Once Upon A Contest
Matthews Public Library invites young writers and artists in kindergarten through 12th grade who live in or attend school in Lebanon County or who have a Lebanon County library card to create and submit original, unpublished picturebooks. Please read all guidelines before submitting entry materials.
Submission deadline | Sat. March 4, 2023
Matthews Public Library invites young writers and artists to create and submit original, unpublished picturebooks. Please read all guidelines before submitting entry materials.
Eligibility | The contest is open to students who live in or attend school in Lebanon County or who have a Lebanon County Library System library card and are in first through 12th grades. One entry per participant. Participants in the same age group may work together if one participant writes the story and the other participant draws the illustrations. Books created by more than two participants will not be accepted.
Submissions Period | Entry materials must be submitted to library staff in person by 4 PM on the submission deadline date at Matthews Public Library or by mail at Matthews Public Library, Attn: Once Upon A Contest, 102 W. Main Street, Fredericksburg, PA 17026, postmarked by the submission deadline date.
Awards | Winners will be chosen from: Lower Elementary (first and second grades); Upper Elementary (third through fifth grades); Middle School (sixth through eighth grades); High School (ninth through 12th grades). Winners will receive a bound copy of their entry and a certificate of award. Bound copies of winning entries may be placed in the library’s collection, featured on the library’s website and social media platforms, and may be read aloud at Children’s Story Hour. Winners will be notified by their preferred method of contact and announced on the library’s social media platforms and website the first full week of April.
How To Enter | Complete the entry form(s). All entries should be organized in this manner for submission: completed entry form(s), cover, title page, book pages organized in order with page numbers lightly marked on the back of each page and placed unbound, unstapled, and unlaminated in an envelope or folder. Do not fold the pages. Hand the envelope to library staff or mail it to the library by the submission deadline.
Competition Judging | Entries will be judged on the following criteria: grammar/spelling, creativity, originality, and execution. Graphic description or depiction of violence will not be accepted. Any entries that do not meet the guidelines outlined herein may be automatically disqualified.
By submitting an entry, participants give Matthews Public Library permission to reproduce and publicize their work—entries may be published in multiple formats with the author’s and illustrator’s name(s).
1| All entries must be received on letter size (8 ½ inches x 11 inches), plain, white, unlined paper with one sided pages and one inch margins.
2| All entries must contain illustrated artwork and be received in its original format. Three dimensional artwork (i.e. pop-ups, flaps, movable parts, etc.) will not be accepted. Artwork may be computer generated (if it is the artist’s own original work), in inks, crayons, markers, original photography, cut paper, or multi-media. Illustrations should fill most of the page by centering and enlarging the artwork or by including appropriate background. Trademarks, brand names, or licensed characters and products will not be accepted.
3| All entries must be written in picture book format. Text may be typed, computer generated, or handwritten neatly and should complement the artwork. Pages should be lightly numbered on the back.
4| Both text and artwork must be the original work and sole creation of the author/illustrator. Adults may assist participants with proofreading and typing but not with writing or artwork.
5| All entries must be exactly 32 pages in length; the work should be entirely in landscape orientation or entirely in portrait orientation. A cover with cover art and a title page that includes the following information: title, author’s name and illustrator’s name must also be included with all entries. Cover and title pages do not count as part of the page count.
