It’s okay.

We’ve all done it.

Stripped off the dust jacket to expose the naked underbelly of that brand new picture book. Peeked underneath the taped-on-Mylar of library books, desperate for an Easter egg or two. Sighed with delight and intrigue when we catch a glimpse of that unexpected story.

When the case cover functions as a design feature, we’re all aflutter.

Are you?

Go on. Look underneath.

Carter Higgins of Design of the Picture Book and I are proud to announce a new award dedicated to the case cover: The Undies

What is a case cover? This is a case cover. And we want to award the cream of the crop.

Here’s how The Undies will work:

Now through November 1st, 2016 we are accepting nominations* for the best case covers of 2016.

In November, Carter and I will announce shortlists in a variety of categories and then we’ll open up the polls. The winner will be decided by popular vote (see also: you). We’ll announce the winners shortly thereafter.

*To nominate a case cover for the 2016 Undies:

1. Check out the case cover gallery we have going at Design of the Picture Book – if the case cover you want to nominate is already there, no need to nominate it again.
2. Make sure your nomination was published in 2016.
3. If the case cover you want to nominate is not in the gallery and was published in 2016, take a picture and send it to Carter at carterhiggins (at) gmail (dot) com. Put THE UNDIES in the subject line.

Anyone (including publishers) can nominate.

It’s time to recognize this unsung part of the book – what do you say?