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March 1, 2009
Awards Open Call
October 1, 2009
Awards Close
January 2010
2010 Award Honorees
Announced
Watch For Our
Award-Winning
Products At These
Fine Conferences:
July 1-3
Nat'l Education
Association
San Diego, CA
July 11-14
American Library
Association
Chicago, IL
July 12-15
Int'l Christian
Retail Show
Denver, CO
Distinguish yourself and your work and join this prestigious awards competition!
Quicklinks
- Guidelines / Eligible Products
- Why Enter?
- Important Dates
- Entry Fees & Deadlines
- How To Enter
- Enter Online
- Product Categories
- Legal Terms & Conditions
Helpful Documents
- Download a PDF of the Mom’s Choice Award® Category Guide for Books
- Download a PDF of the Mom’s Choice Awards® Content Classification Standards
Listed below are the guidelines and general criteria for the Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA).
The MCA accepts products designed for infants through adult in the following categories:
Juvenile Level 2 (Ages 9 to 12)
Juvenile Level 1 (Ages 5 to 8)
Children's Picture Books (Suitable for Ages Birth to 9)
- Gear & Accessories
- Personal Use Products
- Music
- Home Viewing (Television / DVD / Blu-Ray)
- Video Games
- Software
.
All products must comply with US product safety standards including, but not limited to the standards set
forth by the US Food & Drug Administration and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
All products manufactured since 2007 are eligible. Beta prototypes are not eligible for submission.
MCA judges are especially interested in products that help families grow emotionally, physically and spiritually; are morally sound and promote good will; are inspirational and uplifting. Still, we realize there are many important works that deal with disturbing themes or contain what some may see as “objectionable” content. We believe content should be evaluated using educational criteria, and that content must be viewed in the context of the work as a whole. Please review the MCA Content Classification Standards to learn more.
Book Submissions
Book manuscripts and galleys are not eligible at this time. All published books with copyright dates of 2007 - 2010 are eligible. Children’s books published prior to 2007 are also eligible as long as they are not “out-of-print” and are available through a major wholesaler/distributor.
Resubmissions
Products are not eligible for resubmission unless a major redesign has occurred.
March 1 Open Call
May 1 Early Bird Deadline
October 1 Awards Close
January 1 Honorees Announced
Need an expedited decision about your book, product or service? Contact us for details.
Deadline: October 1, 2009
Entry Fee Per Item
(Or series - up to 3 related books):
1 Category $300
2 Categories $600
3 Categories $900
Important! For special promotions, your online entry and payment must be received on or before the promotional deadline to qualify. Products may be sent separately, but must be received on or before October 1, 2009 to be eligible.
Entry fees may be paid by VISA, MasterCard, Discovery, American Express, PayPal, check or money order.
Returned checks and declined credit card transactions will be subject to a $30 fee regardless of the reason.
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The MCA offers many unique marketing opportunities for your products. Our Honorees earn a comprehensive package of value-added benefits—one that is unique to an awards program. Click here to learn why the MCA is a great value for your marketing investment.
PUBLISHERS & BOOK MARKETING PROS! Download the new Publisher's Brochure
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Enter Online - It's Easy!
Our online entry process is easy to use and environmentally friendly.
Enter your information, print your entry confirmation and send it to us along with five (5) samples of your book/product.
The online entry system allows you to pay your entry fees by VISA, MasterCard, Discovery, American Express, PayPal, check or money order.
- First time users start here to create a profile.
- Registered users login here to add entries.
Reminder! For the Early Bird Offer, only one Promotion Code is allowed per transaction. If you are entering several items, review the following tips for maximum savings:
1 Item / 1 Category
- Enter the item information and select the category
- On the Shopping Cart page, enter Promotion Code EB-100 to get $100 off
- Click "Apply Code"
- Checkout
- If you need to add more entries, click "Add Entry" from the left hand menu and repeat the process
1 Item / Multiple Categories
- Enter the item information and select the categories
- On the Shopping Cart page, enter Promotion Code EB-AD to get one category free (a savings of $300)
- Click "Apply Code"
- Checkout
- If you need to add more entries, click "Add Entry" from the left hand menu and repeat the process
2 Items / Each In A Single Category
- Enter the information for your first entry and select the category
- On the Shopping Cart page, click "Add Entry"--the blue button
- Enter the information for your second entry and select the category
- On the Shopping Cart page, enter Promotion Code EB-AD
- Click "Apply Code" to get one free entry (a savings of $300)
- Checkout
- If you need to add more entries, click "Add Entry" from the left hand menu and repeat the process
Book Series (Up To 3 Books)
- Enter the information for your first entry and select the series category
- On the Shopping Cart page, click "Add Entry"--the blue button
- Enter the information for your second entry and select the series category
- On the Shopping Cart page, click "Add Entry"--the blue button
- Enter the information for your third entry and select the series category
- On the Shopping Cart page, enter Promotion Code SERIES2 or SERIES3
- Click "Apply Code" to get the series rate
- Checkout
- If you need to add more entries, click "Add Entry" from the left hand menu and repeat the process
A book or product may be entered in multiple categories. There is no limit to the number of categories in which a product may be entered. However, an entry fee per category does apply.
