Portfolio Awards

What is the Portfolio Showcase?

Our annual Summer Portfolio Showcase is a career-launching opportunity for children's book illustrators! This juried showcase is a terrific way to get your illustrations in front of top publishing professionals. This year’s format will be a three-image portfolio, with links to your SCBWI Member Profile Illustrator Gallery. PLEASE NOTE: There are no refunds given for the Portfolio Showcase once judging begins.

Portfolios are judged as a whole, not on any individual image. The judges are looking for:

• Children’s book publishing appropriateness.
• Consistency of a strong illustrative “voice” throughout.
• Fresh and unique styles.

SCBWI reserves the right not to award any prizes at its sole discretion.

How to Enter

Participation in the showcase is an additional $75. You must be registered for the conference to participate and you must be a Premium Member. Members can purchase the Portfolio Showcase as a package with the Illustrators Half-Day Intensive for a reduced rate. The deadline to register July 20th at 11:59pm PACIFIC TIME. 

What types of images should I include in my Portfolio Showcase submission?   

You may upload 3 jpg or png images that showcase your best work for the children's book market. Demonstrate your ability to tell a story through characters, image, and use your strongest tools in your visual tool box. These images can be sequential, however, this is not a requirement. The judges will review the portfolios and awards will be announced on Saturday, August 2nd during the Summer Virtual Conference. 

Once you register, you may upload your art - STARTING MAY 20, 2025 - by doing the following:

1. Log on to the website and click on the MEMBER HOME button

2. Click on the AWARDS icon

3. Scroll down to the Portfolio showcase box and click on 'submit' 

Images must be uploaded by July 20, 2025 at 11:59pm PACIFIC time. Artwork uploaded after this time, may not be seen by the judges.

We look forward to seeing your submissions.

Prizes

1 Gold Award (1) winner will receive:

• Free admission to the next Virtual Summer Conference,
• Two phone/virtual meetings with art directors/agents who will provide guidance and feedback on your portfolio,
• A one year renewal of your SCBWI membership, and
• Two images from your portfolio will be showcased in the SCBWI booth at the 2026 Bologna Children’s Book Fair.*

1 Silver Award winner will receive:

• Two phone/virtual meetings with art directors/agents who will provide guidance and feedback on your portfolio,
• A one year renewal of your SCBWI membership, and
• One image from your portfolio will be showcased in the SCBWI booth at the 2026 Bologna Children’s Book Fair.*

2 Bronze Award winners will receive:

• One phone/virtual meeting with an art director or agent who will provide guidance and feedback on your portfolio.
• One image from the winner’s portfolio will be showcased in the SCBWI booth at the 2026 Bologna Children’s Book Fair.* 

**Special showcase opportunity at the Bologna Children's Book Fair for each of the winners!**

Images from the Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners’ portfolios will be displayed in a special showcase in the SCBWI booth at the 2026 Bologna Children’s Book Fair along with their name, website, and country of origin. There will be more than 30,000 people and 1500 exhibitors from 100 countries attend this renowned book fair.

The showcase winners and honor recipients will be announced live on Zoom at the Summer Conference Wrap-Up and Awards on Saturday, August 2, 2025.