The Search Is On For The Next JK Rowling!
This February sees the launch of the second annual Silentnight Beds ‘Book At Bedtime’ competition.
After the huge success of last year, where nine year old Josie Tolliday and her story 'Starlight Wishes' reigned supreme over 1,500 entries, Silentnight are once again inviting children aged between 7 and 12 to showcase their creativity and let their imaginations run wild by writing the UK’s latest and best bedtime story.
Part of the Government’s National Year of Reading, the competition has been developed to encourage reading in children, something that is proven to develop their creativity and imagination. Supporting the competition, Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools said:
“As parents we need to make reading a part of our children’s daily routines – like brushing their teeth or having a bath. If we all promise to read more to our children then we can help children of all ages to see that reading can bring fun to their lives, feed their imagination, and develop their curiosity about the world.”
We are working in association with leading worldwide publisher and home of the Harry Potter books, Bloomsbury, and their award-winning author Kaye Umansky.
Kaye’s
books about the mischievous witch, Pongwiffy, are extremely popular with children across the country and Kaye herself has fond memories of her own books at bedtime.
“One of my happiest childhood memories is being read to at bedtime. My parents enjoyed the ritual bedtime read as much as I did, and it quickly became tradition in our house.
“Allowing a child to drift off whilst watching a video or DVD doesn’t come close to the benefits of reading at bedtime. You remember the stories read to you as a child, on those blissful occasions when you had a grown up all to yourself for once. "
Book At Bedtime 2008 will run across the country closing on June 30 2008 with the final being held in Waterstones flagship Piccadilly store on August 6th during Silentnight’s ‘National Love your Bed Week’.
Ten lucky entrants will be short listed for the final where Kaye Umansky will read each story before joining an expert panel of judges who will pick their favourite. The winning story will then be illustrated and published.
On top of this, the author will win a fantastic Silentnight bed and a night in the plush Silentnight Pyjama suite at Alton Towers. The ten finalists will also win a Silentnight bed, perfect for relaxing in after all that writing!
There are two ways to enter:
Click here to print off your entry form
Click here to e-mail us your entry
For Kaye’s top tips to help you write your story click here…
Terms & Conditions of entry can be found by clicking here