Send five (5) samples of your book/product. You are welcome to send marketing collateral or media kits.
If you elect to send these materials, please send five (5) complete sets.
If you are entering the Online Resources category, complete the online entry form as follows:
- Publisher/Manufacturer = Name of Website
- Book Title/Product Name = URL
- Product Type = Other / Other = Web Resources
- Retail Price = Enter membership fee if applicable, otherwise use 0.00
- ISBN13/ASIN/UPC = N/A
Please do not tape your online entry confirmation form to the outside of the box. Be sure to keep a copy of the online entry confirmation form for your records.
If you are paying by check or money order, please send one check or money order for all entry fees made payable in U.S. funds to Mom’s Choice. Our Federal Tax ID = 26-0843845.
We will email you confirmation upon receipt of your entry..
Important! Your online entry and payment must be received on or before May 1, 2009 to qualify for the Early Bird
Offer. Products may be sent separately, but must be received on or before October 1, 2009 to be eligible.
Shipping and Contact Information
To ensure timely delivery of your entry, it is recommended that you use a courier with published delivery schedules and one that provides delivery tracking confirmation.
Ship your entry to:
Mom's Choice Awards®
725 Watch Island Reach
Chesapeake, VA 23320
757.410.9409 x712
The MCA will not accept COD or "postage due" packages. If your package is considered to be oversized or overweight by your courier, please contact us in advance for shipping instructions.
Notification Process
Notices confirming receipt of packages, as well announcements will be sent via email to the notification contact(s) listed on the entry form. Be sure to let us know should your email address change.
General
The MCA reserves the right to:
-
Reject any entry
Withhold awards in any category
Reassign a product to a different category
Change criteria without notice
The MCA is not responsible for the loss, damage, or return of any material submitted to the competition.
Results of product evaluations will not be released. Products submitted to the MCA program will not be returned. Submission fees will not be refunded.
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Product Categories
The categories are listed below. New categories are added each year. If you would like to suggest a new category, please contact us and let us know.
Young Contributors
(Candidate must be 18 or under)
101 Young Author / Poet
102 Young Illustrator
103 Young Innovator
104 Young Entrepreneur
105 Young Producer / Director
Adult Books (No explicit materials please)
Need help in selecting a book category? Please refer to our handy Category Guide.
201 Activities, Crafts & Hobbies (Includes Puzzles & Games)
202 Adoption
203 Aging & Elder Care
204 Animal & Pet Care
205 Anthologies, Essays & Collections
206 Arts & Photography
207 Audio Books
208 Biographies & Memoirs
209 Body, Mind & Spirit
210 Business / Entrepreneurial
211 Computers & Internet
212 Cooking, Food & Wine
213 eBooks
214 Fantasy & Science Fiction
215 Fertility
216 Fiction & Literature
217 Grandparenting
218 Graphic Novels
219 Health, Nutrition, Fitness & Safety
220 Historical Fiction
221 Home & Garden
222 Humor
223 Inspirational / Motivational
224 Interactive Online Books (IOBs)
225 Life Challenges
226 Life Transitions
227 Men’s Issues
228 Multimedia Experiences
229 New Age & Indigo Topics
230 Non-Fiction – General
231 Outdoors & Nature
232 Parenting - Contemporary Families
233 Parenting - General
234 Parenting - Health, Nutrition, Fitness & Safety
235 Parenting - Humor
236 Parenting - New Age & Indigo Topics
237 Parenting - Special & Exceptional Needs
238 Philanthropic
239 Pregnancy & Childbirth
240 Poetry
241 Relationships & Marriage
242 Religion & Spirituality
243 Resources
244 Self-Improvement
245 Senior’s Issues
246 Series (Up to 3 related books)
247 Travel
248 Women’s Issues
Young Adult Books (Ages 12 to 18)
Need help in selecting a book category? Please refer to our handy Category Guide.
