The Rare Children's Storybook Project

PART 1: Create and Submit a Story 

MarbleRoad will reach out to the rare community to request submissions of storybooks in two categories. The categories are picture books appropriate for pre-readers ages 0-5 (under 300 words) and early reader books appropriate for children age 5-7 (under 1300 words). Books should illustrate the perspective of self, sibling, caregiver, or other relevant role in the illness experience, to help facilitate dialogue and understanding for families facing complex illness. It is, perhaps, unusual to engage with children about illness at such an early age; however some 22.5 million children in the United States are living with rare disorders and it may help to begin this conversation and exploration at an early age. 

Submissions from individuals/families only please; submissions from organizations will not be accepted at this time.

Please complete the attached form and send it in with your storybook submission to demonstrate financial need - note that financial need is not required to participate, but financial assistance awards for grand prize winners and runners up can only be offered to those in need.

To submit a children's story (deadline January 13, 2012), please email your submission to assistance@marbleroad.org or mail the address below. Make sure to indicate somewhere on your submission whether for ages 0-5 or 5-7 (see above)!

MarbleRoad

Re: The Rare Children's Storybook Project

PO Box 34176

Washington, DC  20043-4176

Dont forget to complete the form:

Financial Assistance Need.pdf Financial Assistance Need.pdf
Size : 239.467 Kb
Type : pdf

YOUR SUBMISSION PACKET SHOULD INCLUDE:

  1. Indication of contest category [EITHER pre-readers age 0-5 OR children age 5-7].
  2. Your storybook!
  3. Financial Assistance Need form [if applicable].

Timeline: September 15, 2011 through January 13, 2012.

PART 2: Create and Submit a Video

Each story will be carefully reviewed by an Advisory Committee comprised of educators, medical professionals, social workers, and artists. Five finalists will be selected from each of the two categories (10 in total), and small portable video cameras will be sent to all finalists. Those who receive cameras will be asked to submit a short video, not to exceed three minutes, further sharing their rare story and/or a narrative and visual component bringing their storybook submission to life.

 

Timeline: Review Period January 16-31, 2012 // Video Submissions Received by March 1, 2012

Video cameras to be sent out the week of February 6, 2012.

PART 3: Win Money and Get Published

One grand prize winner and one runner up from each category will be selected based on the number of "likes", comments and views online (we will use either Vimeo or YouTube for video postings). Each grand prize winner and one runner up will receive financial assistance awards to help with medical related costs, and MarbleRoad will explore the opportunity of publishing the two first prize winners.

   

Timeline: Online Voting from mid-February through Friday, March 16, 2012

Winners will be selected and notified no later than Friday, March 30, 2012.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A STRONG SUBMISSION

Who is your protagonist, and what does he or she want?
When the story begins, what morally significant actions has he or she already taken towards that goal?
What unexpected consequences — directly related to the protagonist’s efforts to achieve the goal — ramp up the emotional energy of the story?
What details from the setting, dialog, imagery, and tone help you tell the story?
What morally significant choice does your protagonist make at the climax of the story -- will this be a TWIST?

Check out a story by one of the authors on our advisory committee: