Grants Pass, January 7, 2026 — Josephine Community Library invites children ages 5–10 to participate in the 2026 Library Young Writers and Illustrators Contest, a creative opportunity for young community members to share their imagination through original writing and artwork.
Participants are asked to create a short story and accompanying illustration inspired by the prompt, “One day, I planted a magical seed and….” Stories may be brief and should reflect the age, experience, and abilities of the child. Completed entries must be submitted in person by Saturday, January 17, 2026, at any Josephine Community Library branch.
“The library is proud to provide opportunities for children to share their creativity and see their work valued in public spaces,” said Library Director Kate Lasky. “We want kids to have fun with this. If a story is three sentences long and comes with a great drawing, that’s perfect.”
Contest prompts and submission forms are available at all four library branches in Grants Pass, Illinois Valley, Williams, and Wolf Creek. Families may also access materials through ParentSquare for elementary students in Grants Pass School District 7 and Three Rivers School District. In addition, prompts are available at participating downtown Grants Pass businesses, including Indy Jo, Bella Luna Boutique, House of Glory, The Lonely Pine, and Mystic Valley Farm Tea Shop.
All submitted stories and artwork will be displayed during the 2026 Summer Reading Program as part of a community art and writing show at each of the library’s four branches. The display will celebrate the creativity, voices, and storytelling skills of participating children throughout the summer.
Up to 15 entries will be selected for publication as part of the 2026 Community Storybook Walk, an outdoor reading experience that places illustrated story pages along a walking route, inviting families and neighbors to read together as they move from one display to the next.
The contest encourages creativity, early literacy, and visual storytelling, while giving children the opportunity to see both their words and artwork shared publicly in library spaces and throughout the community.
For more information about the Library Young Writers and Illustrators Contest, the Storybook Walk, or the 2026 Summer Reading Program, visit josephinelibrary.org/summer-reading-program.