PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF JESSE BYRD
Two children’s book authors have joined forces to create a free event where Ohio students can find their love of storytelling.
Tracy Blom is a born and raised Cincinnatian who has authored more than 40 published books. She connected with Jesse Byrd, a fellow children’s book author who previously had a career in Silicon Valley working for Google, over their passion for what they do.
The two have experience in leading story-times and workshops in schools on a smaller scale, and wanted to create something that would broaden their reach and make kids excited about writing. And so, their storytelling contest began to take form.
“My goal is to help kids get really excited about reading and writing,” Blom says. “I essentially [want] to make a better, brighter future for Ohio kids.”
According to the Ohio Department of Education’s 2021-2022 Kindergarten through Grade 4 Literacy Report, 40.2 percent of third graders and 37.5 percent of fourth graders scored “not proficient” on their reading performance.
“If telling kids to eat their vegetables was a sufficient way to get them to eat their vegetables, nothing else would need to be done,” Byrd says. “It’s obvious that we need to think creatively [to improve literacy].”
Here’s how the free contest works: Participants will attend a workshop lead by Blom and Byrd, where they’ll sharpen the skills they need to be storytellers. The first workshop is on May 1 in Columbus, part of COSI’s Science Festival, and the second workshop is May 2 at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library Price Hill Branch. A virtual option for both dates is also open to any Ohio student.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF TRACY BLOM
After learning from the masters, participants will be matched with a main character they’ll feature in their story. From there, creativity can take the wheel and the story-writing begins.
One lucky student will have their story chosen to become an animated short film. The panel of judges, with backgrounds as animators and writers for Nickelodeon, Marvel, and more, will choose a story and work with an animation student at the Columbus College of Art & Design to bring the story to life.
Byrd says this story-to-screen transformation is a good way to show kids how much reading and writing goes into the TV shows that they love.
“These things don’t just jump from mind to screen,” Byrd says. “There are scripts to be written and conversations always happening in the writer’s rooms.”
The contest winner will be announced on June 15, and a watch party to view their animated film will be announced at a later date.
If your third or fourth grader wants to enter the contest, signups are live here.
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