301 Activities, Crafts & Hobbies (Includes Puzzles & Games)
302 Anthologies, Essays & Collections
303 Audio Books
304 Body, Mind & Spirit
305 College Guides
306 Comic Books & Graphic Novels
307 Cooking & Food
308 eBooks
309 Fantasy, Myths & Legends
310 Fiction – General
311 Historical Fiction
312 Humor
313 Inspirational / Motivational
314 Interactive Online Books (IOBs)
315 Multimedia Experiences
316 New Age & Indigo Topics
317 Non-Fiction - General
318 Philanthropic
319 Poetry
320 Reference & Study Aids
321 Religion & Spirituality
322 Self-Improvement
323 Series (Up to 3 related chapter books)
Juvenile Books (Level 2 – Ages 9 to 12)
Need help in selecting a book category? Please refer to our handy Category Guide.
401 Activities, Crafts & Hobbies (Includes Puzzles & Games)
402 Anthologies, Essays & Collections
403 Audio Books
404 Body, Mind & Spirit
405 Comic Books & Graphic Novels
406 Cooking & Food
407 eBooks
408 Fantasy, Myths & Legends
409 Fiction – General
410 Historical Fiction
411 Humor
412 Inspirational / Motivational
413 Interactive Online Books (IOBs)
414 Multimedia Experiences
415 New Age & Indigo Topics
416 Non-Fiction - General
417 Philanthropic
418 Poetry
419 Reference & Study Aids
420 Religion & Spirituality
421 Self-Improvement
422 Series (Up to 3 related chapter books)
Juvenile Books (Level 1 – Ages 5 to 8)
Need help in selecting a book category? Please refer to our handy Category Guide.
501 Activities, Crafts & Hobbies (Includes Puzzles & Games)
502 Anthologies, Essays & Collections
503 Audio Books
504 Body, Mind & Spirit
505 Comic Books & Graphic Novels
506 Cooking & Food
507 eBooks
508 Fantasy, Myths & Legends
509 Fiction – General
510 Historical Fiction
511 Humor
512 Inspirational / Motivational
513 Interactive Online Books (IOBs)
514 Multimedia Experiences
515 New Age & Indigo Topics
516 Non-Fiction - General
517 Philanthropic
518 Poetry
519 Reference & Study Aids
520 Religion & Spirituality
521 Self-Improvement
522 Series (Up to 3 related chapter books)
Children’s Picture Books (Suitable for Ages Birth to 9)
Each category may contain works of fiction and non-fiction. Need help in selecting a book category?
Please refer to our handy Category Guide.
601 Activities, Crafts & Hobbies (Includes Puzzles & Games)
602 Adventure, Adventurers & Heroes
603 Animal Kingdom
604 Audio Books
605 Basic Concepts
606 Bedtime Stories
607 Bilingual (Must include an English translation)
608 Body, Mind & Spirit
609 Civics & History
610 Cooking & Food
611 Crossing Generations
612 Developing Social Skills
613 Distinctive Illustration
614 Domestic Animals & Pets
615 eBooks
616 Family Life
617 Fantasy, Myths & Legends
618 Green Earth
619 Growing Up / Personal Growth
620 Health & Safety
621 Historical Fiction
622 Humor
623 Imagine It!
624 Inspirational / Motivational
625 Interactive Online Books (IOBs)
626 Looking & Feeling Great
627 Multimedia Experiences
628 Music & Performing Arts
629 Nature & Weather
630 New Age & Indigo Topics
631 Novelty Books
632 Peoples, Places & Cultures
633 Philanthropic
634 Poetry
635 Reference & Study Aids
636 Religion & Spirituality
637 Science & Technology
638 Seasonal, Holidays & Festivals
639 Specialized Concepts / Differently Abeled
640 Series (Up to 3 related illustrated picture books)
641 Sports & Recreation
642 Trains, Plains, Automobiles & More
643 Values & Life Lessons
Gear & Accessories
(Items not accepted: cribs, strollers, high chairs, car seats, furniture, etc.)
701 Bath & Potty (Includes Diaper Pails)
702 Bedding & Room Decor
703 Clothing
704 Feeding
705 Housewares, Housekeeping & Cleaning
706 Infant Positioners
707 Media, Electronics & Accessories
708 Miscellaneous
709 Pet Related
710 Safety
711 Sports / Outdoor
712 Teething & Pacifiers
713 Totes, Diaper Bags & Slings
714 Walkers & Jumpers
Personal Use Products (Skin Care, Health Care, etc.)
