2026 Kids Book Fest
Story Competition

 

Illustration by Trace Balla from the book Treeshape published by Allen & Unwin

Are you a young writer or artist? Share your story through words or in a picture.

There are lots of prizes to win and all the finalists’ work will be showcased at the 2026 Melbourne Kids Book Fest in October. The awards will be announced at the Book Fest by Andy Griffiths, the Australian Children’s Laureate and author of the 13-Storey Treehouse series. So what are you waiting for? Grab a pen or a paintbrush and let your imagination go wild!

Writing Competition

Have you got a great idea for a story? You can enter with a short story, poetry, flash fiction or true tale—we’re excited to see writing in all of its forms. We are looking for stories that show creativity, originality and a way with words.

Illustration Competition

This competition is for young artists to tell a story through pictures. Contestants must create an illustration based on the theme “Up a Tree.” Judges will be looking for creativity, originality and how well your illustration tells a story.

 
 
 

The Rules!

Rules for Writing

The competition is open to all young writers under 14 years old who are Victorian residents.

  1. Submissions must be under 1000 words. There is no minimum word count but stories over 1000 words will be disqualified.

  2. Somewhere in your work you must include the word ‘tree’.

  3. You can enter up to two pieces into the competition.

  4. It must be your own original work and must not infringe any copyright restrictions.

  5. Use of AI is strictly not allowed.

  6. Stories must not contain any offensive language or content.

Rules for Illustrations

This competition is open to all young artists under 14 years old who are Victorian residents.

  1. Your illustration must be based on the theme “Up a Tree”

  2. Only one entry per person is allowed.

  3. The artwork must be no larger than A3 (it can be smaller)

  4. The illustration must be your own original work

  5. The illustration can be any in any medium and style you choose. However, if digital technology has been used in the creation of the illustration, no use of AI is permitted.

 
 

How to submit your work

Writing

  1. Download and fill out a competition entry form

  2. Submit your work with your entry form by email to info@marymartinbooks.com.au or drop it off to Mary Martin Bookshop Ground Floor, Southgate Centre, Southbank  VIC 3006.

    Submissions must be received with the completed entry form by 5pm August 30th 2026

Illustrations

  1. Download and fill out a competition entry form

  2. Drop off your artwork with your entry form to Mary Martin Bookshop, Ground Floor, Southgate Centre, Southbank  VIC 3006.

    (If you wish to post your illustration to us, make sure it’s well packaged as we can’t be responsible for any damage to the artwork during delivery.)

    Submissions must be received with the completed entry form by 5pm August 30th 2026

    Note: Artworks will be available for collection from the end of Melbourne Kids Book Fest (October 3rd 2026). If you’d like to keep your illustration, please make sure you pick it up from the shop before the end of October.

Prizes

Shortlisted authors and artists will be notified by 19th September 2026.

All shortlisted written work will be read aloud at a dedicated session at Melbourne Kids Book Fest. Shortlisted artwork will be displayed for the duration of the festival at Southgate Centre in Southbank.

Competition winners will be announced by Australian Children’s Laureate Andy Griffiths at Melbourne Kids Book Fest on Saturday October 3rd 2026. Prizes up for grabs include book vouchers and book hampers.