Charlotte and Wilbur Award For Compassion for Animals

Animals share our world. They’re vital to life on Earth.

The Charlotte and Wilbur Award for Compassion for Animals will award one winning book and one honor book for their dedication to promoting compassion and respect for animals in their readers.

The winning book will receive a prize of $2,500. If the winning is a picture book, the prize will be split between the author and illustrator.

Authors and illustrators must submit their own books for consideration.

Of the Award, founder, children’s book author, and animal activist Karen Winnick says: 

“My hope with this award is that young readers learn about animals, so they develop compassion and respect. They will be the generation that saves them.”

Submissions for the Charlotte and Wilbur Award for Compassion for Animals are currently closed.

Criteria

- Submissions must be a picture book, chapter book, middle-grade book (or graphic novel), or young adult book traditionally or self- published in 2025. Books in translation are welcome.

- The book can be either fiction or nonfiction.

- Books must be submitted by their author, illustrator, or translator to be considered. (Books submitted by publishers, agents, or other third parties will not be considered.)

Submission Guidelines

To submit, please send the following in a single PDF to [email protected]:

• A full manuscript (including illustrations) of the book you are submitting
• Author and illustrator bios (250 word maximum)
• Answers to the following questions (250 word maximum, per essay):
• Why did you choose to write about this particular animal?
• How will this book teach compassion for animals to readers?

The subject line of the email should real " [YOUR LAST NAME] Charlotte and Wilbur Submission 2026 ".

This award opens for submissions on October 1st, 2025 and closes on December 1st, 2025.