Cozumel Project Summary: Concurso Cuento (Storybook Contest)
Jen Fetchko
Concept
To engage and empower children of the Jóvenes por la Conservación in Cozumel,
Mexico, by allowing them to author their own children’s stories about sea turtle and
human interaction
To motivate the children to win the Concurso Cuento contest, where the winner of the
best story will have the chance to work with an illustrator and have their story published
into an App for iPads and iPhones
Goals
To provide a safe and secure portal for the Jóvenes por la Conservación to submit
writing samples
To provide the winning child of the contest a chance to collaborate with an illustrator
To supply educators and children around the world with a digital children’s book
resource via an App
To create a project that is sustainable and will out last this course
Description of Concurso Cuento Contest
Members of the Jóvenes por la Conservación in Cozumel will submit stories to the
Concurso Cuento website. The stories can be fiction or nonfiction, and must be between
500 and 1000 words. The winning story will be chosen by the members of the FPMC
and the collaborating illustrator, based on originality, creativity, and attention to theme.
The final children’s book App will be unveiled at the International Children’s Congress in
Cozumel in June 2012.
Timeline and Website Feature Release Goals
Summer 2011: Password secure website, story submission, promotional video, basic
layout and theme should be in place
- searchable content
- commenting feature
Fall 2011: Open Concurso Cuento contest to the Jóvenes por la Conservación, guidelines
for entry established, winning story chosen by September 30, 2011
Spring 2012: The winner of the Concurso Cuento contest collaborates with illustrator,
the children’s book is made into an App for iPads and iPhones, the App is unveiled at the
Children’s Congress
Post-August 2012: Reflect on the results of first project year with the intention of
expanding to other countries with the help of projects like Brazil’s Riverwalk or South
Africa’s M-Ubuntu
Other ideas: Hold contests for the Jóvenes por la Conservación to write sequels to the
winning story of the 2011/2012-year
Resources and Partners:
FPMC: Conservation and Environmental Education Parks Foundation and Museums of
Cozumel, Quintana Roo
Software: http://www.talespring.com, software that publishes children’s books and
turns them into Apps for iPads and iPhones.
Implementation Plan of Concurso Cuento Children’s Book Contest
2011-2012
Jen Fetchko
August
Continue working on website for Concurso Cuento, add Google Translate
application so that the children of Jóvenes por la Conservacion can access
it
Finalize a FPMC contact, who will collect the children’s stories
Create a PDF flyer about the Concurso Cuento for the FPMC and Jóvenes
por la Conservacion, outlining the contest information, timeline, guidelines,
etc.
Send PDF flyer to the FPMC so that it can be distributed
Create a link from the current Conservation4Cozumel website to the
Concurso Cuento website
September
Finalize website applications, layout, contest guidelines
Open up the Concurso Cuento contest to the Jóvenes por la Conservacion
Collect children’s stories from FPMC contact, such as Jesus or Sandra
Reiterate that the final due date for the children’s stories is September 30
October
The winner of the contest will be chosen
I will start to establish communicable relationship with the winning child, via
email or Skype
The child will be supplied with a timeline and information of what is to be
expected during the publishing process
November
The winner and I will start collaborating about the possible illustrations for
their story
The story will be translated into both English and Spanish for better
understanding
Information about the winner of the contest will be posted onto the
Concurso Cuento website
December
The winner and I will start dividing text into pages
The winner and I will edit the story if necessary
Rough drafts of page illustrations and App/book cover illustrations will be
made
January
I will start illustrating the story, making sure the winner is included in
choosing the media for the illustrations (such as acrylic paint, pastels,
watercolor, photo-silkscreen, etc)
The text will be finalized into designated pages
Update the Concurso Cuento website with the progress of the project
February
Illustrations will continue to be made
Communicate every week with the winner and the FMPC to inform about the
book’s progress
Update the Concurso Cuento website with the progress of the project
March
Illustrations will continue to be made
Communicate every week with the winner and the FMPC to inform about the
book’s progress
Update the Concurso Cuento website with the progress of the project
April
The illustrations for the book will be completed
The illustrations/text for the book will be photographed/scanned and
uploaded onto www.tailspring.com
Update the Concurso Cuento website with the progress of the project
May
Finish completing the children’s book App iPhone and iPad.
Prepare for the trip to Cozumel, Mexico for the International Children’s
Congress
Create a video about the Concurso Cuento, documenting the
publishing/illustrating contest
June
Attend the International Children’s Congress in Cozumel, Mexico from June
4-7, 2012
Present the Concurso Cuento video and unveil the completed children’s book
App at the Congress.
Upload a version of the story onto the Conservation for Cozumel website
July
Assess the accomplishments of the past year during the UMF Global Program
in Geneva, Switzerland.
Plan for future projects surrounding children’s book Apps and writer-
illustrator collaboration