Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award

The Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award recognizes unpublished manuscripts of Jewish fiction targeting ages 8-13. The award was established by Sydney’s husband Ralph Taylor to encourage aspiring authors of Jewish children’s books. It was first awarded in 1985. The winner receives a cash award of $1000.

The committee defines an unpublished author as not having previously published any works of fiction for young readers. This includes self-published as well as commercially published work. The manuscript must be a work of fiction in English with universal appeal of Jewish content for readers aged 8-13 years, both Jewish and non-Jewish. It should reveal positive aspects of Jewish life. Short stories are not acceptable.

While AJL cannot guarantee publication, the prize money has been an incentive for writers with varying experience to try their hands at writing for this genre. The award carries prestige in the publishing world and several Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award winners have subsequently been published. Published books that have won the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award prior to publication are eligible to carry the Sydney Taylor Manuscript seal. To order seals to place on your own copies of winning titles, please contact the chair of the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Committee.

The next call for submissions will be placed in the fall of 2023.

The winner will be announced in January. Questions can be referred to the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award coordinator, Aileen Grossberg.