801 Babies
802 Children
803 Tweens & Teens
804 Young Adults
805 Adults
806 Women
807 Men
901 Babies
902 Toddlers
903 Preschoolers
904 Ages 5 to 8
905 Ages 9 to 12
906 Young Adults
907 Adults
Home Viewing (Television/DVD/Blu-Ray )
1001 Babies
1002 Toddlers
1003 Preschoolers
1004 Ages 5 to 8
1005 Ages 9 to 12
1006 Young Adults
1007 Family Viewing
1008 Instructional / Documentary
1009 Parenting
2001 Babies
2002 Toddlers
2003 Preschoolers
2004 Ages 5 to 8
2005 Ages 9 to 12
2006 Young Adults
Submitted titles must have educational value and may not contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, blood, simulated gambling, and/or inappropriate language.
Video Gaming Systems & Handhelds Supported: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Wii, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and Sony PSP. When submitting a game for one of these systems, you only
need to send five (5) sample game cartridges – not the complete system.
Online games are eligible as long as there is no fee required to play, and parents have an ability to use parental controls (e.g, restrict certain types of games, monitor activities, etc.). When submitting an online game, just send
the entry form with the URL indicated on the form.
Software (Microsoft Windows and/or MAC OS)
Submitted titles must have educational value and may not contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, blood, simulated gambling, and/or inappropriate language.
3001 Babies
3002 Toddlers
3003 Preschoolers
3004 Ages 5 to 8
3005 Ages 9 to 12
3006 Young Adults
3007 Adults
4001 Babies
4002 Toddlers
4003 Preschoolers
4004 Ages 5 to 8
4005 Ages 9 to 12
4006 Young Adults
4007 Adults
When submitting an electronic learning item (i.e. LeapFrog, VTech, Laptops, etc.), you will need to include five (5) sets of the complete system.
5001 Babies
5002 Toddlers
5003 Preschoolers
5004 Ages 5 to 8
5005 Ages 9 to 12
5006 Young Adults
5007 Adults
6001 Babies
6002 Toddlers
6003 Preschoolers
6004 Ages 5 to 8
6005 Ages 9 to 12
6006 Young Adults
6007 Adults
Magazines (For eMagazines see the Online Resources category)
7001 Children
7002 Tween & Teens
7003 Young Adults
7004 Family & Parenting
7005 Boy’s Interest
7006 Girl’s Interest
7007 Men’s Interest
7008 Women’s Interest
7009 Home & Garden
7010 Health, Mind & Body
Online Resources (Websites, eMagazines and Blogs)
8001 Children
8002 Teens / Young Adult
8003 Family/Parenting
8004 Adults
9001 Babies
9002 Toddlers
9003 Preschoolers
9004 Ages 5 to 8
9005 Ages 9 to 12
9006 Young Adults
9007 Adults
10001 Inspirational, Motivational or Self-Improvement Product
10002 Gift Cards, Invitations & Stationary
10003 Gift Items, Gift Books & Ornaments
10004 Philanthropic Product/Service
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By the submission of the Entry Form and product samples, Entrant agrees to the following:
Entrant company, or it’s duly authorized representative, certifies that all information submitted in the Entry Form is true.
Entrant understands and agrees that the MCA has the right to grant or not grant awards in its sole and absolute discretion, which Entrant agrees not to challenge in any forum or setting, whether public or private.
Entrant certifies that each product that it submits to the MCA complies with all mandatory and voluntary safety standards. Entrant understands and agrees that: (a) any review that the MCA conducts will be limited solely to the guidelines and general criteria outlined herein for the sole benefit of the MCA; and (b) the MCA’s review, analysis, commentary, and/or the grant of an award shall under no circumstances be deemed to constitute any opinion, representation, or warranty as to the safety of the products by any at the MCA, its officers, trustees, directors, agents and employees.
Entrant agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the MCA as well as all of its officers, trustees, directors, agents, employees, successors and assigns, from and against any and all Damages and Claims. “Damages and Claims” are understood and agreed to mean: (a) damages caused by products submitted to the MCA; and (b) claims, demands, causes of action, debts, liabilities, losses or costs (including but not limited to lawyers’ fees and costs), however designated, that relate to the products Entrant has submitted to the MCA and/or any awards granted by the MCA to the Entrant.
Under no circumstances shall the MCA be liable to any party on account of use of the products submitted. Such limitation of liability shall apply to prevent recovery of direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special and exemplary damages, arising from any of use of the products submitted.
Entrant certifies to the MCA that its submission does not infringe upon any other party’s intellectual property rights.
By submitting the Entry Form, Entrant agrees to be bound by the Mom's Choice Image Use Policy, should you be a recipient of an award.