Category: contests

NYS Sheep And Wool Festival Contest/Giveaway for Can’t Sleep Without Sheep

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[To all my regular devoted readers, this post is a special one for the NYS Sheep And Wool Festival and you may read it or skip it as you wish :)]

Come Join The Fun At The 2013 New York State Sheep And Wool Festival!!!
October brings fresh apples, autumn leaves, and the NYS Sheep And Wool Festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY!
Come join me on Saturday October 19 from 11-3, with a special story time at 12:15 when I’ll read Can’t Sleep Without Sheep!
While you’re waiting for the Sheep & Wool Festival to get here, you can do something fun!
In Can’t Sleep Without Sheep, Ava has a hard time falling asleep so she counts sheep.  But she has to count them so many times that they get tired and quit!  Ava has to find something else to count instead!
illustration copyright Mike Wohnoutka 2009
For a chance to win a free, signed copy of Can’t Sleep Without Sheep, you can do one of two fun things!
1.  On a piece of paper, write down what animal Ava could count instead of sheep and why it would be a good choice for falling asleep.
OR
2. Draw a picture of an animal Ava could count!  (You can draw on your own piece of paper or use this free downloadable page)
Bring your entry with you to the Merritt Bookstore booth in Building B on Saturday October 19 by 1 PM (but come at 12:15 if you want to hear the story!)  Please make sure your name is on your entry.  After the story, we will randomly choose one winner to receive a free, signed copy of the book.  You must be present to win.
My friend, Iza Trapani, will also be at the festival reading her delightful book, Baa Baa Black Sheep!  Please visit her site for a chance to win a book from her, and be sure to come see her at the festival on Saturday between 9 and 12:30 or on Sunday from 10-5!
If you’re excited to share you entry ideas or drawings, you are welcome to post them in the comment section below.  You can also take a picture of your drawing and email it to me at susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com and I will be glad to add it to this post so visitors can enjoy your artwork!
Have fun writing and drawing!  I look forward to seeing you at the festival!

Announcing The Winners of The 4th Of July Secret Mystery Contest!!!

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Good Morning, Everyone!

Thank goodness it’s finally morning, right?

Because I know none of you got a wink of sleep last night wondering WHO would be the WINNER of the

The Fourth Of July Secret Mystery Writing Contest!
WHO ATE THE BLUEBERRIES???!!!

But now the day is finally here.

And I will tell you who won.

Just as soon as I find my glasses…

Ah.  Here they are.

Heavens!  I can’t see a thing!

Hang on while I wash the lenses.

You know, I used to have perfect vision.  But somewhere in the last couple years I have become very dependent on my glasses.  I think it’s all this computer time.  Or maybe my extreme old age…

What?

I’m rambling?

I told you.  It’s my extreme old age 🙂

Okay.  I’ll stop 🙂

Are you ready to find out who won?

Before I announce the winners, I just want to thank everyone who participated in the contest one more time – the writers, the readers, the voters.  These contests are so much fun, and they couldn’t happen without each and every one of you.  So thank you all.

Now then.

Drum roll, please!

RATATATTATATATTATATATTATATAT!!!!!

The winner of The Fourth Of July Secret Mystery Writing Contest is

Cheryl
with her story
Mouse’s Missing Magic!!!

Congratulations, Cheryl, on a fabulously written entry which has won you the opportunity to have the picture book manuscript of your choice critiqued by none other than the one and only Simone Kaplan!

2nd Place goes to Joanne for her story Mixed Messages!!!  Congratulations, Joanne!!  (Now aren’t you glad you entered? :))

As second place winner, Joanne gets first choice of the remaining prizes:

 – a $50 Amazon gift certificate – Joanne
 – a picture book manuscript critique from yours truly (a $75 value) Sidney
 – the writing craft book of your choice (up to $30 value)
 – a place in Making Picture Book Magic (my online PB writing course) (a $99 value)

3rd Place goes to Sidney for her story Birthday Presents For America!!  Congratulations, Sidney!!  You get second choice of the prizes above after Joanne picks.

4th Place goes to Tina for her story Fishing Boat For Freedom!!  Congratulations, Tina!!  You get to pick after Joanne and Sidney 🙂

5th Place goes to Cathy for her story Guessing Game!!  Congratulations, Cathy!!  You get to pick after Joanne, Sidney and Tina 🙂

Winners, please email me and we will get all those prizes sorted out 🙂

And once again, congratulations to all our contestants!  I have to say, you are all winners by virtue of the fact that you took the time to practice your craft, write new stories to specifications and a deadline, and put them out there for people to read.  You know that whole 10,000 hours to mastery thing?  You’re all a little bit closer 🙂

Thanks to everyone for making this another great contest.  I look forward to seeing you all in October for the 3rd Annual Halloweensie Contest!  (Unless I can’t restrain myself and add another contest somewhere in between…  I’m not sure there’s time, but feel free to weigh in on whether you’d like one and what it should be :))

Have a great weekend, everyone!!!

The 4th Of July Secret Mystery Writing Contest!!!

160 Comments

FINALLY!  It’s here!

The Fourth Of July Secret Mystery Writing Contest!
WHO ATE THE BLUEBERRIES???!!!

I am so excited about this!  I look forward to these contests so much because so many wonderful, talented writers contribute such fantastic stories!  I can’t wait to read what you’ve all come up with this time!!!

The Contest:  Write a children’s story, in poetry or prose, maximum 400 words about the 4th of July in which a secret is revealed or a mystery is solved!

