Frequently Asked Questions (for Readers) (for KidLit Creators)

Discover books by people who live in your own state – maybe even your own neighborhood! Our Read Local Challenge features traditionally-published authors and illustrators from Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C. — We can’t wait to meet you!**

Click here to tell us which books you’ve read, and nominate a school or library to win a box of Read Local Challenge books from us!

We invite all schools, libraries, home school groups, scout troops … groups of any size to join us! Take the challenge to read as many of our challenge books as you can, and visit our websites or check out our events calendar to find our already-scheduled book signings and events. Then contact us to schedule an in-person or virtual visit to your school or library! You can even click the “Downloadable Games & Activities” button below to connect to teacher resource pages on many of our individual websites.

Click here for the Read Local Challenge Rules.

**In addition to the discounted rates on our speaking fees for the challenge year, each author/illustrator will donate their time to connect with ONE (1) class/group (up to 30 students) in our “Adopt a KidLit Creator” program, similar to the #KidsNeedMentors program. You may request ONE (1) author/illustrator connection per school, per challenge year. We will assign an author or illustrator for your class based on location, availability, and requested challenge level. If you want to invite any of our Read Local KidLit Creators (including the one you have “adopted”) to do a full presentation for your school, make sure to mention the challenge! All of the Read Local Challenge KidLit Creators agree to give a 10% discount on their speaking fees for the entire challenge year.

Multi-author/illustrator visits at special rates are also available.

If you have a set budget and/or you’d like to set up a special multi-author/illustrator panel for your school, library or organization, please contact Veronica Bartles, Assistant Regional Advisor for SCBWI MD/DE/WV, at mddewv-ara@scbwi.org

The books in our challenge may have been published by many different publishers (Harper Collins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and more), but all of the books were written and/or illustrated by members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators from Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and Washington D.C. Travel with us from the ocean to the desert, and all around the world! Find stories that happened Once Upon a Time, in the future, or right here and now … And meet remarkable, real-life heroes. Have an adventure without leaving your own back yard, when you Read Local with us!

Picture Book Challenge | Middle Grade Challenge | YA Challenge

Our Past Read Local Challenge Books: (Spring 2017) (2017-18) (2018-19) (2019-20)