Click here to download the 2008 registration form

January 14, 2008

Dear Colleagues,

Ventura County Reading Association has scheduled it's thirty-first Young Authors' Faire for April 19, 2008. 

This year we will again join forces with California State University Channel Islands "Children's Reading Celebration" to present a full morning of activities that will include two guest authors, Lee Wardlaw and Ellen Kelley. University students will be on hand to present stories and hands-on projects. The event is free and refreshments will be served.

Holding the event in cooperation with our local university provides an opportunity for parents to bring their children on to a university campus in a positive and festive environment to celebrate their writing accomplishments.

The books your students have created in your classroom take on additional special importance when displayed in the college setting.  It is the goal of the Ventura Reading Association to encourage and celebrate reading, writing and the creativity of your students and to provide a venue to accomplish it.  The Young Authors' Faire also gives teachers a chance to see the work that goes on throughout the district in individual classrooms and to get inspiration from colleagues' efforts.

Take time to fill out this registration form.  Follow up material and more information will be sent to you in March, following receipt of your registration. Information is also available at our website, www.vcrareading.org.

Encourage other teachers on your staff to participate as well.  You can divide the task of bringing the students' work to the campus and picking it up following the event.  Other pre-arranged delivery can be made but of course we encourage participating teachers to attend, hear the authors, and see the excitement generated by the students who see their own work on display.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Jody Fickes Shapiro 
Ventura County Reading Association Young Author's Faire

1. Students' books must be registered by teachers IN ADVANCE of the Faire. Students, parents, and/or teachers may not register books the day of the Faire.

2. All young people in Kindergarten through Grade 12 in Ventura County are eligible to participate.

3. Each book must have a book identification page with the following information printed clearly and visibly Name of Author(s)

• Name of Illustrator(s)
• Grade Level
• Teacher's name
• School and District Name
• Date of Authors’ Faire

Books will not be accepted without this information. A sample Identification Book Plate can be viewed and printed by clicking here. You may duplicate this in any size you desire or have the students design their own identification page.

A father and his son take time at the 2006 Young Authors' Faire to do a little writing.

4. Books are to be written under the supervision of classroom or resource teachers. Parts of the books may be prepared at home.

5. Only one book per student may be submitted. However, small groups may work together on a book or the book may be a class project.

6. Entries may be fiction or nonfiction in either prose or poetry form.

7. Manuscripts must be in book form. The front and back covers may be of a hard, durable stock or of a simple construction paper folder. The cover and pages may be illustrated.

8. Books must be boxed attractively for display at the Faire. This may be a rack, a simple box covered with contact paper or.... Please keep in mind that space is limited, moderate sized displays are appreciated. The tables are 8 feet long with eight teachers to a table. Put your name, grade level, school, and district on the front of your display.

9. Each participating teacher and/or school is responsible for delivering and picking up their own books the day of the Faire. Teachers are asked to have the books at the event by 8:30 a.m. and pick them by 12 noon. The location of the event and driving directions will be posted here when they become available.

10. Books will not be judged. A gold seal of recognition will be presented to the individual students who enter one book. Books written in collaboration with one or more students and class books will be awarded one gold seal only. The seals will be available the day of the Faire for pick up.

11. Parents are encouraged to take their children to the Faire. It is their responsibility to provide transportation and supervision. Teachers who wish, may assume these responsibilities of their own volition. Send home the Letter to Parents. If you send the letter home, you are committed to getting the books to the Faire. The Faire date will be posted here later. Remind students not to take their books home from the Faire.

12. Total number of books entered must be indicated on the Authors’ Faire Entry Form. This form must be handed to the Registration Chairperson the day of the Faire. Take your books to your District's display area.