You may choose any 4th of July setting you like: country, city or small town, sleepaway camp or vacation, with family or friends or all alone, at a parade, a picnic, a fireworks show or a bonfire, in the middle of the woods or in a country where the locals don’t celebrate 4th of July.  Your secret or mystery doesn’t have to be anything earth-shattering.  It could be who took Granny’s award-winning Fourth of July cherry pie?  Or what did Robin tell Sarah who told Olivia who told Gracie about Anna in cabin 7?  Or where did the flags for the parade disappear to?  Or why doesn’t Becky Sue want to go to the fireworks show? Or what Old Mrs. Hootenspiegal knows about the mayor!  Just as long as a secret or mystery of some kind is revealed or solved by the end.

Post:  Your entry should be posted on your blog between Monday July 1 at 12:01 AM EDT and Friday July 5 at 11:59 PM EDT, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list below which will remain up through Sunday July 7 (no Would You Read It on Wednesday July 3… and although the post will remain up through Sunday to give everyone plenty of time to read and enjoy, the entry list will be closed at midnight Friday so we have time to judge).  If you don’t have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comments on this post by midnight Friday July 5th.  (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please email me and I’ll post your entry for you!)

The Judging:  My lovely assistant and I will narrow down the entrants to five (or possibly a couple more :)) finalists which will be posted here on Monday July 8 for you to vote on for a winner.  The vote will be closed at 6 PM EDT on Thursday July 11 and the winner will be announced on Friday July 12.

The Prizes!:  The first place winner will receive (I am not making this up!) a picture book manuscript critique from Simone Kaplan!!!!!  Yes, THE Simone Kaplan!!!  I wish I knew how to put that up in lights and make it all sparkly! 🙂  Simone Kaplan has been editing children’s books and magazines for over 20 years.  She was an editor at Henry Holt and Company, and then a Senior Editor at HarperCollins.  More recently she has worked as a consultant to various authors, illustrators, and publishing houses.  She also runs a wonderful website called Picture Book People (where you can sign up for her free newsletter among other things.)  A prize like this makes me wish I could compete in my own contest! 🙂

If we get more than 15 entries, we will place through 3rd.  If we get more than 25 entires we will place through 5th.  Additional prizes will include:
 – a $50 Amazon gift certificate
 – a picture book manuscript critique from yours truly (a $75 value)
 – the writing craft book of your choice (up to $30 value)
 – a place in Making Picture Book Magic (my online PB writing course) (a $99 value)

Here is my sample (and I will admit this was a REAL challenge for me!  I’ve never tried writing a mystery before (as I’m sure you’ll be able to tell!), so that was hard enough, but fitting it into 400 words nearly killed me!  In fact, I didn’t quite manage, but it was past my bedtime.  I had to cut so much out to get it near the word count that I’m not sure it even makes sense anymore 🙂  Be forewarned this may qualify as the worst story I’ve ever written – that’s what happens when you over-schedule and write at the last minute! 🙂

The 4th Of July Parade

Lola longed to lead the Crumb Creek 4th of July Parade.
But Granny crashed her motorcycle and broke her arm, and it looked like there would be no 4th of July Pie this year.
“Never mind the parade,” said Lola.  “I’ll help you bake.”
“Fiddlesticks!” said Granny.  “I can bake pie with one hand tied behind my back!”
Lola gave her a hug.  “I’ll be your other hand right after tryouts.”
“Knock their socks off, Sugar-Pie!” said Granny.
At tryouts, the boys hopped on YankeeDoodlePony one after another. Lola hated to admit it, but they were pretty good riders.
When it was her turn, Lola rode her best.
Afterwards George said, “You won’t win.”
“I have just as much chance as you,” said Lola.
Henry said, “You’re too small.”
“I’m the right size for YankeeDoodlePony,” said Lola.
Billy said, “You’re not a boy.  Yankee Doodle was a boy.”
Lola had nothing to say to that.
“This year, the leader will be Lola!” announced Mayor Fluffbottom.
Billy had nothing to say to that.
George stuck his tongue out at Lola, but she was too happy to care.
“They picked me, Granny!” Lola sang, rolling piecrust while Granny picked one-handed through seventeen quarts of blueberries.
“I knew they would!” said Granny.
By bedtime, fifty pies cooled on the counters.
“How will you get these to the Village Green without your motorcycle?” worried Lola.
“I’ll figure a way,” said Granny.  “Sweet dreams, Sugar-Pie.  Big day tomorrow!”
In the morning Lola raced to the barn.
“Hey!” said Billy.  “YankeeDoodlePony is gone!”
“What?” Lola gasped.
George and Henry smirked.
“What did you do with him?” demanded Lola.
“Nothing!” the boys insisted.
The parade started in thirty minutes!
Lola had to find YankeeDoodlePony!
“Help me look for him!” she begged.
They searched high and low, but YankeeDoodlePony was nowhere to be found.
Lola discovered hoofprints and wheel tracks on the driveway.
“It looks like someone drove a pony out here, but he’s long gone.  I guess I won’t be leader after all,” Lola said miserably.
Clip-clop-rattle-rattle.
YankeeDoodlePony came down the road at a smart trot pulling a little cart.  Granny drove one-handed!
“Sorry I’m late, Sugar-Pie!  Had to deliver the pies!”
Lola turned to Billy, Henry and George.  “I’m sorry I thought you hid YankeeDoodlePony,” she said.
“That’s okay,” said Billy.
Lola hopped aboard YankeeDoodlePony
George handed her the flag.
Then Lola rode out to lead the 4th of July Parade.
She sat tall and straight and proud.
YankeeDoodlePony pricked his ears and pranced.
The American flag waved its stars and stripes in the hot breeze.
The crowd along the sidewalk cheered.
And afterwards, there was 4th of July Pie for everyone!

