Young Authors
About Our Program
An annual event in Chatham County Schools, the Young Authors program was founded in 1989 to celebrate student authors in grades K-8 across Chatham County Schools! Thus, we are excited to announce that our 33rd annual Young Authors will take place February 1 through May 22, 2024. Everything teachers, staff, students, and families need to help make Young Authors a successful and rewarding experience is on this page.
"Every student has an opportunity to be an author."
What's next?
We received over 420 stories this year...likely a new record! Judges are now hard at work identifying our winners for the contest portion of Young Authors from April 11-30, 2024! Winners who will be recognized at our red carpet event will be contacted in early May. Good luck, everyone!
Have you heard our theme song titled "Young Wordsmiths" yet? Check it out here. But, try not to let it get stuck in your head!
***Stories are due for BOTH publication and contest entry by April 10, 2024.***
Sorry, we cannot offer deadline extensions.
*All participation in the Young Authors program is completely optional and for fun.*
Want to see your published story?
Access the 2024 Showcase here! ➡️
Table of Contents
Follow our Twitter for updates!
Psst...Posting about Young Authors on social media?
Please tag: #CCSLibraryMedia #CCSDigitalLearning #OneChatham
Theme
We are excited to announce that our theme for Young Authors 2024 is: "Using wordless picture books to ignite the writing process."
“Wordless picture books allow children to project their own imaginations upon a story and ‘own it’." –Bob Staake (author/illustrator)
NOTE: Stories written by Young Authors are not required to be wordless or have pictures. Because we want to embrace and empower student creativity, we welcome submissions of any book type as long as they are submitted in PDF format. More information follows.
Contest Information
*All participation in the Young Authors program is completely optional and for fun.*
While every Young Author who submits their story via the form below is guaranteed publication in our 2024 Online Showcase, entry into the contest portion of the program is completely optional. Those interested in entering their stories in the contest will simply check "Yes" in the appropriate box in the form.
***Stories are due for BOTH publication and contest entry by April 10, 2024.***
Sorry, we cannot offer deadline extensions.
Curious about how your story will be judged? Check out the rubric that our judges will use by clicking on the button below. Stories can earn up to a total of 16 points, and judges will nominate exceptional writing for recognition at our culminating ceremony in May. Nominated Young Authors will receive an invitation to the ceremony in early May and will receive an award at the event. They will also enjoy another special presentation by author Scott Reintgen, our keynote speaker for the evening. Families are invited, and snacks and beverages will be served.
Resources
Student & Parent Resources
Publication Submission Guidelines
Get Started
All Young Authors have the opportunity to publish their stories on this website. We ask that all stories be submitted in PDF format.
Young Authors also may enter a contest, for which a simple rubric will be used by blind judges through the month of April.
Young Authors whose work is being recognized districtwide with an award will be invited to attend our red carpet culminating ceremony on May 22, 2024.
While no grades are assigned to Young Authors program work, teachers may assign participation and other related grades to students for completing in-class activities associated with it at their discretion.
While students are strongly encouraged to participate in Young Authors, there is no requirement to do so.
For more information, please read the Letter Home to Families.
Please Note: Only PDF files can be accepted for publication. Instructions for how to turn your story into a PDF file are below. Ask a teacher or parent/guardian for help if you need it.
***Stories are due for BOTH publication and contest entry by April 10, 2024.***
Sorry, we cannot offer deadline extensions.
Why only PDFs?
PDFs (Portable Document Format) maintain the layout and design of a document across different devices and platforms. They're excellent for sharing documents without adjusting their formatting so that the document looks the same regardless of the device being used to view it. PDFs are also secure and can prevent editing, which is useful for distributing finalized documents or forms. In summary, they are the most attractive and consistent file format for reading books written by our Young Authors online.
Digital Teaching Resources
PDF file conversion guidance
*REMINDER* Please inform students that only PDF files will be accepted for both publication and judging. No exceptions. Instructions for creating PDF files from Google Docs, Microsoft Word, as well as using either a Chromebook or a cell phone are below for reference.
The Digital Bookshelf is where you can access ready-to-teach lesson plans and activities based on the wordless picture books we have carefully chosen to feature this year.
Simply click on each picture book cover for resources aligned with NC teaching and learning standards for reading and writing. The standards are listed at the beginning of each presentation.
Please note that the lessons and activities we've created are based on the recommended age groups of each book, but teachers are encouraged to modify the materials however they see fit, according to their students' learning needs and interests.
Digital Bookshelf
Having trouble loading the Digital Bookshelf?
Click on this button:
Our Featured Titles for 2024:
Drawn Together - K-8
Ammachi's Glasses - K-3
Brave Molly - K-8
El Paseo - K-8
Field Trip to the Moon - K-8
Flotsam - 4-8
Fly! - K-3
The Paper Boat - 6-8
Sidewalk Flowers - 4-5
Small Things - 6-8
*BONUS* Kickoff Activity Featuring Drawn Together
This optional Kickoff Activity is designed to get students excited about becoming authors!
Timeline of Events
Timeline of Events
February 1, 2024 - Program launch
February-April 2024 - Lesson/activity delivery and writing time; Scott Reintgen author visits to schools (click here for the schedule)
April 10, 2024 - Young Author stories due for publication (and judging if they opt in)
April 11-30, 2024 - Judging of contest submissions
May 1-5, 2024 - Winners announced and invited to Culminating Ceremony
May 22, 2024 - Culminating Ceremony (red carpet event) 6:00-8:00 PM at Central Services building
(Awards will be delivered to schools of Young Authors who cannot attend the ceremony for any
reason.)
Thank you for all your efforts in making this year's Young Authors event a successful and memorable experience for our students! This beloved Chatham County Schools tradition would not be possible without you.
Featured Author Resources
"Dream big and work hard."
Look for Mr. Reintgen's books on Sora via the "Featured Author Collection!"
If you'd like, read his full preparatory message here:
Scott Reintgen's Visits to Schools
We are very excited and honored to collaborate with Scott Reintgen, New York Times bestselling author of science fiction and fantasy books for children! Mr. Reintgen is our featured author for this year's Young Authors program, and he will be our keynote speaker at the Culminating Ceremony (a red carpet event honoring our contest winners, by invitation only) on May 22, 2024. He will visit all elementary, middle, and K-8 schools in the spring (see schedule below) to promote reading and creative writing to CCS students.
Some lucky students may receive autographed copies of his latest books during these visits as additional prizes and incentives! Libraries received copies of the following books by Mr. Reintgen and will receive more books from him soon. Feel free to use the following resources (including video book trailers and read-alouds) to drum up student excitement about reading his books and meeting the author!
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Preparing for Your Visit
Mr. Reintgen requests that the following items are in place for his visit, to ensure that he may start on time and make the most of his hour with your students.
Laptop - logged in and connected to projector, with your chosen presentation(s) up
Microphone - no speakers needed; presentations have no sound
If you opted for a writing workshop - have students bring pens or pencils and provide them with the "writing workshop" worksheet (District DLT will provide 100 copies to get you started)
Bottled water and Sharpies (District DLT will provide these)
Schedules & Fliers
______________________________________________________________
Photo Album
Click on the image below to view our
growing photo album of memories.
#CCSLibraryMedia #CCSDigitalLearning #OneChatham