New Voices in Children's Literature: Tassy Walden Awards competition encourages and nurtures the creation of exceptional quality books for children by unpublished Connecticut writers and illustrators. Judges may present a $250 prize to a winner in each of five categories: Picture Book (text only), Illustrated Picture Book (art and text), Children's Book Illustrator Portfolio, Middle Grade Novel, and Young Adult/Teen Novel.

All submissions to the New Voices in Children's Literature competition must adhere to the entry requirements posted below and are evaluated according to children's book publishing standards in a two-tier process. First, nationally recognized literary agents select submission finalists in each award category. Second, acclaimed editors determine, at their discretion, awardees and honorable mention recognition. Each year, the names of finalists and awardees will be posted on this website as soon as they are announced by the judges.A reception will be held at the James Blackstone Memorial Library in Branford on Wednesday, June 26 at 7pm. All are invited to join us as we honor the finalists and present the awards, as determined by the judges.

New Voices in Children's Literature: Tassy Walden Awards are judged on the basis of literary and/or artistic merit and quality. Awards are not for didactic intent nor for popularity. In evaluating submissions, judges consider excellence achieved among the following areas:

For Writers: Establishment of the theme; plot development; character development; depiction of setting; suitability of material for a child audience; overall presentation, including clarity, accuracy, and organization of material.

For Illustrators: Artistic technique; ability to convey story, theme, characters, plot, information, setting, and mood through pictures; suitability of style of illustration for a child audience.

2013 Winners & Finalists Click Here

Awards Reception: June 26, 2013 at 7pm - James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main Street, Branford, CT. All are invited!!

The following forms are available to download:

Frequently Asked Questions
Guidelines and Entry Form 2013
Download "Getting Started" Tip Sheet
Download "Helpful Tips" for Illustrators
Download Tassy Walden Award Sample Manuscript Pages

For more information please email questions to tassy@shorelinearts.org.

Free Informational Workshops

Each year we offer three or more workshops, open to the public, for the purpose of helping potential entrants to learn more about the commpetition. We invite you to attend one of these sessions at no charge. You will learn how to prepare your Tassy Walden Award submissions according to the entry requirements, and we will answer your questions about the field of children's literature and writing and illustrating for an audience of children. Workshop dates for the 2014 competition will be announced here as soon as they are confirmed.

Published Tassy Award Winners & Finalists:

Here is a list of Tassy award winning writers and illustrators now published or under contract for publication.
Alice C. Bauer, Leslie Bulion,Leslie Connor,Maggie Dana, Stacy DeKeyser, Frank Dormer, Julia Denos, Deborah Freedman,
Thea Guidone, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Rolandas Kiaulevicius, Jason MarchiAmanda Marrone, Marilyn Taylor McDowell,
Nina Nelson, Steven Parlato, Jane Sutcliffe.

The following winner or finalist have self-published their award-winning submissions: Cheryl Kling.