SINA has partnered again with Hartford Public Library Park Street Branch @the Lyric for the 2024 REACH Book Author Contest. It’s a great opportunity for students in grades K-5 to write and illustrate their own story with the theme of Disability Awareness. Entries are due Friday, March 1, 2024. EXTENDED TO SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2024.

Selected books will be displayed at Hartford Public Library Park Library @ the Lyric local author’s shelf.  Winning entries will receive a professionally printed copy of their book and get acknowledged at an awards ceremony. Please read the contest guidelines below for more information.

Click here to download the Contest Entry Form., clic aquí para descargar el formulario de inscripción al concurso y las reglas/guía.

Click here to download 8×10 vertical book templates, plantillas de libro vertical de 8×10
Click here to download 8×8 square book templates, plantillas de libros cuadrados de 8×8

Click here to download storyboard templates that help with organization and getting students books started., plantillas de guiones gráficos que ayudan con la organización y la introducción de libros para estudiantes.

Spread the word, download and share the flyer (english y español)

Hartford Public Library Park Street Branch will be hosting writing workshops on Mondays from 3:30 to 5:00 pm to helps students with their books. See Mrs. Nancy for more information. 

Need more guidance: Click here to download the timeline to help keep students in line for the March 1st deadline.

SINA REACH Book Author Contest Guidelines

Eligibility: The REACH Book Contest is open to all Hartford students enrolled in grades K-5. The student may live in Hartford or attend a Hartford school.  

Layout:

  • The fictioncal piece must incorporate the theme of Disability Awareness.
    Disability Awareness is the practice of educating people, acknowledging, and accepting individuals’ experiences as they relate to disability. Not all disabilities are the same, and disability awareness recognizes this; celebrating difference and identifying the beauty within our uniqueness. Your book can feature hidden or visible disabilities. A disability is a physical or mental problem that makes it difficult or impossible for a person to walk, see, hear, speak, learn, or do other important things. Some disabilities are permanent or last forever. Others are temporary or last for only a short time. A disability can be something a person was born with. Or it can be the result of an illness or an accident. Some individuals may have a disability that cannot be seen. A physical disability is a problem with the body. Physical disabilities may affect the eyes, the ears, the muscles, or the interior organs, such as the heart or lungs. Some people with a physical disability may use a wheelchair to move around. A mental disability is a problem with the brain or mind. Mental disabilities include developmental disabilities, mental illness, and learning disabilities, such as dyslexia. A person with a mental disability may have trouble learning or getting along with other people. Some disabilities don’t have physical signs so we cannot always tell if someone has one. Some hidden disabilities include autism, mental health, sensory processing, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, partial sight and hearing loss. For a list of some disabilities click here to download the Disability Awareness Info Sheet.
  • One book entry per team.
    Entries can be submitted by individuals, teams (up to 4 students) and classrooms. Classrooms can submit one book with teacher’s name and list the students’ names of those who helped with the illustrations and story line on a separate sheet.
  • Stories may be written in English, Bilingual, and/or Spanish.
  • Each submission must include one page of art for each page of text.
  • Both text and art must be solely created by the students.  
    Typed text is preferred, but not required.
  • Each book must be between 10 and 20 pages with a maximum of 5 lines per page.
    The cover, dedication, about the author/illustrator and back pages do not count toward this number. The back and dedication pages are optional.
    Examples of pages can be found in the book template document.
  • All pages must be numbered.
  • Books will be printed at 8” x 10” or 8” x 8”, artwork should reflect these sizes. 
    Click here to download the 8×8 square book template. Click here to download the 8×10 vertical book template.
  • An entry form must be submitted with each book entry. Click here to download the entry from.
  • At the discretion of the SINA REACH Committee, all submissions may be published on the SINA’s website.

Submission Guidelines:  Entries must be mailed to or dropped off at the Hartford Public Library Park Library @ the Lyric by Friday, March 1, 2024, EXTENDED TO SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2024.
EXTENDED TO Sunday, March 10, 2024
.
Submissions must include the entry form (click here to download form). Entries will not be returned.

Mail or Drop off to:                           
Hartford Public Library
Park Branch @ The Lyric
603 Park Street
Hartford, CT 06106

Contest Dates: The deadline for the SINA REACH book contest is Sunday, March 10, 2024. Entries received after March 10, 2024, will not be considered.  The contest opens on September 18, 2023

Selection: Entries will be judged on originality and creativity. Judges will know the identities of the entries after the judging is completed and the winners are selected.

Prizes: Up to ten books will be selected and turned into a paperback copy displayed at the Hartford Public Library, Park Street Branch @the Lyric – “Local Author Shelf” In addition, a copy the printed book will be given to the winner’s team to take home/ or display in the classroom. All winners will be honored in an awards ceremony in May 2024.

Decisions: The panel of judges consists of members of the REACH Committee, Hartford Public Library staff, and invited judges. All decisions made by the judges are final.

Notification:  Winners will be announced in late April 2024 and will be notified by phone or email listed on the Entry Form. Winners will be asked to complete a press release from by each student participant legal guardian. Names of the winners will appear on the SINA website and in other publicity pieces, including, but not limited to electronic announcements, press releases, and news articles.

Questions:  Feel free to contact Linda Torres at 860-493-1618 or Nancy Mendez at 860-695-7501 with any questions regarding the REACH Book Author Contest.

Click here to read about past winners.