Now then!  That was quite spectacularly awful!  So I hope it will fill you all with confidence, because I know you can all do better than that!

CAN’T WAIT to read your stories!!!  Don’t forget to add your post-specific links below, or copy and paste to the comment section!  Look for Sidney, Sian, Pam, Michele, and Brianna’s stories in the comments.

Look What’s Coming! The 4th of July Secret Mystery Writing Contest!

50 Comments

It’s that time again!!!  Writing Contest time!!!  Yippee-aye-oh-hurray!!!

I know none of you got a wink of sleep this weekend, waiting for the contest announcement, so I won’t keep you waiting another second 🙂  (Plus, I want to give you all plenty of time to get your entries written in case you have plans during Fourth of July week… write now, you’ll be all ready to go and can settle in when you have a few minutes here and there to read all the wonderful entries as they come in with your kids and families! :))

The Fourth Of July Secret Mystery Writing Contest!
WHO ATE THE BLUEBERRIES???!!!

The Contest:  Write a children’s story, in poetry or prose, maximum 400 words about the 4th of July in which a secret is revealed or a mystery is solved!

You may choose any 4th of July setting you like: country, city or small town, sleepaway camp or vacation, with family or friends or all alone, at a parade, a picnic, a fireworks show or a bonfire, in the middle of the woods or in a country where the locals don’t celebrate 4th of July.  Your secret or mystery doesn’t have to be anything earth-shattering.  It could be who took Granny’s award-winning Fourth of July cherry pie?  Or what did Robin tell Sarah who told Olivia who told Gracie about Anna in cabin 7?  Or where did the flags for the parade disappear to?  Or why doesn’t Becky Sue want to go to the fireworks show? Or what Old Mrs. Hootenspiegal knows about the mayor!  Just as long as a secret or mystery of some kind is revealed or solved by the end.

Post:  Your entry should be posted on your blog between Monday July 1 at 12:01 AM EDT and Friday July 5 at 11:59 PM EDT, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list on the official Fourth Of July Secret Mystery Contest post which will go up on my blog on Monday July 1 and remain up through Sunday July 7 (no Would You Read It on Wednesday July 3… and although the post will remain up through Sunday to give everyone plenty of time to read, the entry list will be closed at midnight Friday so we have time to judge).  If you don’t have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comments on my July 1st post by midnight Friday July 5th.  (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please email me and I’ll post your entry for you!)

The Judging:  My lovely assistant and I will narrow down the entrants to five (or possibly a couple more :)) finalists which will be posted here on Monday July 8 for you to vote on for a winner.  The vote will be closed at 6 PM EDT on Thursday July 11 and the winner will be announced on Friday July 12.

The Prizes!:  The first place winner will receive (I am not making this up!) a picture book manuscript critique from Simone Kaplan!!!!!  Yes, THE Simone Kaplan!!!  I wish I knew how to put that up in lights and make it all sparkly! 🙂  Simone Kaplan has been editing children’s books and magazines for over 20 years.  She was an editor at Henry Holt and Company, and then a Senior Editor at HarperCollins.  More recently she has worked as a consultant to various authors, illustrators, and publishing houses.  She also runs a wonderful website called Picture Book People (where you can sign up for her free newsletter among other things.)  A prize like this makes me wish I could compete in my own contest! 🙂

If we get more than 15 entries, we will place through 3rd.  If we get more than 25 entires we will place through 5th.  Additional prizes will include critiques, gift certificates and signed books.  (Details to come.)

So put on those thinking caps and start bouncing those ideas off the wall!  Your story could win you a fabulous prize, but win or not, you can be certain your stories will be read with appreciation by LOTS of readers! 🙂

Have a marvelous Monday everyone! 🙂


Vote For You Favorite Jingle! – And Your Favorite Kids Entry!

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Alrighty my friends!  I hope you ate your Wheaties this morning!

Today is the day you get to vote for your favorite jingle!

You’ve got two big decisions ahead of you, so I won’t waste your time with a long intro.  Just go through the entries below, and after you’ve viewed them all, choose your favorite and vote!  Feel free to have your friends and relations visit and vote too.  You will have until Thursday May 16 at noon EDT to cast your vote, and I will announce the winner on Friday after Perfect Picture Books.  The prizes (if you need a refresher) can be viewed HERE.

Oh and BTW, I’m sorry I couldn’t get all the entires to load right here.  I tried.  But you know me and technology.  So I apologize if you have to click.  They should at least all open in separate windows or tabs!

Ready? Set? Vote!

#1 Ruth – rhyme, no tune

Text/Jingle Copyright Ruth Benedum 2013
Illustrations Copyright Mike Wohnoutka 2010

#2 Vivian – rhyme, no tune

Ava Ava needs some sleep.
Ava Ava counts some sheep.
Ava Ava wide awake!
Ava Ava take a break,
Count some pigs and cows instead.
Much too noisy for my bed!
If you please, I need my sleep
Cannot sleep without my sheep.

#3 Nancy – to the tune of Swagger Jagger

You can’t stop reading this book
Reading this book
Reading this book
You can’t stop reading this book
So get a copy now
You can’t stop counting those sheep
Counting those sheep
Counting those sheep
You can’t stop counting those sheep
So get a copy now
Can’t sleep without sheep
Can’t. Can’t.
Can’t sleep without sheep
So get a copy NOW!

