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
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.
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
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.
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.