Effective this year, the Tomie dePaola Award will become the Narrative Art Award, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators has announced. A rotating panel of judges from the SCBWI board of advisors will provide an assignment and will judge the submissions annually. The first assignment of the Narrative Art Award will be announced in July, with submissions due in September. The winner, to be unveiled in November, will attend the SCBWI 2018 Winter Conference.
According to the SCBWI, the assignment will always require three images, in the format of panels, to show sequence and narrative. The theme and specific assignment changes each year. The prize continues to be a trip to the SCBWI New York Winter conference, with tuition, travel and hotel included. The winning piece will be displayed during the New York VIP Party and Portfolio Showcase. SCBWI is also continuing the tradition of having an online gallery to display submissions to the award for anyone who wants to participate.