Give your students a fun, creative activity that meets
multiple underline
state standards.

Enjoy an engaging project that involves science, art, ELA, technology and social studies

Fourth and fifth-grade students in South Carolina are invited to write and illustrate a children’s book about our electric cooperatives. Winning entries will be awarded cash prizes as well as an opportunity to have their books published!

The Children’s Book Challenge is provided by your local electric cooperative, one of many things they do to empower the communities they serve.

2025-2026

Theme: TBD

TIMELINE

SEPTEMBER 2025

Registration ’25-’26
Challenge opens

NOVEMBER 22, 2025

Deadline to
Register

FEBRUARY 7, 2026

Deadline for Book
Submission to Co-op

MID-FEBRUARY 2026

Co-ops Choose
Local Winners

MARCH 2026

The Grand Prize
Winner is Announced

APRIL 2026

Winners Honored
at SC State House

REGISTER underline

Register for the Challenge beginning in September. Entrants will receive a confirmation email. Your local cooperative will stay in touch along the way.

Each registered individual or team (2-4 students) can either create:

  • An electronic book using the online book creator, StoryJumper. This web-based platform allows students to write and illustrate their stories using laptops, tablets, or other devices.
  • Or, a physical paper book using this printable template. After you create a rough draft using the template, you will then submit your final product on a blank book provided by your local co-op.

Digital Book Option underline

Educators and teachers have the option of using the free digital platform StoryJumper to create their books.

Teachers should sign up for a free account and become familiar with the options available and functions. StoryJumper provides detailed guidance for educators.

  • Accounts can be created as parent, teacher or teacher administrator under account settings
  • Create your student(s) account (watch tutorial); For group books (2-4 students) create a joint account
  • When books are ready for submission, set the privacy level to Public or Family & Friends

 

Here are a few more tutorial videos to help with creating a book in StoryJumper

Paper Book Option underline

Students can create and submit paper versions of their books. Contact your local cooperative to acquire the blank books used for submission.
  • To get started, download the printable template for draft versions.
  • All pictures must be drawn inside the boxes.
  • Hand-drawn pictures can also be scanned and uploaded to StoryJumper for digital submissions.

PLAN YOUR LESSON underline

Books may be fiction or nonfiction.

Students are encouraged to collaborate with their classmates to plan the following elements: characters, challenges, motivation, setting, obstacles, climax, and resolution.

Keep your original artwork throughout the process of working with StoryJumper. We may request it for further publication. 

Want some inspiration?

No matter the theme or the medium, students from across South Carolina have created some outstanding stories through the Children’s Book Challenge. There’s been peril, adventure, heroes, talking windmills, electric eels and much more. Check out the digital editions of our previous winners or find one in your school library.

Connect With Your Co-op

Explore and research your local electric cooperative office.
Students can contact the cooperative by a remote meeting, phone, email, or in person. Your local cooperative information will be provided to you shortly after registration. 

When students are finished writing and illustrating their book(s), submit to your designated electric co-op contact by the deadline.