Award Criteria

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1. This singular annual award is bestowed to the author and to the illustrator of the chosen book

2. The book must be a children's science picture book written in the English language and published within five years of the award date. These books typically have ~ 32 pages and serve children between ages 4-8.

3. The book must teach its young reader at least one important scientific principle well, or encourage the reader toward specific science-related attitudes, pursuits, or inquiries.

4. The book's artwork, illustrations, photographs, or graphics must work in harmony with the text to tell an important story well. 

5. The text must have a story with a plot and characters.

6. All other factors being equal, books about plants and/or plant science or biology will have preference. However, books on geobiology topics are also considered and have been chosen.

7. A book must be published in the English language to be eligible, but the award is international in scope.

 

The panel of judges is comprised soley of science educators and scientists.

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For more information, contact Karlie Herndon, curator of the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at 601.266.4086

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Recognition

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1. Winning books are distinguished with a special gold award seal designed especially for the Lab by the renowned children's author-illustrator, Molly Bang.
2. The author and the illustrator each receive a distinctive award plaque, plus the right to reproduce and use the seals on their winning book.
3. The award is formally announced at the Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival in April at The University of Southern Mississippi.
4. The new award winner, and all award winners since award's inception, are recognized here and 15th Laboratory.

Submission Deadline

The submission deadline is March 1st of each year. Books received after March 1st will be considered for the following year's Giverny Award.

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The Giverny Award Committee does its own searching for potential award-worthy books, year-round, but to make certain a particular book is not inadvertently overlooked, readers, authors, or publishers may mail a copy of an advertisement or brochure or an actual copy for any eligible book to:
The Giverny Award Committee
c/o Prof. Renee Clary
Mississippi State Dept. of Geosciences

Box 5448

Mississippi State, MS 39762