Now, in addition to being a mom-preneur, publisher, and multi-award-winning author, Cheri L. Hallwood has added the title “judge.” Cheri is helping to judge the winners among the finalists in the Miller College Children’s Literature Project.
She is also looking forward to see the transformation of three of her picture books – The Curious Polka Dot Surprise
From the Forever Young Publishers Press Release …
At the start of the 2010/2011 school year, nearly 1,200 students participated in a writing and illustration contest as part of the Miller College Children’s Literature Project. The students comprise the third, fourth, and fifth graders in Calhoun and Eaton counties in Michigan.
Miller College and Kellogg Community College students volunteered their time during spring break to narrow the 500 books submitted for consideration to not more than 8 per category, per grade level, which were then narrowed down to the top three books in each category by a community panel of judges.
Earlier this week, award-winning children’s author and founder of Forever Young Publishers, Cheri L. Hallwood, and talented artist, Patricia M. Rose, this year’s Featured Artists for the Children’s Literature Project, participated in the final round of judging along with other community judges from Miller College, Kellogg Community College, and The Binda Foundation.
Thirty-one final round winners were selected in the categories of Best Writing, Best Illustration and Best Overall Book. Winners will be celebrated at an Awards Dinner held at the Holiday Inn on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 6:00 pm. Over 200 students, families, teachers, principals, and community members will be in attendance.
The Miller College Children’s Theater Project also offered a script-writing contest to area high school students in which students were tasked with adapting each of Ms. Hallwood’s books into 15- to 20-minute children’s plays.
Casting calls were held in March and 39 students of all ages were cast. The plays will be performed on Tuesday, May 10th, in the Harper Creek High School Auditorium, 12677 Beadle Lake Rd., in Battle Creek, MI, at 7 p.m. Adult tickets are $5.00, student tickets are $3.00, and children ages 5 and under are free. All proceeds will benefit next year’s Project.
The Children’s Project is also participating in the May 13th, downtown Battle Creek Spring into the Arts Event. Patricia M. Rose will have artwork from Cheri’s books and her own collection on exhibit along with a broad selection of artwork from the children’s books submitted for the Project.