A Celebration of the Diversity and Vitality of Publishing in the West

The Bookbuilders West Book Show is one of the largest and most prestigious events of its kind in the United States. Each year the entries are judged by a panel of experts to recognize entries that exhibit superior execution and innovation. The Book Show culminates in a gala banquet where all entries are displayed and winning entries are presented with Certificates of Excellence. Award-winning entries are showcased in a custom-made, hardcover catalog, which is distributed to attendees of the banquet. In addition, the award-winning books form a traveling show that is displayed throughout the year at various locations around the country.

 
CATEGORIES
To ensure that entries are evaluated with the appropriate criteria in mind, eight main categories (and subcategories) have been established to recognize the intended use of the book, as well as the demands, constraints, challenges, and opportunities that exist in each category.

The categories of submission for covers and jackets are the same as those for books. Covers and jackets may be submitted for consideration without entering the accompanying books, but if a cover or jacket is entered with its book, it is not eligible for a separate award. As a result, if a book receives an award, its cover or jacket will not receive a separate certificate.

Children's Trade (formerly Trade/Juvenile)   This category includes books varying in subject matter and created specifically for the enjoyment and enrichment of a young audience. In addition, innovative products that package non-book elements with a book and encourage participation and experimentation may be submitted in the Book Plus subcategory as long as the book component is the main focus.

The three Children's Trade subcategories include:
(1) One and two color
(2) Four color and up
(3) Book Plus: books that incorporate special manufacturing elements (such as die-cut or pop-ups) or novelty-type products (such as board, foam, fabric, plastic), as well as books that utilize interactive electronics. The book must be the primary component of the product.

Professional Trade (formerly Education and Instruction)   This category includes books designed for business or pro-fessional development that are intended for individual use. These books provide general guidance to the working professional or teach specific technical or professional skills by presenting material as commentary and explication (such as computer books or legal guides). Books in this category are often packaged with CDs or other media.

The two Professional Trade subcategories include:
(1) One and two color
(2) Four color and up

Reference and Scholarly   This category includes highly specialized texts of primary interest to an academic or research readership and also reference works for a general audience that are intended to be consulted rather than read continuously. These books can vary from encyclopedic resources, desk references, and dictionaries to collections of professor's writings and other scholarly works. They are primarily text driven but may contain graphics and illustrations.

The two Reference and Scholarly subcategories include:
(1) One and two color
(2) Four color and up

School Publishing (formerly Education and Instruction)   Books in this category are intended for classroom use at the elementary through post-graduate level, including student and instructor editions, and ancillary components physically attached to the principal print product. Also included are books targeted for adult continuing education and vocational training that are intended for a hands-on, classroom-like environment.

The two School Publishing subcategories include:
(1) One and two color
(2) Four color and up

Small Press and Fine or Handmade Titles   Books in this category exemplify the bookmaking craft. These include original, innovative, experimental, and collectors' books that may feature handmade paper, hand-binding, hand-set typography, or calligraphy.

There are no Small Press and Fine or Handmade Titles subcategories.

Special Trade   Books in this category do not fit comfortably into the other trade and reference categories. These can include specialized genres such as novelty books, cookbooks, gift books, health and fitness books, travel books, or field guides that utilize a creative or decorative design, illustrations, photography, and packaging to illustrate the content of the book.

The three Special Trade subcategories include:
(1) One and two color
(2) Four color and up
(3) Book Plus: books that incorporate special manufacturing elements (such as die-cut or pop-ups) or novelty-type products (such as board, foam, fabric, plastic), as well as books that utilize interactive electronics. The book must be the primary component of the product.

Trade, Image Driven   This category includes books of general interest that are designed to maximize their illustrative appeal. These books are published primarily for their visual content, which consists of photographs, illustrations, or other graphics. Books in this category include, but are not limited to, photographic essays and fine art editions, museum guides, and historical picture books.

There are no Trade, Image Driven subcategories.

Trade, Text Driven   This category includes books of general interest that are published primarily for their text content. Photographs, illustrations, or other graphics serve as an accessory to the text. Books in this category include, but are not limited to, fiction, nonfiction, prose, and poetry.

There are no Trade, Text Driven subcategories.

 
JUDGING CRITERIA
Each entry is judged on its own merits - regardless of category - and evaluated for its excellence. Entries are judged individually, not against other books, covers, or jackets. There is only one level of award.

Judges for the categories are selected for their knowledge and experience in those segments. Entrants may receive judges comments following the Book Show banquet. The judges examine and evaluate entries with respect to the following classifications:

Design  Is the style and size of type appropriate to the intended market? Is the arrangement of type and graphics effective and functional? Are graphic elements creatively planned, purposeful, and well executed? Is the use of color effective and appropriate? Were budget constraints an issue? Have the inserts, cover, jacket, endpapers, and other components been designed to complement and enrich the book as a whole? Does the design help the reader understand the author's intent?

Production  Do typesetting and page makeup demonstrate high standards and well-recognized practices of the bookmaking craft? Do illustrations and photographic images have good tonal range between shadows and highlights? Is detail held in highlight and shadow areas?

Manufacturing  Is the printing well executed with respect to inking, register, and image clarity? Has suitable paper been used? Are margins consistent and page backup accurate? Is the printing of component elements, such as cover, jacket, inserts, and endpapers, consistent with the quality of the text printing? Is the book bound according to the best practices of bindery craftsmanship?

If you have questions about the Book Show, please contact Bill Ralph, (510) 623-9741 or bookshow@bookbuilders.org.