February 25, 2014
Seymour Simon is preparing to visit Franklin Elementary School in Westfield, NJ next week. Their library media specialist, Mrs. Kennedy, asked if we would run a contest for their students. Seymour loves it when you use his blog in school, so students at Franklin Elementary - this contest is for you!
Do you have a favorite Seymour Simon book? Is there one that you have taken out of the library many times, or that you go back to when you have free time in the media center? For this contest Seymour Simon invites you to browse through his books in your school library or at a bookstore, or you can look under the "Books" heading on his website, and think about which one of his books you like the best.
Once you have decided which Seymour Simon book is your favorite, you have to do three things:
1. Tell us the name of the book.
2. Tell us why you think it is Seymour Simon’s best book.
3. Give at least one example from the text in the book that illustrates your point.
Here is an example. Let’s say that I pick NEPTUNE as my favorite Seymour Simon book. I might write:
Favorite Book: Neptune.
Why it is my favorite: I think it is very interesting to learn how we are exploring the very end of the Solar System. It is amazing to me that humans can learn about a world that is so far away.
Evidence from the Text: I like the way Seymour Simon describes the information we receive from the Voyager 2 probe, which we sent to explore Neptune. He writes: "By 2015, Voyager will reach the heliopause, the true end of the Solar System. Then Voyager will drift silenty through time and space, a testament to the human search for knowledge." I always feel a little sad when I read that. I want to wave and say, ‘Bye, bye and thank you, Voyager!’ I think that is very good writing by Seymour Simon.
Here is how to enter once you have selected your Favorite Seymour Simon Book:
A. Click on the yellow "Comments" link at the bottom of the blog to enter the contest by sharing your favorite book, why it is your favorite, and giving an example from Seymour Simon’s writing in the book to illustrate your point.
B. When you write your information, be sure to also tell us your name (first name only), your grade, and your teacher’s name. That way we can find you if you are the winner!
C. Be sure to post your entry by midnight on Friday, March 7th. The contest ends then.
Rules:
- Two winners will be chosen randomly from all the correct entries.
- Students in grades 3-5 may enter individually, and we will pick one winner.
- Students in grades 1-2 may enter as a class and work with their teacher or with Ms. Kennedy to enter the contest; there will be one classroom winner.
- Both winners will receive a copy of their favorite Seymour Simon book, personally autographed by Seymour Simon.
- Students who do not attend Franklin Elementary may also enter this contest. If we have at least 10 entries from other schools, we will randomly choose a third prizewinner from the non-Franklin entries.
So, get to work and send us your entries today. Good luck!
Posted by: Liz Nealon
