As a change of pace, instead of asking elementary school students to read, I’m asking them to write.

I’m excited to announce the inaugural Sarah & Katy essay contests. Two contests are open to third- and fourth-grade students in Illinois:

• For third-graders, I’m hosting the 2016 Sarah & Katy and the Imagination Blankets Essay Contest (download the entry form and essay form).
• For fourth-graders, I’m hosting the 2016 Sarah & Katy and the Book of Blank Essay Contest (download the entry form and essay form).

The essay prompts (included on the essay forms, which are available for download above) encourage students to exercise their imaginations and write creative stories. Three prizes will be awarded in each contest.

The first-place essay in each contest will win a free classroom visit from the author, plus personalized signed copies of both books. The second-place essay in each contest will win personalized signed copies of both books, which will be mailed to the teacher to distribute. The third-place winner in each contest will receive a personalized signed copy of the book their prompt is based on (i.e. the winning third-grader will win a copy of “Imagination Blankets” and the winning fourth-grader will receive a copy of “Book of Blank”).

The deadline to postmark essays is February 29. Teachers of winning students will be notified by March 15, and the teachers of first-place winners will be contacted to arrange a date for a classroom visit. During classroom visits, I offer a discounted rate of $5 per book (instead of the $8.99 list price) for any students who want to buy books. I also offer teachers the option of sending an advance list of students who will purchase books in order to personalize and sign each copy before the visit.

All six winning essays will be published on my website.

More information about each contest, including rules, is available on the For the Classroom page.

Interested in a school or classroom visit?

Classroom visits are open to all schools and teachers, with a variety of presentation subjects and activities included. School visits can be conducted in individual classrooms or can be presented to larger audiences in the school library or gymnasium. Virtual visits also are an option.

The standard fee for a school visit is $350 (which includes the cost of travel). Skype visits are $100. Rates are negotiable, particularly for small or rural school districts with limited funds. To discuss rates or arrange a visit, contact me at julie.stroebel.barichello@gmail.com or fill out the form on the Contact page.