Make a Picture Book Competition

The ReadingZone Picture Book Competition 2019, challenging those aged 4-18 years to make a picture book, has now closed. The winners, chosen by author and illustrator Steven Lenton, will be announced on 24 June.

The picture book competition will be relaunched in January 2020, ready for World Book Day activities. The project can be run as a whole-school project, or with classrooms and individuals making their own picture books. Children and teenagers can also enter the competition individually, from home or via their local library. The competion includes four categories: Young Creators (4-6 years) Primary Award (7-11 years) Secondary Award (11-18 years) Achievement Award - Any ages, for the school with the most enthusiastic approach to the competition. Picture books can be created individually, in partners, in small groups or by whole classes, and young people can use any media in making their picture books. Each setting that has taken part, or individual entrants, will receive a certificate thanking them for entering the competition and a letter with feedback from the judges. Picture book entries can also be returned, where stamped, addressed envelopes are provided. This year's competition will be judged by author and illustrator Steven Lenton, who illustrates picture books and fiction. The prizes for each category include: - A set of 100 worth of books from Macmillan Children's Books, as well as a set of signed books by Steven Lenton - For the Secondary Category, feedback on the winning picture book from agency Plum Pudding. - The overall winner will also win a free author event for their school by author and illustrator Steven Lenton, appropriate to the winner's age range. Making a picture book is an inspiring project for children who love drawing and writing, as well as those those who need encouragement to do either. It can also be used as a project for children who are more reluctant readers and writers, or who prefer the support of group projects to individual work. At Secondary level, the competition can be used as a library activity and it can be incorporated into art and design classes. We have been hugely inspired by the feedback we receive from librarians and teachers about the impact the project has had on young people who have taken part. We would like to thank our sponsors, Bloomsbury Children's Books, Macmillan Children's Books, Nosy Crow Books, Frances Lincoln and QED, for supporting this year's ReadingZone Picture Book competition. Find out more about how to enter and where to send your entries here: