CWLA’s Own Caroline Wakeman Selected To Judge Searchlight 2023 Best Children’s Illustrated Book Award!

Caroline Wakeman, of Caroline Wakeman Literary Agency, has been elected as the judge for the 2023 Best Children’s Illustrated Books award! The competition is running from October 3rd to March 1st, 2023. Caroline is searching for exciting stories that young children will ask for over and over again! She highlights that “Picture books are a beautiful synergy of artwork and text, but it takes skill to create this fine balance and master. They are also instrumental to assisting a child in learning to read, as a lot of the storyline is told within the pictures.”

Submissions can include stories in development such as rough sketches, carefully positioned text and at least two finished double-page spreads in color. Picture books that are ready for publication or self-published can also enter! Entrants can submit individually or collaborate in illustrator/author pairs. Learn more about the award and what Caroline is looking for here.