The Peoria Public Library will host the StoryWalk Story Writing Contest for the second year, giving children the chance to design a picture book.
“The stories last year exceeded my expectations completely,” said Heather Sorden, Sunrise Mountain Library’s branch supervisor. “They were so fun, original and creative. It was so much fun. So, I’m really excited to read the stories again this year. That’s my favorite part is getting to read the stories because it’s amazing how creative these kids are.”
Anne Ferguson — a retired educator for the Vermont Department of Health — created the StoryWalk in 2007. She originally pitched the idea of the StoryWalk to the Department of Health, but when it declined, she partnered with Kellogg-Hubbard Library, which has since taken over the project and trademark fully.
It started as an “innovative” way for children to read while playing outdoors. StoryWalks have been installed in 50 states and 13 countries and there are three StoryWalks in Peoria at Paloma Community Park, Pioneer Community Park and Rio Vista Recreation Center.
The books are within directional signs that lead readers through the various parks and to the next story.
“We have 18 signs and we put a storybook in the signs so kids and families have the opportunity to take a walk and read a book at the same time,” Sorden said.
“We change the story every three months and every story has a literacy component, notes and a physical activity. Let’s say it’s a book about bunnies. It might share the importance of turning pages for preschoolers, then it would say ‘hop like a bunny’ to the next sign and you would go and do that.”
Last year the library expanded the StoryWalk and started the StoryWalk Story Writing Contest, which has participants create and submit a picture book.
“We were meeting with our leadership group and Nathanial Washburn, who’s the library manager, mentioned a story writing contest and I loved that, so I started researching how we might be able to pull this off,” Sorden said.
“So, it was just a meeting of the minds and everybody was really excited about it. This is a really cool thing that we could do and get kids to be creative and literate.”
The contest has three age groups: 6 to 8 years old, 9 to 10 years old and 11 to 12 years old. Each age group has different word counts, with the youngest age group using the lowest word count.
Interested children should visit the library’s website to sign up and read the contest’s rules and guidelines. The deadline is July 31. The pieces will be judged in August and the winners — first through third place — revealed in mid-September. The stories are judged on creativity, originality, story structure, relevance, quality and originality of the illustrations.
The StoryWalk Story Writing Contest accepts picture book submissions through Wednesday, July 31. The stories will be judged in August and the winners revealed in mid-September.
The winners will be featured at the StoryWalks by the first week of October. They are rotated monthly to increase the visibility during the three months.
She added the winners will be honored at an October city council meeting.
“That was really awesome getting to go to the council meeting and present the wonderful little authors with a certificate and gift cards,” Sorden said. “It was really great getting to meet them and their families, it was a wonderful little event.”
Sorden said she hopes to receive more entries by promoting the contest. Therefore, more children would get excited.
“It gives them an outlet for creativity and its literacy with the added incentive of the winner getting their story out there for everyone to read,” Sorden said.
Submissions are accepted until Wednesday, July 31, for the StoryWalk Story Writing Contest. It is held at the Peoria Main Library, 8463 W. Monroe Street, and Sunrise Mountain Library, 21109 N. 98th Avenue. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/StoryWalkStoryWritingContest
