“The Best Book I Ever Read” Poster Contest

Picture it! Forty third graders from Chase Lake Community, Holy Rosary, Seaview Elementary, and Westgate Elementary Schools, along with their families, gathered in the Edmonds Library Plaza Room on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at 6 p.m.!

The students were the winners—both outstanding and honorable mention—for the posters they created to represent their favorite book. Such a buzz of excitement and anticipation as students and their families took their seats.

The judges evaluated each poster for originality, use of color, lettering, overall design, correct spelling, and imagination in capturing an idea or scene from their favorite book.

Frances Chapin, City of Edmonds Arts & Culture Manager, welcomed the guests. Tanya Sharp, Chair of the Edmonds Arts Commission, and Luke Distlehorst, President, Friends of the Library, awarded certificates to both the honorable mention and outstanding winners. Outstanding winners also received a $10.00 gift card.

The presenters coached the students on how to accept their certificates, how to shake Frances Chapin’s hand, and to wait patiently up front for a group photo after the awards were distributed, and I was impressed by the young students’ poise. I relished watching the excitement on the students’ faces. Also, not having elementary-aged children in my life presently, I found the wide variety of outfits and the current fashion interesting. A couple of the girls wore dresses with the back hem significantly longer than the front. Very elegant!
Friends and family were welcomed forward to take photos of the group.

Once the photos were done, all the students and their siblings were invited to sit on the floor up front. It was time for illustrator and artist Scott Ward and  me to share our book creation journey with the students. We chose to talk about what is involved with creating a picture book. I spoke about developing the plot and writing the story. Once the photos were done, all the students and their siblings were invited to sit on the floor up front. It was time for illustrator and artist Scott Ward and  me to share our book creation journey with the students. We chose to talk about what is involved with creating a picture book. I spoke about developing the plot and writing the story. 

Kizzie opens the program for third graders at the “Best Book I Ever Read” contest winners’ event.Kizzie opens the program for third graders at the “Best Book I Ever Read” contest winners’ event.

Scott followed by sharing his steps in sketching, drawing, and finally painting the illustrations. We had the full illustration story boards from the first two TALL TALES available as well as one illustration oil painting from the third book in progress, A Tall Tale About Dachshunds in Costumes: How MORE Dogs Came to Be.

Scott Ward, illustrator, explains the image-making process to fascinated third graders.

We each offered the “special secrets” of our craft. I asked if any students were already writing stories. Many hands thrust into the air! I told them reading their work aloud as if in a performance would not only make mistakes apparent, but often show the correction needed as well. I also encouraged the students “to sleep” on their work. Wait at least overnight, or if possible a couple weeks, and then review your writing with fresh eyes. Scott encouraged those interested in art to follow their dreams. He said, “You can earn a living with your art!”

Scott Ward, illustrator, tells the third graders about the backstory of making the books.

Our mini-talk was followed by my reading of A Tall Tale About a Dachshund and a Pelican: How a Friendship Came to Be. I was most impressed by the attentiveness of the students and their families during the reading and presentation.

After I read and invited questions from the students, I received a couple enquiries I had anticipated.
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A student asked, “How do you get your stories?”

I said, “From life.” I then shared the backstory for the Dachshund and Pelican story. How I’d fallen in love with pelicans in Mexico and felt compelled to find a way to connect dachshunds and pelicans.
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Another student asked, “How long does it take you to write a story?”

I said, “Much time is spent thinking about the idea. Slowly it unfolds in my mind and I can write a rough draft in a couple days. But then it can take months of rereading aloud and rewriting until the final draft is complete. My third TALL TALE took about 17 drafts until I finally knew it was done.”

My big surprise was how student after student had suggestions for me for my next book, which was quite amazing, as I had just informed them this was a set of three TALL TALES and I did not expect to write any more. This thought did not faze them one bit! Very politely, but with great enthusiasm, I heard, “May I make a suggestion?”

I said, “Of course.”

Different students said, “You should write your next TALL TALE about: a dachshund and a river otter in a lake, a dachshund and a unicorn, a dachshund and an alligator, a dachshund and a cat!”
I replied, “I should have met with you years ago!

I felt so honored to have been invited, with Scott Ward, my illustrator, to participate in this worthwhile endeavor and event. Thank you, Edmonds Arts Commission, for the invitation and the successful contest and program you created.