Official rules
Everything you need to know about entering the First Stories Prize or the First Stories Featured program.
Contents
01
Prize track: picture books published Jan 1–Dec 31 of the cycle year, with an official ISBN and verifiable publication date.
Featured track: any in-market picture book, regardless of publication date.
Self-published picture books are eligible on both tracks. Books must be written primarily in English.
02
Your publication date determines which seasonal cycle you enter for the First Stories Prize competition. Featured books are submitted on a monthly basis, with winners announced on the 15th of the following month.
| Cycle | Publication dates | Submission deadline | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Jan 1 – Mar 31 | April 15 | May 1 |
| Summer | Apr 1 – Jun 30 | July 15 | August 1 |
| Fall | Jul 1 – Sep 30 | Oct 15 | Nov 1 |
| Winter | Oct 1 – Dec 31 | Jan 15 | Feb 1 |
03
Interior PDF: page-sequential, all spreads, min 300 DPI, not password-protected.
Cover PDF: single-page, full-bleed, minimum 300 DPI.
Author bio and a synopsis of up to 150 words. One submission per book, per cycle.
04
Each book is evaluated by the DartFrog Books editorial team across four criteria.
| Criterion | What we evaluate | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Craft & Composition | Visual storytelling, pacing, page-turn rhythm | 30% |
| Originality | Voice, perspective, freshness of concept | 25% |
| Resonance | Emotional and intellectual stickiness for child readers | 25% |
| Accessibility | Reading-level appropriateness, inclusivity of design | 20% |
05
Up to three books per cycle are named Finalists and receive $250 each. If fewer than three entries meet the standard for First Stories recognition, fewer Finalists may be selected.
At the end of each year, one Finalist is named the First Stories Prize Picture Book of the Year and receives an additional $1,000.
06
Prize track: $69. Featured track: $49. Entry fees are non-refundable.
07
Authors and illustrators retain all rights to their work.
By entering, you grant First Stories Prize a limited licence to display cover images for promotional purposes.
08
Submissions may be disqualified for inaccurate publication dates, password-protected files, or false author information.
All selection decisions are final and not subject to appeal.