1. Organisers
The SABA is the joint initiative of The National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS) and Scholastic. The NBDCS, founded in 1969, promotes reading and literature, and champions literary works by Singaporeans and Asians. Besides organising a series of arts-related programmes, it currently manages the Singapore Literature Prize and the Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award.
Scholastic, founded in 1920, is the largest children’s publisher and distributor in the world.
2. Eligibility
a)The Author
The Scholastic Asian Book Award is awarded every two years to an unpublished manuscript (original or translation) targeted at children aged 6 to 18 years, written by writers of Asian descent, living in Asia, who are 18 years of age and above. For the purpose of this award, Asia comprises the following countries:
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1. Bahrain
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13. Kuwait
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25. Russia
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2. Bangladesh
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14. Kyrgyzstan
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26. Saudi Arabia
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3. Brunei
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15. Loas
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27. Singapore
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4. Bhutan
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16. Malaysia
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28. Sri Langka
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5. Cambodia
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17. Mongolia
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29. Tajikistan
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6. China
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18. Myanmar
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30. Timor-Leste
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7. India
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19. Nepal
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31. Thailand
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8. Indonesia
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20. Oman
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32. UAE
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9. Iran
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21. Pakistan
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33. Uzbekistan
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10. Japan
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22. Papua New Guinea
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34. Vietnam
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11. Kazakhstan
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23. Philippines
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12. South Korea
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23. Qatar
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b)The Manuscript
i) The manuscript must be unpublished or uncontracted to a publisher until the prize is announced.
ii) All submissions must be in English.
iii) The manuscript must be a chapter book or novel of 6,000 words or more.
iv) Previously published authors can submit unpublished manuscripts.
v) The story must be set in Asia.
vi) The work must be original or the translation of an original work.
vii) Entries should not be accompanied by illustrations.
c) The Format
i. On the top right-hand corner of the cover page, please specify the word count of the entire manuscript.
ii. The title of the entry should be in the middle of the cover page. The beginning of the manuscript should start on a new page.
iii. The entire entry must be double-spaced in 12 point Times New Roman font.
iv. Margins should be one-inch all around. Identifying information not necessary.
3. The Prize
i) The judges reserve the right to not award a prize should the entries fail, in the judges’ opinion, to meet the required standard. Judges could also decide not to award the prize to consecutive winners.
ii) In the case of translations the prize money will be shared equally by the author and the translator.
iii) Scholastic reserves the first right of refusal for publication for the award-winning manuscript and the first and second runners-up.
4. Number of Entries
Limited to ONE (1) submission per writer.
5. Selection
The Book Council will check details concerning the eligibility of the authors and the manuscripts submitted. Only manuscripts of authors who meet the criteria will be accepted and sent to the judges. An independent panel of five judges who are experts in the field of children’s books, will select the winners from amongst the manuscripts submitted by the Council. The judges' decision is final, and no appeals or correspondence will be entertained at any point.
6. Shortlist
The Organising Committee will announce a shortlist of works considered for the Scholastic Asian Book Award in April 2014. Shortlisted candidates are expected to attend the Award Ceremony in May 2014.
7. Award Presentation
The award will be presented at a prize-giving ceremony during the Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC), to be held in Singapore in May. Prize winners will be invited for the awards ceremony. Their travel and accommodation costs will be met by Scholastic Asia.
8. The Award
The Scholastic Asian Book Award will be awarded in May 2014, at the AFCC, in Singapore
9. Media Promotion
The award details will be separately and officially announced in newspapers and other media in all countries, particularly countries in Asia. The details of the award will also be disseminated to interested people and organisations.
10. Conditions of Entry
i) Each entry must include the following:
a. An official entry form, duly filled in..
b. SIX (6) copies of the manuscript.
c. A recent photograph in soft copy on CD.
d. A short biography and a summary of the manuscript, each not more than 100 words should be submitted in soft copy on CD. In case of a translation, the biography of both the author and the translator must be submitted.
ii) Entries can be submitted either by the author or translator. In case of a translation, the translator must indicate that the author (or his or her estate) is aware of the fact that a translation of the original work is being submitted for the award.
11. Submission
An acknowledgement column is to be included, as example shown below:
Acknowledgement (For Official Use)
I acknowledge receipt of your manuscript submitted for the Scholastic Asian Book Award 2014. Thank you.
Title of Manuscript: ____________________________________ No of Pages:______
___________________________________________________ ________________
National Book Development Council of Singapore Date
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All entries must be submitted in hard copy and sent through registered post or delivered by hand in a parcel marked “The Scholastic Asian Book Award” and addressed to:
SABA Secretariat
National Book Development Council of Singapore
Geylang East Public Library
50 Geylang East Avenue 1
Singapore 389777
If you do not hear from the National Book Development Council of Singapore within 1 week of submission, kindly contact info@bookcouncil.sg
Entries that fail to comply with any of the above rules and conditions of entry will be disqualified.
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