The Children's Festival of the Book is holding its first youth illustration contest this year. Be creative. Be thoughtful. Be funny or serious. Draw a single picture or the first page of a graphic novel. Have fun and show your audience what you can do!

Single Picture option:

In Z is for Moose, Author Kelly Bingham and Illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky give us a very silly alphabet book. Your job, in a single-page illustration, is to give us a letter of the alphabet as part of a picture. Think “T is for Toad on a Train” or “S is for Spacemonster” or, as in the book, “Z is for Zebra’s friend, Moose.” You can be straightforward or totally goofy. Push your imagination to the limit.

Graphic Novel option:

If you have read The Book of Ember, you’ll know what an amazing job Jeanne DuPrau does in creating a whole new world. Your job, using words and pictures (or just pictures) is to set the scene of your graphic novel’s world. Show us what the place looks like, but don’t forget other things that will bring your world to life – language, light, clothing, color – and how your drawing style can help reinforce the atmosphere you are creating. You can introduce characters and plot if you want, but don’t try to tell a whole story. This is the fabulous introduction that makes the reader want to turn the page and read on!

Submissions are due by Friday, October 26^th.

Turn in your creative work at the Children's desk at the Bozeman Public Library or at the Country Bookshelf. Entries can be in any two-dimensional medium. Attach a sheet to the back of your piece with your name, address, phone number or email address, age, and the title of your piece. Entries will be judged by local artists, librarians, and literary professionals.

entries should be no smaller than 8 ½ X 11”, and no larger than 11 x17”

The winners will be announced on Saturday, November 3^th at Festival of the Book.

Prizes (PRIZES!!) provided by local businesses.

Sponsored by Children's Festival of the Book and Country Bookshelf