Chinese Storybook Competition

Students of Chinese language in Hawai‘i: Try your hand at writing and illustrating stories in Chinese, to be read and enjoyed by other learners of Chinese!
Target Readers of Your Stories: K-12 students learning Chinese

Age Groups of Writers of Stories in Chinese:

Competition Guidelines

The stories must be original, and can be written in pinyin, simplified characters, or traditional characters.
Original illustrations must provided. They can be hand-drawn and scanned, or created on computer, including via AI. Photographs are also acceptable, if signed consent to publish forms are submitted for each person featured. All illustrations must be copyright free
The author of the story and the illustrator can be the same or different individuals.
Collaborations with other students at the same level are welcome. All participants should be credited.
Keep the length of the stories between 50 and 500 characters.

Submission Format

Apply using a Google Form [provide link to Google Form], and submit the story using Google Slides via the Form

LastName_FirstName_Division. Eg: Wang_Keoki_B

SimSun or KaiTi, 12-point

At least 5 original illustrations per story

Judging Criteria

Entries will be evaluated on a scale of 1-5 for each criterion:

Appropriate use of Chinese language
Creativity and originality of story
Cultural relevance and authenticity
Quality of illustrations
Ability to engage readers
Overall presentation and coherence

Competition Timeline

Announcement of competition: November 14, 2024
Submission deadline: January 10, 2025
Judging period: January 11 to January 31, 2025
Announcement of winners: at the CLEAH Cultural Fair in Honolulu on February 15, 2025
Awards ceremony: at the CLEAH Cultural Fair in Honolulu on February 15, 2025

Awards and Recognition

Amazon Gift Card for First, Second, and Third place winners for each level

First place:
$200 Amazon Gift Card

Second place:
$100 Amazon Gift Card

Third place:
$50 Amazon Gift Card

Honorable mentions
(up to 5 per category)

Certificates
for all participants

Publication of winning entries in a digital anthology

Chinese Storybook Competition