#4 Heather – camp chant
Leader:  What do you do when you cannot sleep?
Group:  Call for sheep!  Call for sheep!
Leader:  What will you do when they jump the gate?
Group:  Count and wait!  Count and wait!
Leader:  What are you waiting for?
Group:  Sleep!  Sleep!  Sleep!
Leader:  What kind of sleep?
Group: Long and deep!  
Leader:  What will you do when the sheep wear out?

Group:  Um’s and uh’s and shoulder shrugs. 

Leader:  Sounds like you guys need a back up plan.  Read Susanna Hill’s  E-Book “Can’t Sleep Without Sheep” to find out what  happens after the sheep get tired.

#5 Delores – to the tune of Ghost Riders In The Sky
Go HERE to hear Delores sing it!
Young Ava
she went to bed
one dark and stormy night.
She said “Oh Mommy
please,
please don’t turn out the light.
I’ve lost my sheep
and I can’t sleep
without him by my side.
How will I get to sleep tonight.”
was her mournful cry. 
“I need my sheep.
I need my shee-eep.
No sleep for me tonight.”
Up in the land of happy dreams
her mournful cry was heard
and one brave soul raised his head
and gazed upon his herd.
“We’re needed now
and we must run
to stand by Ava’s side.
If we don’t bleat
she won’t sleep.
Come on my friends, let’s ride.”
“She needs her sheep.
She needs her shee-eep.
Let’s help her sleep tonight.” 
They gathered
all around her bed
their bleating rose on high.
Young Ava smiled
and counted them
as round her bed they’d fly.
“I’ve got some sheep
now I can sleep
and every thing’s all right.
Brave Wulliam and the herd
have come to save the night.
I’ve got some sheep
Now I can slee-eep
Now I can sleep tonight.” 

#6 Iza – please click HERE to hear her jingle to the tune of The Beverly Hillbillies
Or go HERE and click on the link in her post if the above doesn’t work!

#7 Carrie

//www.youtube.com/get_player

#8 Catherine – go HERE to see her video if it doesn’t come up below!
Ava hard time fallin’ asleep
Pigs and hippos too slow
and through the fence go buffalow
Lots of rushin’
Tush Tushin’
Haulin’ and hollerin’
Crowdy and rowdy
Oh sheep…come back!

http://youtu.be/jbo2QsFD9Fo

#9 Penny – Go HERE to see her video!

#10 Julie – Go HERE to see her video if it doesn’t show up below

http://youtu.be/zYi6BRceTig

#11 Erik – please click HERE to see Erik’s sheep rap

#12 Laura – please click HERE to see her video to the tune of Clementine

#13 Tim – please click HERE to see his video if it doesn’t show up below

http://youtu.be/rzsXyiplJK8


KIDS CONTEST

#1 Josie – please click HERE to see her 2 drawings.

#2 Matthew – please click HERE and scroll past Catherine’s video to the TOP drawing

#3 Rylee – please click HERE and scroll past Catherine’s video and Matthew’s drawing to the BOTTOM drawing.

As with the jingle poll, please cast your vote for the kids’ contest winner by Thursday May 16 at noon EDT.

Thank you all for being such good sports about entering and about voting!  Especially since, after all this, the e-book is still not available!  But we had fun anyway!

Looking forward to seeing who the winners will be!!!

Please spread the word to anyone you think would like to vote!

Have a great day, everyone! 🙂

Let’s Talk Sheep – BAAH! A CAAHNTEST!!!

43 Comments

Well, folks, not only is there always adventure around here, there is always excitement! 🙂

First of all, I’m pretty sure my hair has grown at least a millimeter since last week 🙂

Really!

Pretty sure!!

But even more exciting than that, I just found out that Can’t Sleep Without Sheep is being released to E-Book on May 7!!!

 It will be available on all platforms, and it is one of 4 books that Walker has chosen to launch their E-Book line.  For that reason, it is very important that it do well.  It is a representative!  Sallying forth and bearing the flag of honor!  So I really want to help spread the word so that Woolliam and Ava don’t end up hanging their heads in disgrace!

Phyllis is sulking.  She thinks everything should be about her.  And usually it is.

But this week I really think Woolliam and Ava deserve their turn in the limelight.

illustration copyright Mike Wohnoutka 2010

So I put on my Old Thinking Cap and thought to myself, what can we do that will be fun and also help spread the word about the E-Book?

Right away I thought of cake.

Because, as you may have noticed, that is often my first thought.

But although I feel quite sure there will be cake involved, I think this occasion calls for even more than cake.

I know.

The mind reels.

But I want Ava and the sheep to have a chance to kick up their heels and have some fun.

So here’s what I’m thinking…

LET’S HAVE A CONTEST!!!

You know how I love contests 🙂

Here’s what we’ll do:

Write a jingle that makes Can’t Sleep Without Sheep sound irresistible!  So that everyone will want to read it!!  On whatever electronic device they happen to have!!!

You can do straight rhyme like the old roadside Burma Shave commercials, you know, like:

I’ve heard it praised
By drugstore clerks
I tried the stuff
Hot dog!  It works!
Burma Shave!

