissions is 12 noon (UK time) on Friday 20 September 2024; entries received before or after the submission window will not be considered

Prize

20. The prize fund is worth £30,000 in total, comprising a £10,000 prize in each of the three age categories; authors and illustrators of the winning book in each category will share the £10,000

Promotion

21. The longlist will be published on the IBC website and social media and publicists of longlisted titles will be notified in advance

22. The shortlist will be published on the IBC website and social media. Publicists of shortlisted titles will be notified in advance.

23. Winners will be announced at our awards ceremony in February 2025 

24. Winners and shortlisted writers must be willing to participate in promotional/media opportunities during and after the competition

Judging

25. Judges may call in a book that hasn’t been submitted, provided it meets the eligibility criteria, subject to the publisher’s agreement

26. The judges’ decisions are final — no correspondence shall be entered into

27. Inclusive Books for Children reserves the right not to award a prize should a suitable winner not be found, and reserves the right to change these Terms and Conditions without notice

How to submit (for publishers)

28. Complete our online entry form by 20 September 2024.

29. You must complete a new form for each book submitted — include a PDF file of each book and high-res image of each book cover.

30. Additionally, you must post 8 hard copies of each book, arriving no later than 24 September 2024, unless an exemption has been agreed by IBC.

31. If a book is longlisted, publishers will be required to send 2 further copies, gratis, for promotional purposes.

32. If a book is shortlisted, publishers will be required to send 4 further copies, gratis. (Note: copies of printed books will not be returned.)

33. If with the publisher’s permission judges call in a book that has not been submitted, publishers will be asked to complete an entry form and submit PDF and physical copies as above.

Please send all physical copies to the following address:

Inclusive Books for Children Awards

Suite 332,

56 Gloucester Road,

London

SW7 4UB

Contact us

If you experience any technical difficulties with your submission or have any other queries about the IBC Awards, email us at awards@inclusivebooksforchildren,org.