Calling All Young Authors!
Grades TK–8 | The 2026 Young Authors’ Contest & Writing Extravaganza
Contest Categories (Submit entries by Dec 5, 2025):
- Imagination Machine Story – up to 2 pages of your most creative fiction! (See IM Guidelines)
- Newberry – text only, up to 10 pages.
- Caldecott – with illustrations, up to 10 pages.
- Grade Level Divisions: TK-K, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
Important Notes
- The Young Authors’ Contest and Imagination Machine selections are separate. You might win 1st or 2nd place in Springs’ contest but not be chosen for a live performance.
- Register your story below before uploading to the Dropbox — unregistered entries will be disqualified.
- Every story is also submitted to The Imagination Machine for a chance to be performed live!
- Optional: Students may submit up to two stories — one for the Springs contest (Newberry or Caldecott) and one for Imagination Machine selection. Performance stories are usually shorter, simpler, and easier to act out.
- Deadline: All stories must be submitted by December 5, 2025, to be considered.
Caldecott Entries
- Must include illustrations that complement the text.
- Text can be typed, handwritten, or computer-generated in any font or color.
- Both artwork and text must be the sole creation of the student (TK-K students may dictate their story to their parents).
- Illustrations can be created using any medium (e.g., paints, inks, crayons, markers, original computer graphics, cut paper, sponge painting).
- Include a title and the young author’s name.
- The story must be fiction.
- No more than 10 pages.
Newberry Entries
- Cannot include illustrations.
- Provide a title page or cover with the student’s name (not part of the page count).
- Text must be the sole creation of the student.
- The story must be fiction.
- Number the pages. No More than 10 pages entry
- Stories may be submitted in Google Docs, Word, or PDF.
- Students may also use one of the Imagination Machine templates linked below
TK-K Template
1st/2nd Template
3rd/4th Template
5th-8th Template
The Young Authors’ judging and Imagination Machine selections are separate—but both celebrate your imagination!
