This year, the Texas Book Festival teamed up with TLC Graphics to sponsor a children’s book cover design contest! Children ages 4 – 12 designed book covers for an imaginary tale called “Bird and Bunny Play Ball” in the Children's Demonstration and Activity Tent. Winners from over 150 entries were selected on creativity, use of shape and color, and how well the design would work as a book cover. First-place winners received $15 Amazon gift cards courtesy of TLC Graphics.

Here are the first-place winners in each age division. Please visit http://www.tlcgraphics.com/great-book-cover-up.html to see all other winning entries. We are thrilled with the talent found in these kids and encourage them to continue to draw and design!

Ages 4-5 1st place winner, Townes Lowery, age 5

The title is prominent, all three characters are shown playing together with the ball, and the sun is very nicely placed to balance the design. The color choices are eye-catching and fun.

Ages 6-7 1st place winner, Hannah Pickens, age 7

This cover includes all required text elements and includes a very bold title. The characters are fun and colorful and the bottom row of flowers is a great way to anchor everything.

Ages 8-9 1st place winner, Bryn Battani, age 8

This design has a bold title with an effort to draw some of the letters rather than simply write them. The three main characters are very well drawn, have good color usage, and engage the viewer -- smiling and causing you to smile back!

Ages 10-12 1st place winner, Carrie Kuhn, age 11

This design stands out above all other entries. This goes beyond using the required elements and becomes a creative book cover. The characters are artistic and in motion, wrapping themselves around the title. These elements are, in turn, enveloped by the circle representing their ball.

Banner illustrations:
Left: Illustration copyright ©2006 by Jenny Mattheson from No Bows!, written by Shirley Smith Duke and published by Peachtree Publishers. Permission for use granted by Peachtree Publishers.
Middle: Illustration copyright ©2006 by Doug Holgate from The Adventures of Zack Proton and the Warlords of Nibblecheese by Brian Anderson. Used with permission of Aladdin Paperbacks an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Right: Illustration copyright ©2006 by Gabi Swiatkowska.