National Poetry Month Contest: Calling all elementary school teachers...

...and parents, Cub Scout leaders and Brownie Troop leaders

Though this
is a war
book blog,
I want to
call your
attention
to an annual
contest I
run each
year for
National
Poetry
Month in
April
in honor
of my late wife, Wanda Haan.It's the 2008
Children’s Poetry and Book Illustration Contest.
We've had entries from Puerto Rico to California
in the last two years and received great
feedback from parents and teachers about the
contest.

There's nothing to buy to enter, requires children
writing poetry and then illustrating their poems
using cut paper to create art as in Wanda's book, 
The Macaroon Moon. Which means the contest is easy
to run. All the children need is colored paper,
scissors, a glue stick and creativity to enter.
The cut paper art in the book was created by Donald
Christensen. Both Wanda and Donald had over 40 years
combined creating stories and art for Weekly Reader.

Here are the Rules and Regulations which were updated
on March 5, 2008. The contest is open to all children
residing in the USA and its territories in kindergarten,
first, second and third grades, ages 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
Contest rules require each entrant to submit an original
poem and a cut paper illustration for that poem.

Up to ten prizes will be awarded by the book’s publisher,
Southfarm Press of Middletown,Connecticut. Winning entries
will be selected by Southfarm Press based on the literary
quality of the poems and creativity of the cut paper art
submitted to illustrate the poems:

                First Prize: $100
                Second Prize: $75
                Third Prize: $50
                Fourth through Tenth Prizes: $25

In addition, copies of the children’s poetry book The
Macaroon Moon (ISBN:978-0-913337-51-6) will be provided to
every child in each winner’s main school classroom, such
as his or her's homeroom. Or to every member of a winner's
scout troop.

It is not necessary to buy anything to enter, but in
analyzing the entries from the 2006 and 2007 contests,
having a copy of The Macaroon Moon to refer to would
probably aid children in competing in the contest,
especially for the book illustration part of their entries.

The size of the completed art submitted should be in the
8 1/2" x 11" to 9" x 12" size range. Submitting larger art
will not make it more likely that a child will win.

The poem submitted by the student must be original and the
art created by that student should illustrate his or her poem.
The poem does not need to be long. Four lines would be fine.
A longer poem is not more likely to win. We will be looking
at the creative package, that is, each child's poem and art
together, to decide the winners.

The illustration should be cut paper art made with colored
paper and glue, suchas the art in The Macaroon Moon. Some
pencil shading is okay because the illustrator of The
Macaroon Moon did that. No paints, charcoals, ink or anything
else are allowed to be used. If in doubt as to what is acceptable,
look at the samples of the art in the the book, The Macaroon Moon.
The artist used colored paper, glue, scissors, and a dark pencil
for light shading.

Each child is permitted to enter the contest only once each year
and that entry must include both his or her poem and his or her
cut paper art for that poem. Entries that do not include both the
poem and art will be disqualified.

All poetry and book illustration contest entries must be post-
marked no later than April 19, 2008 during National Poetry Month
and received by the publisher no later than April 26, 2008 to be
eligible for the 2008 National Poetry Month contest.
             
Winners will be announced April 30, 2008 on Poetry for Children 
by Wanda Haan, followed by letters to the winners' parents or
guardians. Entries are welcomed anytime in the year. Online entries
are not allowed and all entries become the property of Southfarm
Press, Publisher and will not be returned.

                Entries should be mailed to:
                Macaroon Moon Poetry and Book Illustration Contest
                Southfarm Press, Publisher
                P.O. Box 1296
                Middletown, CT 06457

All entries should include the name of the child entering, the name
of his or her parent or guardian, the child's grade and age, home
address, phone number and an email address if available. Upon
notification of winning a prize in the contest, the child's parent
or guardian grants Southfarm Press permission to publish his or her
child's name, poem and illustration on our children's poetry Web Site
and in news releases and other promotional material by the endorsement
and cashing of the child's monetary prize check.

Children related to author Wanda Haan, illustrator Donald Christensen,
owners and employees of Southfarm Press and Haan Graphic Publishing
Services, Ltd. are not eligible to enter the contest.

That's it. I hope to see a ton of entries this year so spread the word.
-- Copyright 2008 by Walter Haan, www.war-books.com and
Poetry for Children by Wanda Haan