AFM 2026 Young Writers’ Contest
SPONSORS
All 4th and 5th graders are welcome to enter their 75-300 word essays.
First place winners receive:
- Party for the winner and 9 friends at Dave & Busters
- Signed copies of Carmen Oliver’s most recently published books, Building an Orchestra of Hope: How Favio Chavez Taught Children To Make Music From Trash and, A Voice for the Spirit Bears: How One Boy Inspired Millions to Save a Rare Animal
- A personalized plaque presented at your school
- Winners’ essays will be published in Austin Family magazine in December 2026
First runners-up receive:
- A personalized plaque presented at your school
- Two signed copies of Carmen Oliver’s most recently published books, Orchestra of Hope and The Twilight Library
- Runners up essays will be published in Austin Family magazine in December 2026
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Contest Rules
• Essays must be 75 to 300 words
• Entries must be submitted no earlier than August 15 and no later than 5 p.m. on October 16, 2026
• Writers must be in the fourth or fifth grade
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Topic:
“Write a letter to America. What would you tell America on its 250th Birthday?”
JUDGE for this year’s contest is from the Austin SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) chapter, which is known for its vibrant, dedicated and welcoming community of children’s book writers and illustrators.
Carmen Oliver is the author of many award-winning picture books for children
including the most recent 2022 Writers League of Texas Children’s Picture Book Award for Building an Orchestra of Hope: How Favio Chavez Taught Children to Make Music From Trash, a Junior Library Gold Standard. She’s also the author of A Voice for the Spirit Bears: How One Boy Inspired Millions to Save a Rare Animal, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard, The Twilight Library, and the Bears Make the Best Buddies series (Reading, Writing, Math, Science). In 2014, Carmen founded the Booking Biz, a boutique-style agency that brings award-winning children’s authors and illustrators to schools, libraries, and special events. She’s also on faculty at the Writing Barn and The Highlights Foundation and loves speaking at schools, conferences and festivals. She lives with her family outside of Austin, Texas.
To connect or learn more about Carmen and her books, visit www.carmenoliver.com or Facebook, or Instagram.
Submit your entry:
