Preserve the Planet "One Thing" Kids Contest

Kids in Grades k-12--combine with News Channel 8 and MyTV9 TV. Join the "One Thing" Idea Contest with your ideas to preserve the planet through energy conservation. If everyone does just "onething" everyday, what a difference we could make!!

Want to know more:
www.Onethingct.com.

HOW THE CONTEST WORKS:
To enter, children ages 6-18 share their Onething idea (in 50 words or less) for conserving energy and saving the planet and either enter on-line at myzone.tv or send in their entry to News Channel 8/MyTV9 Marketing Dept, 8 Elm Street, New Haven, Ct 06510
There are 3 cateegories (grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12)
3 Grand Prizes in random drawing. One winner for each category.
Grand Prize includes winners appearing in an on-air television spot sharing their one thing idea plus a $50 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble
57 Runner up prizes will be awared a $50 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble.


HOW MANY WAYS CAN YOU SAVE THE PLANET?

Free Books

HarperCollins Publishers announces First Look Teen, a program to preview books in a variety of genres, with readers who make a difference – you!

Each month, HarperCollins will offer Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) of great books by fabulous authors that you will have the opportunity to review. Reviewers are selected at random, but you must enter the program to be eligible. Join First Look Teen now – the sign up will take approximately two minutes. If you are already a member, sign in at right to continue. http://www.harperteen.com/firstlook/

Is copy-cat book cover art becoming an unwanted trend?

http://yalibrarian.com/
April 22, 2008

As a reader and frequent book store browser, I devote a degree of judgment towards book covers while downing an uppity-caffeinated beverage. When picking up an unfamiliar title, the presentation of a book is as important as appearing professional for a job interview. The book’s cover art introduces the reader to the story. Elements infused within the design, illustration, or photography heavily contribute towards the overall presentation and appeal. In fact, there are many times when a reader cannot recall the title or author, but is able to conjure a description of its cover. Once in a while, roles reverse and the consumer influences the cover. These titles become branded by the cover art due to momentous success i.e. Eragon, Twilight, Harry Potter. However, most titles receive a new makeover as the book transforms from hardcover to paperback to reprints, thereby creating a high expectation towards packaging.

Book cover art is a fine art as it attempts to attract its targeted audience. Those of us connected to the bookworld have a high regard for the efforts invested in printing high quality book covers, especially when we are booktalking titles to teens. Attractive and varied covers help us entice readers to expand their reading preferences. For publishers to package two different products with the same illustrations gives the impression of an impetuous company undermining current ethical standards. Whether copyright has been breached is not the immediate issue, rather consumers expect that their personal dollars are purchasing a unique product. To hinder the dystopian possibility that one day there may be several different titles displayed next to each other featuring the same cover art, please voice your opinions in the comments.

YOUNG SCIENTIST CHALLENGE

For students in grades 5-8
Hosted by Discovery Education & 3M
Prizes: all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, for the competition finals; 1st place: $50,000 U.S. Savings Bond; 2nd place–10th place: $1,000; Opportunity to appear on television -- and more!

This challenge, which I only discovered a day or two ago, is already about halfway over (entries must be submitted by June 15), so if you're a budding scientist, be sure to visit the Discovery page to grab the details of the contest http://youngscientist.discoveryeducation.com/about/about.html It sounds wonderful. Here's a little bit about the contest:

Discovery Education/3M Young Scientist Challenge is the premier national science competition for students in grades 5 through 8. The Young Scientist Challenge is designed to encourage the exploration of science among America’s youth and to promote the importance of science communication. In 1999, Discovery Communications, LLC, launched the competition to nurture the next generation of American scientists at a critical age when interest in science begins to decline. Over the past nine years, more than 540,000 middle school students have been nominated to participate in the competition, and winners have gone on to speak in front of members of Congress, work with the nation’s top scientists, and pursue academic careers in the sciences.

Good luck!