Or you can do it to a tune (just tell us what is is so we can sing it :)), like:

My bologna has a first name
It’s O-S-C-A-R
My bologna has a second name
It’s M-A-Y-E-R
I love to eat it every day
And if you ask my why I’ll say…
‘Cause Oscar Mayer has a way
With B-O-L-O-G-N-A!
(I’m assuming everyone is familiar with that one, but if not you can view it HERE :))

If you’re REALLY feeling creative, you can post a photo or slide show to accompany your rhyme/jingle, or do a short video so we can hear your rhyme/jingle, preferably featuring the book cover, or a sheep in pajamas or tucked in bed, or a stuffed animal pajama party, or a pillow fight, or stuffed animals demolishing Lincoln Log fences…, or anything fun to do with the story whilst you recite or sing! (And I’ll tell you right now, any entry like this is bound to get extra love from the judges! :))

Doesn’t that sound fun?  Plus it can count as your Short & Sweet for the week 🙂

So that’s it.  You have a whole week to come up with an awesome jingle to help Woolliam and Ava in their quest for fame and fortune 🙂

On Monday May 6 – Tuesday May 7, please post your jingle of awesomeness on your blog and include the link (which I will hopefully have by then to give you!) to the E-Book.  Add your post-specific link to the list that will be here on my post that day.  (And as always, if you’d like to participate but don’t have a blog, you may either post in the comments or email me and I’ll add your entry to my blog post.)

Earn extra points by spreading the word on Face Book and Twitter (and make sure I know by tagging me – Susanna Hill on FB, @SusannaLHill on twitter).  You may do this to your heart’s content all week 🙂

Because of course there’s a prize!

On Monday May 13, we will vote for a winner.  If we get fewer than 15 participants (*sob*) I will post them all here for popular vote.  If we get 16 or more (YAY! :)) my lovely assistant and I will select up to 10 finalists for your voting pleasure.

The winner will receive his or her choice of the following prizes:
#1 The Serenity Spa Gift Basket from It’s Only Natural – a $55 value of organic soaps and lotions!
#2 A $50 gift certificate to Amazon!
#3 Tangy lemon bars, fudgy brownies, and sugared butter cookies from Sweet Sally’s Bakeshop! (A $40+ value)
#4 Winner’s choice of any 3 of my books, specially signed for whoever you like (A $30-$50 value depending on which books you choose)
#5 Winner’s choice of my online picture book writing course (a $99 value) OR a picture book manuscript critique by yours truly (a $75 value)

If we get more than 25 entries, prizes will be given for 1st – 3rd!

IN ADDITION there will be a special contest FOR KIDS!

Download The Sheep Drawing Activity so your child/children/preschool or kindergarten class 🙂 can draw something for Ava to count and/or The Sheep Hats Activity so they can draw hats on the sheep and/or write entertaining captions for what the sheep are saying.

Scan the gorgeous results and post them on your blog and link to the same link list that will be posted here on Monday May 6-Tuesday May 7 – just put (kids) so we’ll know 🙂  (Again, if you want to participate and don’t have a blog, just email me the scanned pictures and I’ll post them for you.)

Kids Contest participants will also be voted on May 13, and of course there will be a prize for that too!  The winner of the Kids Contest will receive either the new Can’t Sleep Without Sheep E-Book on the platform of his/her choice or a signed hardcover copy PLUS a Folkmanis Sheep puppet!

WHEW!  That is so much excitement I’m feeling a little faint.  I think I’m ready for a nap.  And a brownie.  Not necessarily in that order 🙂

I hope you will all join me in going hog-wild (well, I guess SHEEP-wild would be more appropriate in this situation… perhaps BAAHzerk? :)) to help launch this little e-book out into the wide world.  I will be truly and deeply grateful for any and all participation, and I hope the prizes will help make it worthwhile for you 🙂

Thank you, my friends, and have a wonderful day! 🙂

Announcing The Winners Of The In Just Spring Contest!!!

59 Comments

It’s finally here!

The day you’ve all been waiting for!

Monday!

No, seriously, I know you’ve been on pins and needles all weekend, wondering who the winner of a picture book manuscript read and comments by editor Laura Galvin of Kidsbooks was going to be.

And I fully intend to tell you, right after I recite Moby Dick.

“Moby Dick: Or The Whale, by Herman Melville.  Chapter 1.  Loomings.
Call me Ishmael.  Some years ago – never mind how long precisely – having little or no  money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world….”

Hang on.  This is a really long book.  I think I need a drink of water.

Also, it’s really heavy.

And I’m already bored.

Now.  Where was I?

Oh yes.  You were wondering about who won the In Just Spring Contest.

Which reminds me that when I was little, one of my favorite things about spring was that it was finally warm enough to take my pogo stick outside and jump.  I was (and still AM if I may say so) an extremely good pogo sticker.  If only pogo sticking were an Olympic Sport….  Anyway, I grew up in a fourth floor apartment in New York City, and though my mom would let us do many things in the kitchen (roller skate, skate board, climb the walls in the back hall… well, okay, maybe she didn’t exactly let us, but we did it :)) she was very firm about the pogo stick.  It was an outdoor toy.  And our downstairs neighbors had enough trouble dealing with the sound of roller skates and skateboards, and the water damage from the bathtub flooding we perpetrated every night… but that’s another story…  But anyway, technically, a pogo stick is a big spring.  In a way.  So you can see how relevant this story is.  About springing in spring.

Okay.  I’m sorry.  I’ll stop fooling around 🙂

We had the best turnout of writers we’ve ever had for this contest – 42 – a record we’ll have to aim to beat next time 🙂 – and the best turnout of voters for the finalists.  After 4 days of voting (which I know from the comments caused everyone trouble – all the entries were SO GOOD!) the results are in.

