Young Storytellers Invited to Enter Centre County Library Contest

Some of the best storytellers start early.

Jerry Pinkney, the acclaimed author and illustrator of more than 100 children’s books, started drawing as a child in Philadelphia. New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas wrote the first version of “Throne of Glass” at just 16. Closer to home, Doug Sweetland—supervising animator of Pixar’s Cars—created and illustrated a story at age 12 that he entered into his local library’s Young Author & Illustrator Contest. That library was Schlow Centre Region Library, and his book, “Escape to Switzerland” (1986), can still be checked out today.

Now, Centre County children have the same opportunity to begin their storytelling journey.

Centre County Library & Historical Museum invites kids in grades 1 through 6 who live or go to school in Centre County to pick up their pens, cameras and illustrating tools and enter a story in the 41st Centre County Library Young Author & Illustrator Contest.

Entries must be submitted via email, mail, or in person to one of the library’s locations (Centre County Library in Bellefonte, Centre Hall Area Branch Library, or Holt Memorial Library) before closing time on Wednesday, April 1. 

The contest is open to all Centre County students, regardless of schooling type, including public, private, charter and homeschool students. Teachers are also encouraged to make the competition more exciting and rewarding by incorporating the contest into a classroom project, allowing the program to reach even more children.

Students may work independently or collaborate with classmates in the same grade to write and illustrate an original story. Submissions will be judged by community leaders and library staff, with entries evaluated against others in the same grade level.

First-place winners in each grade will have their stories published and added to their preferred Centre County Library & Historical Museum location, joining winning titles dating back to 1985. Second place, third place and two honorable mentions will also be awarded for each grade. 

Winners will be celebrated at a Young Author & Illustrator Award Ceremony in late April, featuring a guest author presentation and live readings from winning stories. Even for those who do not place, the contest offers a meaningful reward: the pride of having authored and/or illustrated an original story.

The library’s Young Author & Illustrator collection already includes more than 100 books created by Centre County children. The next additions will come from young writers and illustrators in the community today!For more information about the Young Author and Illustrator Contest, visit Centre County Library & Historical Museum’s website at https://www.centrecountylibrary.org/youngauthor.