Details and elements for consideration:
- Fiction books for K-6
- Published in North America this year (2026)
- Demonstrates and/or encourages the reader to be an Upstander
- $300 prize to the author
- Deadline for submission is October 30th, 2026
As Antioch has shifted its connection to the award, we are pleased to announce our new partnership with Village Well, a community book store that among other things is the proud parent of a Village Van, a mobile bookstore seeking to put new and relevant books into the hands of people in underserved communities. They provide readers with access to authors, illustrators and educators to harness the power of storytelling while fostering community and enriching lives. Antioch remains the foundation of this award with their more than 150 year history of social justice education
We define an Upstander as a person who recognizes injustice and acts in a way to right the wrong. The goal of this award is to provide children with examples of Upstander behavior and to encourage them to be one themselves. Being an Upstander is a foundational skill necessary in the support of a democracy. Our selection committee consists of Los Angeles residents so we only need to request one copy of the nominated book. If you have books that you would like to nominate for the 2026 year, please forward them to:
Dr. J. Cynthia McDermott
2107 Stradella Road
Los Angeles, CA 90077
Many thanks for all that you do for our children as you support our writers and illustrators. I hope you find this award as intriguing as our AULA community does. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at mcdprof@hotmail.com