AND THE 1st Place WINNER IS:  (DDDRRRUUUMMM RRROOOOOOLLL PLEASE!)

TERESA ROBESON for her story WHAT HENRY KNEW!!!

Congratulations, Teresa!  Winning this contest was no mean feat!  And now, in addition to the fame of winning a Pretty Much World Famous Susanna Hill Contest, you have the opportunity to send one of your picture book manuscripts to editor Laura Galvin at Kidsbooks!  Please email me for details, or, if for some reason you want the alternate prize, please let me know!

2nd Place, and winner of a $25 Amazon gift certificate as well as her choice of the books listed below (unless Teresa for some reason doesn’t want the first place prize in which case they’ll swap) is:

WENDY LAWRENCE for her story LITTLE FOX’S SPRINGS!!!

Congratulations, Wendy!  Fame for you too! 🙂  Please email me with your choice 🙂

3rd place, and winner of her choice of the craft books listed below is:

JILL PROCTOR for her story BREAKFAST TIME FOR A HUNGRY BEAR!!!

Congratulations, Jill!  And there’s plenty of fame to go around 🙂  Please email me with your choice 🙂


Congratulations again, not only to the winners and other finalists, but to ALL the writers who worked hard, polished stories, bravely posted them for all of us to read, and provided us all with wonderful entertainment.

Thank you to all the writers who entered, all the readers who read and commented, and all the voters who agonized and chose.

The contests couldn’t happen without you all! 🙂

Sigh.  So now it’s back to normal blogging life.  I have such fun with the contests that I’m always sorry when they’re over.  But we still have great things to look forward to: a new Would You Read It on Wednesday, new Perfect Picture Books on Friday, Easter candy… although that’s not technically limited to my blog… 🙂

So have a happy and productive Monday, everyone!

Now.  I’m off to hunt down a certain small brown marmot who has some explaining to do about why it’s SNOWING! 🙂

The In Just Spring Contest!!!

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The In Just Spring Contest!

Hurray!  It’s here!!  The In Just Spring Contest!!!  And so timely, because I’m really ready for spring and it doesn’t seem to be obliging just yet 🙂

The Contest:  Write a children’s story, in poetry or prose, maximum 350 words.

The story must be about something that really says “SPRING” to you – something that really makes you feel that spring is here!  It can be nature oriented – the robins or geese returning, eggs hatching, flowers blooming, baby animals being born, bears waking up, sunshine or rain, etc.  It can be holiday oriented – St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, April Fools’ Day etc.  It can be school oriented – the spring pageant, spring vacation, the spring talent show.  It can be activity oriented – picnics, bike riding, baseball – anything at all that makes you think spring.

The only other requirement is that the last line must be “[Character Name] knew Spring was really here!” or “[Character Name] knew Spring was here at last!”  (You can also write in first person if you want – e.g. I knew Spring was really here…. and present tense is fine too.)  I’ve given the rhymers amongst you a choice… but if you can’t make either option work with your rhyme scheme you have permission to tweak it slightly as long as the essential meaning stays the same.

Post:  Your entry should be posted on your blog between Friday March 15 at 12:01 AM EDT and Monday March 18 at 11:59 PM EDT, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list on this post which will remain up through Tuesday March 19 (no new post on Monday March 18).  If you don’t have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comments here.  (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please email me and I’ll post your entry for you!)

The Judge:  My lovely assistant and I will narrow down the entrants to five finalists (or possibly a couple more if we get a lot of entries :)) which will be posted here on Wednesday March 20 (no WYRI that day) for you to vote on for a winner.  The vote will be closed at midnight March 23 and the winner will be announced on Monday March 25.

The Prizes!:
The First Place Winner will get the chance to put one of his/her picture book manuscripts in the hands of editor Laura Galvin of KidsBooks for a read and comments! (and who knows? she might love it! :))

If we get more than 20 entries, prizes will be give through 3rd place.  2nd Place will receive a $25 Amazon gift certificate, and 3rd place will receive his/her choice of the craft books listed below.

Should the winner happen not to be a picture book writer or for some reason not want to show his/her work to an actual real live editor at an actual real live publishing house, he/she will receive a $25 gift certificate to Amazon and a choice of Writing Picture Books: A Hands On Guide From Story Creation To Publication by Ann Whitford Paul, Writing With Pictures: How To Write And Illustrate Children’s Books by Uri Shulevitz, How To Write A Children’s Book And Get It Published by Barbara Seuling, The Writer’s Guide To Crafting Stories For Children by Nancy Lamb, or 2013 Children’s Writers And Illustrators Market by Chuck Sambuchino, and the editor prize will go to the highest placed finisher who wants it.

Here is my sample, squeezing in just under the wire at 348 words:

That’s Better

     As soon as the hockey rink opened in November, Charlie shot out the door with Dad to go skating.

     “Hold it, mister!” said Mom.

     Charlie skidded to a stop.

     Mom pulled a hat down over his ears.  She wound a scarf around his neck.  She slid mittens on his hands.  “That’s better.”

     Charlie didn’t think so.  “I itch,” he complained.

     Mom shrugged.  “No warm clothes, no skating.”

     That was a no-brainer.  Hat, scarf, and mittens stayed on, and Dad and Charlie went to the rink.

     When the first snow fell in December, Charlie raced outside to build a snowman.

     “Hold it, mister!” said Mom.

