Professional Publishing Opportunities for Kids

Kids can publish books too! At least, that's what the people at Landmark House, Ltd. believe. And why not? Having published over fifty children's books written and illustrated by children ages 6-19, Landmark has learned time and time again that there is really no limit to what kids can achieve.

The late David Melton, prolific author / illustrator and founder of Landmark House, spent much of his life teaching children how to write and illustrate books. Group after group of kids he worked with convinced him of one thing: kids are capable of more than we give them credit for.

"When friends or colleagues ask what I've been doing during the summer, and I tell them I've been teaching children to write and illustrate books, I see them force Cheshire cat smiles," wrote Mr. Melton in his book, "Written and Illustrated by…"

"I hear them say, ‘How nice. I bet their books are really cute.' Their demeanors reveal the prevailing attitudes of ‘little heads, little minds.' I'm sure they envision stories of gingerbread men and childish cartoons."

"The more honest ones come right out with it. ‘What on earth would children have to write about?' they bluntly ask."

"The answer is simple and direct—children and teenagers write about the very same things adults write about. Better still, they write about the same topics professional writers write about. In fact, their skills in writing often match the standards of professional writing and their insights are just as profound. When given the freedom to explore, without hesitation, young people tackle any genre…" (Written and Illustrated by… 12)

And that's exactly why Landmark House, Ltd. began the National Kids-in-Print Contest for Students. Every year, entries pour into Landmark's offices from kids across the country. Books about pizza monsters, books about Easter bunnies, books about being adopted, books about nearly everything! Landmark judges read every single entry as they come in. If there are a lot of entries, the judging process can take several months.

When the judges have selected the winning books from that year's entries, the children and their parents are notified over the phone. What an exciting experience lies ahead of them! The children get to work with an art director and editor to polish their work and make it suitable for publication. When the revisions are done, the book is formatted on the computer and whisked off to a professional printing facility. A few months later, pallets of beautiful, full-color, hardbound books return, and the student has officially become a published author. And if the student is interested, Landmark will arrange for book signings at local bookstores, author visits to schools, and interviews with media personalities. For winners and their families, it's the experience of a lifetime.

For more information about the National Kids-in-Print Contest for Students, interested parents, teachers, and students may visit www.landmarkhouseltd.com