Description
Institute for Children’s Literature presents our ICL Bedtime Stories Picture Book Contest.
For this contest, submit your picture book manuscript to help the kiddos start counting sheep!
Our judge, Lori Mortensen, will be grading entries based on these criteria:
- Aimed at age ranges 4-7
- Entries must be no more than 600 words. (They can be fewer than 600 words).
- No pictures or illustrations included—we’re focused on your words
- A fresh approach to the bedtime story theme
- An engaging opening that makes me want to read more
- Appealing, economical language
- Read-aloud-ability. Picture books are meant to be read aloud!
- A story arc that leads to a satisfying ending
- Avoid long blocks of text. Create breaks in the text reminiscent of page turns
Your entry should be aimed at children ages 4-7.
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Entrants are eligible to win up to $650!
About The Judge, Lori Mortensen:
Ever since Lori Mortensen completed ICL’s Writing for Children and Teens course and chased her writing goal, she’s sold more than 100 children’s books and over 500 stories and articles. Reviewers have praised her books as “stellar” “as good as it gets” and “begs to be read aloud and includes such notable publishers as HarperCollins, Henry Holt, Abrams, Bloomsbury, and Peachtree.
When she’s not out on a morning hike, willing her sourdough to rise, or putting her nose in a mystery, she’s tapping away at her keyboard, conjuring, coaxing, and prodding her latest stories to life. She’s been an ICL instructor for almost 20 years.
*Link to contest submission form will be sent after purchase is complete
