Rules and Regulations for Picture Book Prize

Entrants must comply with all of the set rules and regulations. The submission deadline for 2014 is 11:59pm GMT Sunday, June 29, 2014. ALL entries will be acknowledged with an email to the address from which the entry was sent. The rules and regulations below are specific for the Golden Baobab Prize for Picture Book.

  • Submissions must be stories between 700 and 2,000 words and intended for readers from ages 6-8 years old.
  • Submissions must be text only. No illustrations.
  • Entrants may be any age and must be citizens of an African country (a copy of a passport or comparable document will be required of winners). There is no restriction on race or geographical location.
  • Past winners of any of the literature prizes are legible to enter the new Golden Baobab Prizes for Illustrations.
  • Entrants may submit up to 5 stories in all.
  • Entries for the Golden Baobab Prizes must be original and unpublished manuscripts written in English, solely by the entrant, the unaided work of the entrant, which must in no way violate any existing copyright.
  • The copyright of each entry will remain vested in the author unless otherwise agreed in writing between the entrant and Golden Baobab.
  • By submitting a story you specifically declare that you are legally entitled to do so and give us permission to make it available for exclusive worldwide royalty-free usage, reproduction and distribution. If within a commercially reasonable time Golden Baobab does not pursue a story for publication, entrants are welcome to give the rights of their stories to other interested parties after prior written notification to Golden Baobab. Golden Baobab reserves the right to not publish a story submitted.
  • There are no restrictions on theme, but stories must be set in Africa or have a very evident African content.
  • Stories should be designed to enthrall and captivate African children.
  • Submissions must be in English.
  • Submissions must be made under an author’s legal name, as it is written on his or her passport or other identification. Additionally, he or she may indicate a desire for the story to be represented under a pseudonym.
  • Previous entrants of the Prize are eligible to enter in subsequent years. Past winners of the Prize are ineligible to enter in subsequent years.
  • Entrants are permitted to have someone read over their entries before they submit them.
  • Submissions must be previously unpublished anywhere in part or in full.
  • Each story should have a title page stating: the title of story and prize to which story is being submitted. The author’s name should not be included on the title page. All biographical information should be submitted through our online submission system.
  • Stories should be submitted as a Word document in .doc or .docx format. Do not submit PDFs.
  • Golden Baobab reserves non-exclusive rights to use stories submitted to the Prizes for press and promotion and for the website. Authors will always be informed and acknowledged.
  • The Golden Baobab Prizes administration reserves the right to disqualify entries that do not conform to set rules. No correspondence will be pursued in this regard.
  • Winners will be announced in November 2014.