Create a Picture Book | Create a Story Book | Categories | Entry Requirements | Entry Form | How to Enter | Drop Off Points | Judging | Awards and Sponsorship | Return of Entries | Resources & Articles | Frequently Asked Questions | Contact MYOSB Coordinator
Click on link to see the 2017 Winners
2017 Competition
Do you love story books?
Have you ever wanted to create your own? Now is your chance…
Write and illustrate your own picture or story book for the chance to win great prizes.
Register your school’s interest at competitions@cbcaact.org.au
Create a Picture Book
- Combine words and illustrations to tell a story
- The story can be told through the illustrations alone
Create a Story Book
- Relies on the written word to tell the story
- Illustrations are complementary, not essential to the story
- Excitement and interest are conveyed through the plot, language and characterisation
Categories
- Years 1-2 Picture Book
- Years 3-4 Picture Book
- Years 3-4 Story Book
- Years 5-6 Picture Book
- Years 5-6 Story Book
- Special Needs Junior (1-3)
- Special Needs Senior (4-6)
- Australian Nature Book
Entry Requirements (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)
- Create a picture or story book that tells an ORIGINAL story using original text and original illustrations
- Include the conventions of book production – back and front covers, title page, blurb and author profile
- Produce a book that is well bound
- Hand written or typed text
- All text proof-read by an adult
- Photos must be taken by the student
- Illustrations must be produced by the student
- Original illustrations and original photos can be scanned
- One author per book
- You must live in the Canberra Region
Minimum word limit: None
Maximum word limit: 500 words for a picture books and 5000 words for a story book
Maximum page size: A4 (30cm x 21cm)
Maximum cover size: 34 cm x 25cm
COMPLETED ENTRY FORM TAPED FIRMLY TO THE INSIDE BACK COVER OF THE BOOK
How to Enter
Entry is for students in Year 1-6 from CBCA member schools only. Entry is free.
Institutional membership information can be found here.
Current Primary School Members
Brindabella Christian School
Burgmann Anglican School
Canberra Girls Grammar School
Daramalan College (primary school eligible)
Farrer Primary School
Gold Creek School
Harrison School
Holy Spirit Primary School
Lyneham Primary School
Macquarie Primary School
Orana School
Sacred Heart Primary School
St Monica’s Primary School
St Vincent’s Primary School
Turner Primary School
Entry Drop-Off 2017
Entries can be dropped off at Harry Hartog Bookseller on the Ground Floor of Woden Plaza, during business hours.
Northside schools – please contact the coordinator for a closer location.
Entries can also be mailed to: CBCA ACT Branch, PO Box 421 Curtin ACT 2605
CLOSING DATE FRIDAY 28 July 2017 Late entries cannot be accepted.
Judging
Entries are judged on originality, creativity, language skills and fulfillment of the entry requirements. The judges’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
Awards 2017
Winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony with celebrated author Jackie French during ACT Children’s Week!
Date: Wednesday 25 October 2017
Time: 2.00pm
Location: Belconnen Library
One First Place and one Highly Commended prize will be awarded for each category.
The Field Naturalists’ Association of Canberra will also award the Bettong Prize for the Best Australian Nature Book.
Participation Certificates will be placed inside all other entries.
Sponsorship 2017
Return of Entries 2017
All entries will be retained for display in ACT Libraries during September and October 2017.
Entries will be returned in November 2017.
No responsibility can be accepted for lost or damaged books.
Resources
We have made a number of resources available to support the students and to promote the competition.
Examples of previous winning entries for the WA competition can viewed at wa.cbca.org.au/wamyosb.htm
View 2016 Award Winners here.
Tips for writing and illustrating –
- Find tips for writing picture books here and here
- Find tips for writing chapter/story books here
- To see different examples of Australian children’s illustrators, try The Style File
How to make your book –
For information on how to physically make your book, look here
Here are some resources from Vicki Woolley, President of the Canberra Craft Bookbinders Guild:
- Download the catalogue from our 2015 exhibition http://www.canberrabookbinders.org.au/news/events-news/guild-15/
- Take a look at the work of young contemporary design binder Kate Holland, in particular the book Southern Harvest where Kate shares the binding style and design aspects for the text block
- http://kate-holland-tmfi.squarespace.com/work/
- Books to borrow from the local library: ‘Bookcraft – Techniques for binding, folding and decorating to create books and more’ by Heather Weston and ‘Making Handmade Books’ by Alisa Golden
FREE 1 HOUR WORKSHOP FOR MEMBER SCHOOLS
Would you like some extra help in getting those books ready before Friday July 29?
The ACT Branch of the CBCA is offering a free 1 hour workshop for member schools in the Canberra area to assist students in producing their books.
The workshop will cover:
-What makes a great story book (examples of published books; ideas; what judges are looking for)
-What elements are necessary in a book (cover, blurb, end pages)
-Writing (narrative, strong sentences)
-Illustrations (examples from published books)
-Book construction (how to put the book together)
PLEASE CONTACT THE COORDINATOR TO BOOK A WORKSHOP
PLEASE GO TO http://cbcaact.org.au/membership/ FOR SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS
Materials to promote the competition –
All artwork and downloads are for use only in conjunction with MYOSB activities and publicity to do with the competition. For any other use of the images in conjunction with MYOSB contact the MYOSB Coordinator.
Newspaper Articles:
“Young authors have a story to tell” by Georgina Connery, The Chronicle, Canberra Chronicle 07/06/2016 
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The category you will enter your graphic novel in will depend on the word count. Enter the Picture Book category if it is 500 words or less. Enter the Story Book category if it is more than 500 words.
Entries need to be created by one student only.
The creator of each story book needs to be both the author and illustrator. You will need to create the original text and original illustrations by yourself.
All entries need to be story books – with a beginning, middle and end.
All illustrations must be the original work of the student.
If you are using photos they must be taken by the student.
All entries need to tell a single story.
If you would like to write an original single story using verse or rhyme you can.
Your story will be judged on whether the picture or story book tells an original story using the original text and original illustrations.
All entries need to tell a story. You can try ‘creative non-fiction’ where your information becomes part of the story.
Minimum word limit: None
Maximum word limit:
500 words for a picture book
5000 words for a story book
If you can’t see your school listed in the member section, contact the coordinator at competitions@cbcaact.org.au to check if they have joined recently.
Please contact the coordinator at competitions@cbcaact.org.au for further information.
If you live outside Canberra in one of the following NSW council areas you can enter the competition.
Capital Region:
- Bombala
- Boorowa
- Cooma-Monaro
- Eurobodalla
- Goulburn-Mulwaree
- Harden
- Palerang
- Queanbeyan
- Snowy River
- Upper Lachlan
- Yass Valley
- and Young
All books will be returned to you through your school.
If you are home schooled, your book will be returned to the address on your entry form.
Our cute koala logo was made by amazing local author and illustrator Tania McCartney.
Have a look at her website for some story book inspiration.
Please direct all enquiries to Krys Saclier at competitions@cbcaact.org.au