Picture Book Competition Guidelines

The ReadingZone Picture Book Competition 2017 is now open. Here are some guidelines for the competition, which will run through schools, libraries and homes until Saturday 29th April - the final date for entries.

COMPETITION DATES The competition will run from January - Saturday 29th April 2017. The winners will be announced on www.ReadingZone.com in June. WHAT ARE THE CATEGORIES? Author and illustrator Neal Layton (illustrator of That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell) will select the winning entries across three Categories, which include: Young Creators (four to six years); Primary (seven years plus) and Secondary (11 years plus). There is an additional Achievement Award (across all ages) for the most enthusiastic 'behind the scenes' activities that have gone into making the picture book entries, such as the whole school getting involved, groups working well together or entrants sharing their picture books with other children. WHO CAN MAKE A PICTURE BOOK? Picture books entered for the award can be made by individuals, partners or groups and any media can be used. Entrants must be aged four to 18 years. HOW LONG SHOULD MY PICTURE BOOK BE? Each picture book can be up to 24 A4 pages in length (or less than this). WHAT FORMAT SHOULD I USE? Picture book entries must be created in Portrait (upright) rather than Landscape format. This is to enable us to reprint the winning entries. Otherwise, any media can be used in creating picture books, although we ask that novelty elements (flaps, glitter etc) are avoided as these can be difficult to reproduce. WHAT ARE THE PRIZES? Each category winner will receive 50 printed copies of their picture book and the winning picture books will be posted online at www.ReadingZone.com. Prizes for each category winner will also include a set of ten picture books or fiction titles for your school or library. The overall winner will also receive a free author / illustrator visit. HOW SHOULD I ENTER MY PICTURE BOOK? Picture book entries will need to be mailed to ReadingZone, and an online Entry Form completed and printed out to send with your picture book(s). One entry form can be used for multiple entries, although the name of the picture book will need to be added to each form. See full entry details under 'How to enter your picture book(s)' on the main Picture Book Competition page. All schools and libraries that enter the competition will receive a certificate and letter thanking your pupils and groups for taking part. Please email any questions you may have to: [email protected] Subject: Picture book comp You can share your comments and successes on Facebook (ReadingZonePictureBooks) and Twitter (#ReadingZone). We are very grateful to supporters of the picture book competition, including publishers Hachette Children's Books, Macmillan, QED, Frances Lincoln and Templar, as well as authors and illustrators.