The Just for Mom Foundation announced its 2009 Mom’s Choice Awards, an awards program that includes recognition for books, magazines, and more. The Mom’s Choice Awards are currently accepting submissions for the 2009 event from now until October 15 2008. The purpose of the Mom’s Choice Awards is to allow parents, teachers, and guardians to choose highly-regarded material for their children, in an effort to enhance literacy and critical thinking.

This annual competition also gives authors, companies, and creative designers the opportunity to be recognized for their products.

The panel of judges includes Julie Aigner-Clark, creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project, Jodee Blanco, a New York Times Best-Selling author, Florrie Binford Kichler, an award-winning publisher, Dr. Twila C. Liggett, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow, and Tara Paterson, founder of The Just for Mom Foundation, the Mom’s Choice Awards, and the website www.justformom.com

The renowned panel of judges is required to critique submissions using a scoring ranking including educational value, quality, design, originality, and overall appeal.

The Mom’s Choice Awards celebrates education and creativity with over 100 submission categories such as children’s picture books, young adult books, music, educational video games, family and parenting books, and literary fiction.

The Mom’s Choice Awards will also be at Book Expo America later this month (May 29-June 1), where several literary leaders and celebrity guests will be, ensuring an exciting and worthwhile event.

Founder of The Just for Mom Foundation, Tara Paterson has a great blog that discusses the Book Expo and more about the Mom’s Choice Awards. She also has interview slots should you wish a more personal exchange. Interviews will be taking place on May 30, so make sure to reserve your place before it’s taken.
Check out Tara’s blog at http://www.momschoiceawards.blogspot.com

Past recipients of the Mom’s Choice Awards include:

The Beacon Street Girls, 2005/2006 recipient
By Annie Bryant
Children’s Chapter Books Category

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, 2005 recipient
By Ann Brashares
Young Adults Category

Waiting for the World to End, 2007 recipient
By Nicole Hunter
Adult Fiction Category

Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand, 2005/2006 recipient
By Jay, Liz, and Alex Scott
Children’s Picture Books Category

Oh Baby!: 7 Ways a Baby Will Change your Life for the Better, 2007 recipient
By Susan M. Heim
Parenting Books Category

The 2007/2008 Special Recognition categories include the Author of the Year, awarded to Pam Leo, author of Connection Parenting and the Mom Entrepreneur of the Year, awarded to Wendy Tuey, president of ProudBody, Inc.

To learn more about the Mom’s Choice Awards, visit http://www.momschoiceawards.com