Here's a roundup of grant opportunities, contests, and award submissions for educators and aspiring authors.

CSK Book Awards Donation Grant

The Coretta Scott King Book Award (CSK) has recognized "outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values." In addition to the winning titles, dozens of worthy books are submitted to the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT) of the American Library Association for consideration each year. The CSK Book Awards Donation Grant helps ensure that the books are distributed to areas of greatest need by offering copies to organizations, especially underfunded ones, that provide educational services to children and are looking to expand their book collections. The Book Grant Donation Committee is now accepting applications at http://www.ala.org/rt/emiert/coretta-scott-king-book-awards-donation-grant-application. Deadline for applying is January 31. Criteria and guidelines can be found on the grant website. Applications can come from any location, but shipping and handling charges must be paid by the recipient.

#StrivingReaders Giveaway

My Letters alive journals use augmented reality to teach and entertain.

Follett and Alive Studios have announced #StrivingReaders Giveaway,  an opportunity for educators to win augmented reality software for their school and classroom. The grand prize is a $5,000 Learning alive Plus Suite on a Sprout Pro by HP with a one-hour online training session. Second prize is a My Letters alive Journal Classroom 20-Pack. Any PreS–Gr 12 educational institution can enter by filling out a submission form here. Chance to win the giveaway ends February 9.

Ezra Jack Keats Mini-Grant Program

Ezra Jack Keats Foundation offers mini-grants up to $500 for public schools, public libraries, and public preschool programs to provide creative, innovative programs that support or extend the Common Core Standards in education. Programs may serve children from PreS–Gr 12. Instructions for applying can be found at How to Apply for a Mini-Grant, then click on the link to the application. All completed applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET March 31.

IWitness Video Challenge

In an effort to spark a social movement against hatred in all forms, USC Shoah Foundation and Discovery Education has launched the fifth annual IWitness Video Challenge. The 2018 IWitness Video Challenge encourages students to make a change in communities nationwide. First, students will hear testimonies of survivors and witnesses of genocide. They will then complete a research-based and standards-aligned activity. Participants will then develop a community action project to counter hate. To be considered for the IWitness Video Challenge, students must document their experience in a video essay for submission. The student who creates the national winning entry will receive a $5,000 scholarship. Second place is a $1,000 scholarship; third place, a $500 scholarship. The educator associated with the national winning entry will receive a $1,000 grant "to inspire, impact, and implement change" in their school. The school or organization associated with the national winning entry will receive a $2,500 grant to be used to implement change in their community. Submissions are being accepted through April 13. For more information and complete rules, visit their website.

LITTLE, BROWN EMERGING ARTIST AWARD

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (LBYR) is seeking accomplished picture book submissions for the Little, Brown Emerging Artist Award. Submissions must incorporate the award’s mission statement: "to encourage the development of high-quality children’s picture books that resonate with readers of diverse backgrounds and experiences, that in some manner draw from the rich cultural experiences of this country—whether they manifest in character, theme, setting, plot, or are derived simply from the artist’s own experience of identity. Diversity includes literal or metaphorical inclusion of characters of underrepresented ethnicity, religious background, gender identity, class, mental or physical disability, or any other nondominant populations."

Award-winning author/illustrator Grace Lin will judge the submissions. Photo credit: Alan Bradley

Submission must be an original story idea, an original take on a classic story, or nonfiction incorporating the award’s mission statement; a mock-up of no more than 32 pages of text (no more than 1,200 words), sketches, and at least six pages of finished art (see sample); and mock-up text to be written in English and appropriate for children up to eight years of age; and a "Portfolio" of at least six additional pieces of sample art that is representative of your work. Professional children’s book illustrators or authors, individuals represented by book publishing agents, or individuals whose works have been previously published by any book publisher are not eligible to enter, however, self-published authors may enter. The winner receives American Express gift cards totaling $1,500, round-trip travel for the winner to New York City; a day at LBYR’s offices in New York, including lunch with an editor, an art director, and the Artist Mentor, an in-person portfolio review by the Artist Mentor and the LBYR publishing staff, and a tour of the office; and an opportunity for the winning submission to be reviewed by LBYR’s editorial team for possible future publication. (A subsequent book publishing deal, if any, would be separately negotiated, and is not considered part of the award). A submission form can be found at http://lbartistaward.com/submit and must be entered by 11:59 p.m. ET May 15.