Sylvan Dell Publishing is now accepting submissions for our
 2nd annual Picture Book Writing Competition for Homeschooled 
Students!

Homeschooled students working at a high school level are invited to 
share their creativity and writing skills in the world of 
children's literature. The winning author will receive a $200 
prize, and the manuscript will be seriously considered for 
publication.
 Sylvan Dell is accepting competition manuscripts between March 1 
and March 31, 2008, by electronic submission only. Manuscripts 
should subtly convey an educational theme through a warm, engaging 
story. Sylvan Dell’s current catalog focuses on teaching 
science and math through literature.




 Students wishing to submit manuscripts should follow the submission 
guidelines posted on the Sylvan Dell Web site, 
www.sylvandellpubli shing.com/ HomeschoolingCom p.htm . Sylvan Dell 
will only consider admissions that adhere to all contest submission 
guidelines explained on our Web site. A brief summary of the 
guidelines is below:

 Eligibility: Homeschooled students working at a high school 
level.

 Manuscripts should be written for one of the following age 
ranges: 3 to 7, 4 to 8, 5 to 9, or 6 to 10. Authors should be 
mindful of age-appropriate words.

 Manuscripts should not exceed 1,500 words. Picture books are 
typically less than 1,000 words, so novels and short stories will 
not be considered.
 As this is a writing competition, illustrations will not be 
accepted.

 Electronic submission only. Manuscripts must be attached to an 
e-mail message as a Word document. Submission e-mails should be 
sent only to MaggieStuart@ SylvanDellPublis hing.com between March 1 
and March 31, 2008, with “Homeschool Writing Contest 
Submission” and the manuscript title in the subject line. 
Students must include their name, date of birth and contact 
information in the e-mail.
 At Sylvan Dell, we are dedicated to promoting math and science 
through literature with our educational picture books. Submitted 
manuscripts should complement this vision by including animals, 
nature, the environment, science or math.
 The winning manuscript will be announced via a post to Sylvan Dell 
Publishing’ s Web site, www.SylvanDellPubli shing.com, in late 
April 2008. The winners will also be notified via e-mail. Questions 
about the competition should be directed to Homeschool Market 
Liaison Maggie Stuart by e-mailing 
MaggieStuart@ SylvanDellPublis hing.com.
 We encourage you to share this opportunity with friends and family 
members in the homeschooling community. Please see our Web site for 
frequently asked questions and submission guidelines: 
www.sylvandellpubli shing.com/ HomeschoolingCom p.htm. While you're 
there, please feel free to explore our Web site and discover Sylvan 
Dell's publications, "For Creative Minds" supplements and free 
teaching activities.
 We hope that you will seize this excellent opportunity for 
homeschooled students to explore a different avenue of writing and 
research, and we look forward to reading the manuscripts!
 Best wishes,
 The Sylvan Dell team

 *Writers' Tip* Who is the ultimate audience of your work? 
Defining your audience is an important step in the writing 
process. If you are writing a manuscript for a children's book, 
for example, you would want to consider the interests of young 
children. Let's say you have decided to write about a nature 
concept. What interested you when you were a child and you 
discovered something new? Perhaps you have younger siblings or 
cousins. Observe them as they play outside. What fascinates them 
about nature? Do they ask you any questions? What, if anything, do 
they understand about a situation in nature they encounter? Use 
this information to discover the best approach to convey your 
subject in your children's book manuscript.

 Who were the 2007 winners?
 1st Place: Anthony Conroy, Jumping Bugs; 2nd Place: Michaela 
Gneco, Our Walk in the Forest; 3rd Place: Daniel Morin, Albert's 
Elements
 Honorable Mentions: Katilin Popejoy, An Enemy Becomes My Friend; 
Haluk Akay,The Ganges River Dolphins; Melissa Washburn, Melvin the 
Monarch; Jordan Nickerson, My Day at the Superstore; Abigail 
Shaffer, The Life of Leroy Leaf

 Science and Math Through Literature
 Sylvan Dell Publishing
 www.SylvanDellPubli shing.com
 843-971-6722



 Sylvan Dell Publishing
 976 Houston Northcutt Blvd., Suite 3
 Mount Pleasant SC 29464
U.S.A.

(For more information regarding things listed on the Oregon blog, please email me, and I can give further information. Thanks!)