Carpet Court Storybook Challenge- Young NSW

 Below is an excerpt from  the Young Witness newspaper Sept 14, 2012

 A class from Bribbaree Public School is now the proud owner of $1000 worth of new books and a colourful reading mat thanks to one of their fellow students.

Grade 3 student, Alex Newell, won the inaugural Terry Bros Carpet Court Storybook Challenge. 

Alex submitted a story about what he loves the most in his community, winning the prize for his classroom, as well as a book package worth $250 for himself. Alex’s story talked about his quiet and friendly neighbourhood. 

There was an overwhelming response from the Young community to the competition with wonderfully creative stories and pictures submitted from primary schools in the local area. 

The entries were voted for by the community to establish five finalists, which were then judged by Peter Terry of Terry Bros Carpet Court along with author Tracey Hawkins. 

Mr Terry said Alex should feel very proud of his creative efforts and it was great to see his take on our community. 

“Congratulations to all the students that entered the Storybook Challenge, there were so many great drawings it was hard to pick just one winner!” he said.

Tracey Hawkins, author of Max Meets a Monster said, it was a pleasure to judge the finalist entries in the competition.

“I was delighted to discover common valued themes within the entries,” she said.

“Many of the children wrote of the fabulous community sporting facilities provided, the green space and parklands available for play, and how friendly people were in their community. Congratulations to all who entered,” Ms Hawkins said.

More than 1700 NSW children entered the Storybook Challenge, describing what they love about their community. 

The program, which is being run in conjunction with the National Year of Reading, aims to encourage more shared reading and creative writing in classrooms across Australia. 

http://www.youngwitness.com.au/

                                                              This is Alex's winning entry

To view all entries received, visit www.facebook.com/CarpetCourt. 

                                

Storybook Challenge 2012 winners Announced

Storybook Challenge Winners Announced.

During June of this year, as you know I took part in a whirlwind tour of regional country schools in NSW and the ACT to launch the new literary competition, The Storybook Challenge.

That's me surrounded by the lovely students of Sacred Heart Central School in Cootamundra


Congratulations to the regional schools I went out to visit, and a huge congratulations to the students who did such a brilliant job with their winning entries.

Cootamundra- Zara English from Sacred Heart Central School

Young- Alex Newell from Bribbaree Public School

Tamworth- Grace Maloney from St Edwards primary School

Armidale- Ruby Straker from The Armidale School

Canberra- Lachlan Ogden from St Benedict's Primary School

Bateman's Bay- Bella Coetzee from St Bernard's Primary School

Ulludulla- Emily Stein from Milton Public School

 I'm sure the students will be delighted with their $250 book prize and the schools very much delighted with the $1000 worth of books and colourful reading mat  they receive for their classroom or library.

To view a complete list of all the students and winning schools in NSW follow the link to the Carpet Court site. 

 http://www.carpetcourt.com.au/storybook-challenge

Storybook Challenge, New England Region, NSW

 On Friday 15th June I had the opportunity to promote the Carpet Court Storybook Challenge to regional schools in the New England Region. 

My first author event was to visit with students at St Edwards Primary School in Tamworth and then to The Armidale School, Armidale late afternoon.

"A big hello to all the lovely kids and teachers I met."

I was warmly welcomed at both schools, and the kids, what can I say? Wow, they were so very excited!

It was very thrilling for me too as the kids had never met an author before.  

To read my books and explain to them the story behind the writing process was akin to sprinkling magic upon every little head.

I arrived to a sea of smiling faces, little waves and everybody wriggling that little bit closer to be near me. I was touched. While it was another author visit for me- for them,  I was the mysterious person who wrote the book. No longer was I simply a name on the book cover.

As I read,  the books danced into life, with every word becoming a real storybook moment.  

The room filled with laughter and giggles as I snored my way through Max Meets a Monster. 

I had lots of questions to answer about writing of Nancy Bentley The First Australian Female Sailor . 

Most certainly kids are interested in history, and a snake bite had their attention!

Most surprising was the arrival of a Prime News Crew in Tamworth. They stayed for the entire session and  the event aired on the news that same evening. Click on the link to watch the segment.

http://au.prime7.yahoo.com/n2/video/-/watch/29670897/the-wonderful-world-of-books/

I can't be sure who had the most fun? I certainly enjoyed myself as much, if not more than the kids. It was a perfect day in every way.

Carpet Court Storybook Challenge 2012

June is powering along and I have many exciting Author Events to undertake in the next 3 weeks . This month I am off on road trips around NSW visiting schools, promoting the Carpet Court Storybook Challenge.

Last week I had a beautiful trip out to Cootamundra and Young. It was a crisp day but the schools were warm and welcoming. After reading my picture books, I spoke with the children about entering the challenge.

So what does a Carpet Court Store have to do with writing a story I hear you ask? Schools in the region have been invited to enter the Carpet Court Storybook Challenge and each student in years 1- 4 has the opportunity to write and illustrate a story based on "What I love most about my community".  Entries are to be posted on the Carpet Court Facebook and the community can view and vote on the entries. The winning  entry wins a $250 Book prize for the student, and the school wins a $1,000.00 book prize and a wonderful reading mat from the local Carpet Court store.

Friday 15th June I am visiting Schools in Tamworth and Armidale NSW. The following week I'm off to Ulladulla and Bateman's Bay, finishing with an event in the ACT.

To find out more about the Storybook Challenge and how to enter, simply click the link below.

www.carpetcourt.com.au/storybook-challenge