     Mom pulled the hat over his ears, wound the scarf around his neck, and slid the mittens on his hands.  Then she zipped him into his winter jacket and stuffed his feet in clunky boots.  “That’s better.”

     Charlie didn’t think so.  “I’m hot,” he complained.

     “You won’t be when you get outside,” said Mom.  “Now scoot.”

     Charlie scooted.

     In January, when the deep cold gave the snow a perfect icy crust, Charlie sped out to sled.
     “Hold it, mister!” said Mom.
     Out came the hat, the scarf, the mittens, and the boots, but this time Mom bundled him into his snowsuit.  “That’s better.”
     “Mo-om,” said Charlie.  “I can’t even walk!”
     “You can stay in and help me fold laundry,” Mom offered.
     “Hmmm,” said Charlie, “maybe I can walk,” and out the door he shuffled.
     All through February and March, for tobogganing, fort-building, and snowball-fighting, Charlie could not get out the door without every inch covered in warm clothes.
     “I’m tired of winter,” he said.
     Then the days got longer.  The sun got warmer.  The snow melted, and one day there were robins on the lawn.
     Charlie opened the door and the air was soft and warm.
     “Hold it, mister!” said Mom.
     “Please, Mom,” begged Charlie.  “I don’t want all those clothes.”
     Mom smiled.  She put his baseball cap on his head and handed him his ball and glove.
     “That’s better!” said Charlie.  He hugged her and laughed.  “Now I know spring is really here!”

Now.  I KNOW you can all do better than THAT – talk about circling the drain! – so take heart and get those stories posted!  I can’t wait to read them! 🙂  Don’t forget to add your post-specific link to the list below so that we can all come read your stories and feel like spring is coming!  The list will stay up through midnight Tuesday March 19.

Good luck! 🙂
And please remember to check the comment section!  There are already entries there from Linda, Jill, Pat, Marie-Therese, Nancy C, Jenny, Doris, Nancy M, Kimberly, and Lizzie.  (You may have to scroll down aways…)

Monday Short & Sweet AND The In Just Spring Contest Announcement!

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Happy Monday of the last week of February, everyone!

I admit it.  With March only days away, I’ve got spring on the brain… even though it’s currently snowing 🙂  I know it’s a little nuts because around here we don’t really get anything like spring ’til about the third week of April, but March is so hopeful, teasing you into thinking that spring is just around the corner, that I can’t seem to help myself 🙂

And in the spirit of turning the house upside down with spring cleaning… or something… I’m going to do everything backwards today.  I’m going to announce the contest first and put the Short & Sweet second.  I know.  The mind reels at this crazy rule-bending rearranging of the norm.  I’m such a rebel 🙂

First, as inspiration for both the contest and today’s Short & Sweet, I will share one of my favorite poems.

in Just-
by: e.e. cummings (1894-1962)

N Just-
spring when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame balloonman
 
whistles far and wee
 
and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it’s
spring
 
when the world is puddle-wonderful
 
the queer
old balloonman whistles
far and wee
and bettyandisbel come dancing
 
from hop-scotch and jump-rope and
 
it’s
spring
and
the
 
goat-footed
 
balloonMan whistles
far
and
wee


“in just” was originally published in The Dial Volume LXVIII, Number 5 (May 1920). New York: The Dial Publishing Company, Inc.

Isn’t that wonderful?  I love the idea of “eddieandbill… running from marbles and piracies”, “bettyandisabel…dancing from hopscotch and jump-rope” and who can resist words like “mud-luscious” and “puddle-wonderful”?

So now that you’re in the mood…

 Announcing The In Just Spring Contest!

The Contest:  Write a children’s story, in poetry or prose, maximum 350 words (see how nice I’m being giving you two long word counts in a row for contests?! :))


The story must be about something that really says “SPRING” to you – something that really makes you feel that spring is here!  It can be nature oriented – the robins or geese returning, eggs hatching, flowers blooming, baby animals being born, bears waking up, sunshine or rain, etc.  It can be holiday oriented – St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, April Fools’ Day etc.  It can be school oriented – the spring pageant, spring vacation, the spring talent show.  It can be activity oriented – picnics, bike riding, baseball – anything at all that makes you think spring.

The only other requirement is that the last line must be “[Character Name] knew Spring was really here!” or “[Character Name] knew Spring was here at last!”  (You can also write in first person if you want – e.g. I knew Spring was really here…. and present tense is fine too.)  I’ve given the rhymers amongst you a choice… but if you can’t make either option work with your rhyme scheme you have permission to tweak it slightly as long as the essential meaning stays the same.

Post:  Your entry should be posted on your blog between Friday March 15 at 12:01 AM EST and Monday March 18 at 11:59 PM EST, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list on the official In Just Spring Contest post which will go up on my blog on Friday March 15 (no PPBF that day!) and remain up through Tuesday March 19 (no new post on Monday March 18).  If you don’t have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comments on my March 15th post.  (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please email me and I’ll post your entry for you!)

The Judge:  My lovely assistant and I will narrow down the entrants to five (or possibly a couple more :)) finalists which will be posted here on Wednesday March 20 (no WYRI that day) for you to vote on for a winner.  The vote will be closed at midnight March 23 and the winner will be announced on Monday March 25.

The Prizes!:  I’m still working on the prize(s).  I’m hoping to have something knock-your-socks-off great to offer… but we’ll see.  Stay tuned 🙂
badge created by the talented Loni Edwards

Now, after all that excitement, for our Short & Sweet today, let’s close our eyes and roll back the years until we’re 5 (or 3 or 7 or 9 – anything under 10 :)).

