The Golden Duck Award is for books of the previous year copyright. We allow two years for a book that is first published outside of the United States because of difficulty in finding these titles. Books that are a collection need to have stories that belong to that year and not previously published.
Picture Book
The award is given to the illustrator. and author as both are equally responsible.   The book should be more science fiction than fantasy. This is hard at the picture book level but we are looking for some evidence that it is done by science rather than magic.
Middle Grades (Elenanor Cameron Award)
The book should be more science fiction than fantasy and written for grades 2-6 approximately. We are looking for "chapter books" and illustrations may be there, but it is the words that count. Good characterization is essential. We prefer that main characters be problem solvers and science users rather than someone who has to be rescued.
Hal Clement (Young Adult Award)
This award is named after Hal Clement, the pen name of Harry Stubbs, who is a well known science fiction writer and science teacher. He helps children's science fiction programming wherever he goes and is an all-round nice guy. The award is for science fiction books of grades 6-12 that have a young adult protagonist. The science should be as correct as possible, but still a good story.
Special Awards
Sometimes we have created special awards such as "Strong Female Characters" or "Australian Contribution--done for the World Science Fiction Convention in Melborne" to best promote science fiction for children. These awards are done on as we see fit basis.
Anyone may suggest a title for Golden Duck consideration. These suggestions are read and eventually a finalist list of 5-6 titles in each category is generated. A jury of readers that have agreed to read all books for that level get together in person or electronically and use Australian ballot to decide on the winning book.
ung adult protagonist. The science should be as correct as possible, but still a good story.

Submission Guidelines