MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Have you ever dreamed of seeing your words in print, turned into a children’s book and read by families across America? The Cheerios® New Author Contest, which kicks off its search today for the next great new children’s book author, provides aspiring writers the perfect opportunity to make this dream a reality. One Grand Prize Winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a possible publishing deal with Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, in addition to having his or her book featured inside Cheerios cereal boxes nationwide.
As part of the brand’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the whole child and connecting families by fostering a shared love of reading, Cheerios invites aspiring authors to enter its New Author Contest now through July 15, 2011. Entrants must write and submit an original story, in either English or Spanish, suitable for children ages three to eight. Those who think they have the “write” stuff can visit www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com for more information and to enter.
Cheerios is also announcing that 2009 New Author Contest Grand Prize Winner Laurie Isop, of Renton, Wash., and her book, How Do You Hug a Porcupine?, will be featured inside three million specially-marked boxes of Cheerios this spring. Isop’s story, which was selected from more than 8,000 entries, will also be available in bookstores nationwide as of July 26. “The Cheerios New Author Contest helped me achieve my decade-old goal of becoming a published author,” said Isop. “Winning the contest was equivalent to winning the literary lottery – the experience has been nothing short of life-changing and has motivated me to write every day.”
“Cheerios believes that reading is a key building block for learning and life,” said Meredith Tutterrow, Cheerios marketing manager. “Through our New Author Contest, we are proud to support ambitious new writers as they create stories that will inspire young readers for years to come, as well as provide families across America with access to quality books so that they may continue to experience the joys of reading together.”
In conjunction with the launch of this year’s New Author Contest, Cheerios plans to donate 100,000 new books through its charitable partner, First Book. As part of its Spoonfuls of Stories® program, Cheerios works with First Book to get high quality, award winning books in the hands of children in need. Since the program’s inception in 2002, Cheerios has given away more than 50 million children’s books free inside cereal boxes. Cheerios has also donated $3.5 million to the nonprofit First Book® to get books to children from low-income families.
“First Book takes great pride in partnering with Cheerios as part of the Spoonfuls of Stories initiative. For the past nine years, Cheerios has been a champion for children’s literacy and access to quality books,” said Kyle Zimmer, President and CEO of First Book. “We are grateful for Cheerios’ contribution to First Book’s greater mission of providing new books to children across the United States. Together, Cheerios and First Book are helping to provide the tools children need to realize and attain their dreams.”
Ron Rauss of Warrenton, Va. has officially been named the Grand Prize Winner of the 2010 New Author Contest and will follow in Isop’s footsteps when his winning story Can I Just Take a Nap? is distributed inside Cheerios cereal boxes next spring 2012.
About Cheerios
Cheerios debuted in 1941 as Cheerioats. The nation’s first ready-to-eat oat cereal has since become one of the most trusted and recognized brands in America. In fact, one of every 10 boxes of cereal sold in America is a box of Cheerios. General Mills’ popular franchise includes Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, MultiGrain Cheerios, Chocolate Cheerios, Frosted Cheerios, Fruity Cheerios, Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, Burst Cheerios, Yogurt Burst Cheerios, Banana Nut Cheerios and Cheerios Crunch. For more information, go to www.cheerios.com.
About General Mills
One of the world's leading food companies, General Mills operates in more than 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Yoplait, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills had fiscal 2010 global net sales of US$16 billion, including the company’s $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales.
About Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.
About First Book
First Book provides new books to children in need, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy – access to books. An innovative leader in social enterprise, First Book has distributed more than 80 million free and low-cost books in thousands of communities. First Book has offices in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about First Book, please visit www.firstbook.org.
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