CIPA EVVY™ AWARDS SUBMISSIONS
2026 CIPA EVVY Awards are CLOSED.
Entry Dates: January 26, 2026 – May 30, 2026
STEPS TO SUBMIT
Step 1: Read about the CIPA EVVY Awards.
Step 2: Read the Eligibility, Timeline, and Guidelines below.
Step 3: Purchase your entry.
Members: Login to receive member pricing.
Non-Members: Purchase entries at member pricing after completing first purchase and logging in.
Step 4: Complete Book Submission Form via link included on the payment confirmation email.
Step 5: Mail book(s). Details on where and how many to send are in the Guidelines below. All books must be postmarked by May 30, 2026, and arrive no later than June 6, 2026
ELIGIBILITY
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Open to any independently or self-published printed book.
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May be submitted by author, illustrator, publisher, or service provider.
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CIPA membership not required; fee includes one free General Membership.
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Must be in English or bilingual with English as one of the languages.
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Must have an ISBN and a publication date no earlier than January 1, 2024.
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Books submitted in previous CIPA EVVY Awards are not accepted.
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Revised new editions may be entered a second time.
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Books produced by AI are not accepted.
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Each book must be submitted into at least one Regular Category.
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May submit in as many Regular Categories as desired; each incurs a full fee.
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Technical Category submissions require a Regular Category entry first.
*NEW for 2026: CIPA EVVY Legacy Categories. Books published between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2023, are eligible to enter in one of three Regular Categories. Not eligible for the Herb Tabak Award.
TIMELINE
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January 26 – May 30, 2026 Submissions accepted
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June 6, 2026 All books received
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August 2026 Finalists announced virtually
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October 2026 Winners announced at CIPA EVVY Awards Banquet
GUIDELINES
JUDGING PROCESS
CIPA EVVY Awards submissions are reviewed and scored according to established minimum criteria. Awards in each category are based on highest scores. 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place may be awarded for each category when minimum scoring criteria are met. If minimum scoring criteria are not met, awards may not be presented in a category. Duplicate awards may be given in case of tie scores in any category.
The judging is tough—the way a book competition should be. Judges are selected through CIPA’s judging qualification process and include teachers, business leaders, authors, critics, editors, readers, and other experts. The judges know books.
All judges are required to abide by the judging guidelines and code of ethics. Judge names and entry scores are confidential and will remain the property of CIPA. Scores and Judges’ comments (where available) will be returned to the party entering the title within 60 days after the CIPA EVVY Awards Banquet via email UPON REQUEST.
CATEGORIES
Regular Categories: Non Fiction • Academic/Educational • Animals/Pets/Nature • Anthologies/Story Collections •Art/Architecture/Design • Biography/Autobiography/Memoir • Business • Children Nonfiction • Cooking • Cultural Studies/Social Issues • Health/Fitness/Medicine/Sports • History • Motivational/Inspirational • Narrative Nonfiction • Parenting & Family Life • Photography • Poetry: Anthology • Poetry: Chap Book • Poetry: Longform • Poetry: Illustrated • Self Help • Spiritual/Religion • Travel/Outdoors
Regular Categories: Fiction • Animals/Pets/Nature • Anthologies/Story Collections • Children’s Picture Books (Ages 0-4) • Children’s Story Books (Ages 5-8) • Fantasy/Fairytale-High Fantasy/Epic Fantasy/Dark Fantasy/Urban Fantasy/ Historical Fantasy/Contemporary Fantasy/Magical Realism/Folklore/Mythology • Historical • Horror—Psychological Horror/Gothic Horror/Occult • Juvenile Fiction—Middle Grade (Ages 10-14) • Literary & Contemporary Fiction • Mystery/Crime/Detective—General Mystery/Cozy/Historical/Police Procedural/Paranormal • Religious/ Spiritual Fiction • Romance • Science Fiction—Hard Sci-Fi/Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopia/Military Sci-Fi/Alternate History/Cyberpunk/Steampunk • Thrillers/Suspense—Espionage Psychological/ Historical/Medical/Supernatural/Military/ Techno • Women’s Fiction—These plot lines are characterized by central female characters who face challenges, difficulties, and crises that have a direct relationship to gender. • Young Adult 14 – 18 Years-old • Graphic Novel: Adult/Manga • Graphic Novel: YA • Graphic Novel: Middlegrade/Juvenile
Regular Categories: Other • Humor • Gift Book
Technical Categories • Children’s Illustration • Cover Design - Adult/YA • Cover Design - Children's • Cover Design - Midgrade • General Illustration includes Adult and Midgrade/YA • Interior Layout/Design for non-Children's Picture Books
FEES
Regular Categories:
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Members $85
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Non-Members $150 for first entry (includes 1 General Membership)
Technical Categories:
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Members $40 (requires a Regular Category entry first)
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Non-Members $40 (requires a Regular Category entry first)
BOOK SUBMISSION FORM
Prepare the following details:
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Submitter contact information
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Author information
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Title
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ISBN
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Category entry
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Book cover (Upload a JPG file. Must be 300 dpi. Minimum width 1500 pixels. Name file with title (booktitle.jpg).
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Select if Technical Category is being entered
MAILING BOOKS
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Do not send extraneous materials or materials that display other awards.
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CIPA is not responsible for loss or damage to any books sent.
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Books sent become the property of CIPA and will not be returned. Books not used in judging will be donated to various charitable literacy organizations through CIPA ELF.
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Do not send books with a receiving signature required.
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Good to track delivery; receipt of books will not be acknowledged.
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After Book Submission Form is completed mail two copies for each Regular Category entered and one additional copy for each Technical Category entered.
Melissa Serdinsky
c/o CIPA EVVY AWARDS
5381 Oak Tree Court
Boulder CO 80301
Email: cipaevvy@cipabooks.com
CIPA EVVY AWARDS SUBMISSION: MEMBERS
85
CIPA EVVY AWARDS SUBMISSION: NONMEMBERS
150
