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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Author-Illustrator Starter Kit

There are blank books and then there are blank books. The new Author-Illustrator Starter Kit from McSweeney's McMullens is a blank book set that beats out the rest for creative design, in my opinion. Yes, it is cutesy. Yes, it is meant all in good fun. Yes, you can find other blank books if you like. So why consider these?

  • There are three hardcover square shaped blank books in this thick cardboard slipcover.
  • The slipcover itself is also blank so that the child author/artist can decorate it as well.

I personally know of some children who enjoy story writing and write book series and I think it's fun to have three books in a slipcover that they could mess around with. I like the idea of using them for a creative writing project, a gift project which the child can make and then give away, as well as just for general use.

My eldest made up some stories which we wrote down in a blank book awhile back. He illustrated them and I put the book on our bookshelf to be pulled out again when he is older. (I pulled the book down just the other day and found it charming and amusing!) Capturing the early imaginative workings of children is something worth doing, in my opinion. There is so much about what our children think, do and say that is lost to memory forever as it is. I like having these "hard copies" of the things that my children have thought up in their earlier years. Hence, I like this Author-Illustrator Starter Kit. I know that many of you feel the same way about your own children and their make-believe worlds.

Therefore, I am sure you will be delighted and excited to know that McSweeney's McMullens has offered to giveaway THREE of The Author-Illustrator Starter Kit to three of my readers here at Reading to Know.

READ THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH CAREFULLY!

To enter, simply leave a comment below. This contest is open through Tuesday, August 16th, and is open to U.S. Residents only.


THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNERS, as selected by Random.org, ARE #1 - Marks of Faith, #3 - *Carrie* and #11 - Annette W.

Congrats, ladies!

You MUST leave a valid e-mail address IN your comment in order to be entered. I'm going to have to be a little feisty and particular on this point now. I've spent a great deal of time lately trying to find a way to contact winners and my time is very valuable to me. I assume that if you want to win this, you'll leave an easy way for me to let you know that you have! If you don't, I'll assume you don't care and I'll select another winner in your place. K?

Back to nice:

I'm sure you can think of many ways which this set of blank books can be used. They are made for fun and I anticipate at least three of you having great fun imagining up the possibilities with your own kids.

Enjoy!

Thank you, McSweeney's McMullens, for sending one of the Starter Kits to me for me to check out and for offering three more up to some of my readers.

18 comments:

Marks of Faith said...

That sounds really neat! How fun!

smashedcomment@gmail.com

Stephanie Kay said...

These look like a lot of fun! I know 3 kids who would love to write and illustrate their own books! stephaniesmommybrain @ gmail.com

*carrie* said...

Carrie,

What a fun giveaway. I loved writing my own books as a kid, but I just used construction paper. =)

I think you know my e-mail: parisummer @ hotmail.com

Janet said...

Looks great -- sign me up!

janetATacrossthepageDOTnet

(words in caps should be read in a voice an octave higher than the other words... :-)

Jen E @ mommablogsalot said...

Oh my 5 year old would love this!

mommablogsalot (at) gmail(dot)com

Rebecca said...

Thank you so much for the chance to win this. This looks amazing. I would love to win this. Thanks again.

agent_beckster(at)yahoo(dot)com

Rebecca said...

Thank you so much for the chance to win this. This looks amazing. I would love to win this. Thanks again.

agent_beckster(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sarah said...

Such creative products! Endless possibilities...Thanks!
sarahburrows4@aol.com

Rebecca (RivkaBelle) said...

Oh this is the coolest prize! So many fun ideas bouncing around just waiting to happen with something like this :o)

quarterback.girl[at]gmail[dot]com

Lisa said...

My 6 year old would love this. He's really into to making little books about Pokemon. ;)
iluvchrisnlevi@aol.com

Annette W. said...

We have NEVER done this. We need to...though I'm not sure M is truly capable yet...but we can try!
derekannette at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a lot of fun. I have always want to write a book. I think me and my 5 year old son can have alot of fun with. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Mikaila said...

J is always making up stories. We would LOVE a set like this to record them in!
isaiah354@gmail.com

Mozi Esme said...

I'm not feeling very original, but I love your idea of capturing the kids' work in these...

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

April Yedinak said...

This sounds like something my daughter would love.
ape2016(at)aol(dot)com

Heather VanTimmeren said...

These look great! Thanks for the giveaway!

Patricia said...

I'd love to win this for my young cousin --- I'm always encouraging him with his art projects and I know he'd love this! What a terrific idea!

patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

*carrie* said...

Oh, fun! I never saw your post of the winners, but came back here now as I just opened a fun surprise box containing these books. Thanks, Carrie!

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