Award info
Each year, a rotating panel of judges will provide an assignment and will judge the submissions. The theme and specific assignment will change year to year, but the general goal will be to show sequence and narrative. The prize is an all-expense-paid trip to the SCBWI New York Winter Conference. The winning illustrations will be displayed during the New York Portfolio Showcase (in conjunction with the conference).
Submissions open October 15 through November 15, 2026 at midnight PST.
Please respond to the following prompt:
As 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of Apple Computer, Inc., we've spent 50 years coming to solve problems with this technology. The NAA prompt for 2026, in observation of this development, is to create a sequence of images in which a problem is solved instead with human ingenuity. (Or feline or canine or any other life-form!)
Submissions can be found on the MY AWARDS tab in your Member Home. Members must be logged in to scbwi.org to access their Member Home.
Submission Guidelines
The submission will consist of a sequence of either three or four images, without text.
Your art style and visual story must be appropriate for one of these two specific audiences/book genres (Choose one):
Full color, intended for a picture book for 4 to 7-year-olds
Black and white, intended for a middle grade book for 8 to 11-year-olds
Submit individual PNG or JPEG files to the submission portal.
Access the Narrative Art Award Submission form through the AWARDS tab on your MEMBER HOME.
Failure to follow these guidelines will result in exclusion from the online gallery.
For questions, email [email protected].
Criteria
The judges will look for images that reflect a range and progression of mood and emotion, and that tell your story with clarity and nuance. The narrative qualities of the submission will be considered, as will the effectiveness of the design and composition of the images. Whether you choose to submit three images or four images will not factor into the judging.
Prize
The prize is an all-expense-paid trip to the SCBWI New York Winter Conference. The winning illustrations will be displayed during the New York Portfolio Showcase (in conjunction with the conference).
