The Washington Center for  the Book is seeking judges for the 2020 Washington State Book Awards. Judges are asked to read and evaluate books by Washington authors, collaborating with other judges through a series of online meetings and meetings in-person for deliberations. The organizers say that judges should be prepared for a significant commitment of time. Last year nearly 400 books were submitted for the awards.

Three judges are needed for the youth panel to review submissions in all categories — picture books, books for young readers, and young adult books.

Five judges are needed in the adult panel to review submissions in all five categories — fiction, poetry, general nonfiction, creative nonfiction, and biography/memoir.

The  Application for Judging the 2020 Washington State Book Awards is due by January 10, 2020. Those selected will be contacted by mid January.  For more information, see the Washington Center for the Book’s website at www.washingtoncenterforthebook.org.