Now let’s remember that feeling, that first inkling, that Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter has arrived.  What are the tiny details, the little moments, you think of?  The things that are representative of that season to you?
Now, let’s turn those tiny details and little moments into lines – things kids can do – in the style of “eddieandbill come running from marbles and piracies”.  You can share just one for the season of your choosing, or you can share for 2, 3, or all of the seasons if you really want to stretch those writing muscles!  (Or if you’re in a spring-obsessed mood, you can post 4 or 12 or 20 all about spring :))
Here are my examples:
Spring:  annieandjane come soaring, hair streaming, higher and higher into the greengold air
Summer: maddieandmike run laughing from the white-foamed waves that tickle their bare feet
Autumn: harryandgrant come creeping under skeleton trees toward the warm jack-o-lantern light
Winter: johnnyandjade come stomping in snowy boots and wooly mittens for a carrot nose and a licorice smile
This exercise may actually help you get started on your contest story idea!  Who knows?! 🙂
Have a great day, everyone, writing, reading, parenting, teaching, and otherwise! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Meet The Dogs Of Bedlam Farm

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Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, everyone!

I hope you all had lovely a Valentine’s Day!  If you didn’t happen to see Renee’s (abridged) puppet show version of Romeo & Juliet you are totally missing out and I have to recommend that you scoot over there and watch it.  We’ll still be here when you get back 🙂

I have a great book to share today, and also please stay tuned afterwards for the winner of Phyllis’s Fun Photo Contest and a fun announcement!

Meet The Dogs Of Bedlam Farm
Written & Photographed By: Jon Katz
Henry Holt & Company 2011, True Story

Suitable For: ages 4-8

Themes/Topics: jobs, individuality, kindness

Opening: “In the morning after mist has cleared from the path, four dogs go out together for their first walk of the day.  They circle and sniff the wet ground carefully, listening and seeing things that only dogs can sense.  The dogs are called Rose, Izzy, Frieda, and Lenore, and they all live on Bedlam Farm.   They stay together, circling, never running off.  They are a happy group; their tails wag when they see one another.  But it wasn’t always this way.”

Brief Synopsis: Four dogs are good friends.  Each one has a job.  Rose herds sheep.  Izzy visits sick people.  Frieda guards the farm.  But what is Lenore’s job?

Links To Resources:  This book could prompt a wonderful discussion about what kids are interested in and what they are good at; about how different people (just like different dogs) are good at different things.  Talk about all the many jobs there are, (here’s a link to a job index for kids in grade K-5) and ask kids what they’d like to be when they grow up.  Have them draw a picture of themselves doing the job of their dreams, or write a short story in which they get to do that job.  What kinds of jobs can they do now?  At home or in the classroom, make a job or chore chart and let each child have a task they enjoy and can do well.  Here’s a site where kids can “try out” different jobs KidsWork!

Why I Like This Book: If you’ve spent any time at all around this blog, you know I love dogs – especially rescue dogs – so it’s not a big leap to see why I like this book 🙂  Exquisite photographs of Jon Katz’s dogs at home on their farm, doing what they do best, complement a lovely true story about how everyone has value.  Each dog’s story is told – where they came from, how they ended up on the farm, what job they do.  Three of the dogs have traditional jobs.  Lenore does not.  Lenore does not herd sheep, or visit sick people, or guard the farm.  But she teaches Rose the serious worker how to play, she is Izzy’s first friend when he comes to the farm from a sad, bad place, and she keeps Frieda company when she is lonely.  What do you think Lenore’s job is? 🙂

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

Okay everyone, have a great weekend!

What?

Oh!  You want to know who won Phyllis’s Fun Photo Contest and what the fun announcement was?

Okay.  You’ve twisted my arm 🙂

I hope you all had as much fun with Phyllis’s Photo Contest as I did!  There were so many amazing entries – all so fun and creative!  I would never have been able to choose, so thank goodness I’m in charge around here and can make you guys do the choosing 🙂

When all the votes were in, the clear winner was…

DDDDDRRRRRUUUUUMMMMM  RRRRROOOOOLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!

CATHY!!!

Cathy, I think it was Phyllis upside-down in the nut bowl that did it for you.  Were you hinting that Phyllis is a nut?  I think you may be right.  There’s a lot of nuttiness around here 🙂

Congratulations, Cathy!  Please email me and we’ll discuss your prize, because I know you already have a signed copy of PHYLLIS.

A second prize for Phyllis’s Contest, consisting mostly of fame but I’m sure we can come up with something to go along with the fame, is being given at Phyllis’s insistence, and that one goes to ROBYN!  Really, it requires dedication to come up with a video of a tiny paper action figure winning a horse race.  So Robyn, kudos to you too and we’ll talk prizes privately!

And a huge thank you thank you and round of applause to everyone who took the time to color and cut and photograph and provide us all with such wonderful entertainment!  You are all the greatest!

The other fun announcement I mentioned (at least I think it’s fun!) is about Not Yet, Rose which you have seen in English…

… and Dutch…

… but now it’s available in GERMAN!

Is that fun or what?  I love having copies of my books that I can’t pronounce! 🙂  I’m thinking of making a video of myself reading my books in foreign languages to entertain you all… or at least myself 🙂

Alrighty!  That’s all the fun and games for today, folks!  PPBF bloggers, please add your post-specific links to the list below so we can all come visit you!

Have a blissful weekend, everyone! 🙂

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