​Promoting Kindness Through Children's Literature

Please read the Submission Guidelines thoroughly before submitting your book. 
​

Step 1 (Application):
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Step 2 (Payment):

USA residents only
($40)

Non-USA residents only
($50)


Step 3 (What To Send):

Follow the "What To Send" instructions in the Submission Guidelines below:
​

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Authors, illustrators and publishers of
​children's picture books that
are written in​ English.
.
This year we have expanded to include
worldwide submissions. 
​

Complete and submit the online application. Submit only ONE book per application. 

​An entry fee is required for each
application that is submitted.  

Once your application has been submitted,
return to this page to submit your entry
​fee payment (Step 2). Credit cards, Paypal
​and Venmo accepted.  

The entry fee for each application is
$40.00 (USA submissions)

$50.00 (Outside USA submissions)
(Covers the cost of shipping award packages)

The deadline for the application and
payment of entry fee is August 1, 2026.
​​
Entry fees are nonrefundable if an 
award is ​not granted. 

After the entry fee is paid:

1.  Print the receipt as it will be required
​in the "What To Send" category.

2.  Follow the instructions in the
​"What To Send" category.

Please direct any questions about
submissions ​and entry fees here.
​

Judging will be based on creativity, content, originality, design, quality ​and theme.

Our panel of judges includes experts from education, publishing, editing, design,
parents of special needs children and
​other peer authors. 

Judging will be based on a specific scoring methodology. There is no maximum number
​of award winners. Ella's Way will be celebrating MANY ​award winning books!

​

Gold seals will be awarded to each winning
children's book, along with a personalized certificate, a digital gold seal, inclusion in our
Ella's Way newsletter, recognition in our Ella's
​Way bookstore and a one-time promotion along with other award winners on our social media. 

Additional gold seals will be available for
​purchase by award winners on our website. 

Be sure to follow us on social media for updates and announcements.​

Facebook

Instagram

​

Books may be in hardcover or softcover
format. We are not accepting E-books at this
time. An ISBN is preferred but not required. 

​We cannot accept chapter books at this time.

​Books must be written in English.

​All books must have themes that support
the ​Ella's Way ​mission (see below).

Please direct any questions about
​eligibility here.

​​

All books must have, at a minimum, one
of ​the following themes:
​
Kindness
​Diversity Awareness
Disability Awareness
Bullying Prevention
​​Acceptance & Inclusion
​Cultural Awareness
Social-Emotional Learning
Children's Health & Wellness
​
​

Once your application has been submitted, your entry fee has been paid AND you have printed your receipt, there are 2 last steps:

1.  Mail a physical copy of your book along
​with a copy of your receipt to:

Ella's Way
45 Colgate Drive
North Andover, MA  01845

Physical books are required.

Books are nonreturnable and will be
donated to one of the many organizations
​that we support. A sample of those organizations ​​can be viewed here. 

2.  ​Email a full PDF of your book or a viable link where your book can be read in full. The
PDF (or link) should include both front
 and back covers and the full interior text.

Email to:
​
2026bookawards@ellasway.com
​
We are not able to accept jpg, psd,
pptx, ​doc or video files. I

If you do not have a PDF of your book, please include a note with your physical book submission stating that you do not have
​an available PDF. 

​All physical book submissions must be postmarked by August 1, 2026. 

​We understand that there can occasionally
be unexpected delays in postal service deliveries. To plan for the unexpected, we allow for a 10-day grace period for receiving your physical, however your book MUST
be postmarked by August 1st.

If any book is not postmarked by August 1st and or not received within 10 days of
August 1st, it will not be entered into
​the 2026 awards program.​
​
​
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Award winners will be notified by email on or about October 15, 2026.​
​

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​What if I don't have the PDF of my book?

​No worries! PDF's are preferred  but we will accept just a physical copy of your book.  After completing
the application, paying the entry fee and printing your receipt, simply mail your book with the
printed receipt along with a note explaining that you do not have a PDF version. Mailing of
your book must be postmarked by August 1st. ​​

​Will you accept books written in languages other than English?

  • At this time, Ella's Way is only accepting books that are written in English.

​Can I submit my E-book for an award?

  • Unfortunately no, we are only accepting physical books for submission at this time. 

How many previous winners have there been?

A full list of our previous award winners can be viewed here.
​

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​​I have more questions. Is there anyone that can help me?

  • Certainly, we are happy to help.  Please direct your questions to Ella's Way Founder, Sherry Cerino here.
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Ella's Way, where kindness starts early.