Cheerio Publishing Opportunity

Posted: April 20, 2008

Calling New Authors: Cheerios
Spoonfuls of Stories Launches


2nd Children's Book Contest!


Cash Prize, Potential Book Deal for Top Story


Starting April 16, 2008 and going through July 15, 2008, Cheerios is searching for the next great children's book author by inviting previously unpublished adult authors to submit their story for a children's book. The winner will have their story reviewed for a potential book deal with Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, and Cheerios will provide cash prizes to the top three finalists.


Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories Children's Book Contest Information:


The book should be suitable for children who are 4 to 8 years old. Authors must be 18 years or older. Stories must be 500 words or less and in the English language. To obtain a complete list of rules and to submit your original, unpublished story online, go to www.SpoonfulsofStoriesContest.com.


WHEN: Deadline for story submission is July 15, 2008. Winners will be announced in January 2009.


JUDGING: Entries will be judged using the following criteria:


1. Appropriate story/content for children ages 4 to 8
2. Emotional Connection


3. Writing Quality


4. Uniqueness


5. Read Aloud Potential


Initial judging will be conducted by the nonprofit First Book, an award-winning literacy organization. The top-ranked stories will be judged by a panel, including editors from Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, who will select a winner and two finalists.


PRIZES: The winner will receive a cash prize of $5,000 and will have his or her story reviewed by a publisher for a potential book deal. Two other finalists will receive cash prizes of $1,000 each. The stories of all prize winners will appear on www.spoonfulsofstories.com.


The Children's Book Contest is part of the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories® program to get high quality books into kids' hands. Over the past six years, Cheerios has donated more than $2.5 million to First Book (www.firstbook.org), and has given more than 30 million books to children inside boxes of Cheerios cereal. For more information, see www.spoonfulsofstories.com.