2026 Story Competition

 

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

Are you a young writer or artist? Share a story through words or a picture and enter our writing and illustration competition. There are lots of prizes to be won and all of the finalists’ stories and artwork will be showcased at the 2026 Melbourne Kids Book Fest. The winners will be announced at Book Fest by Andy Griffiths, the Australian Children’s Laureate. The theme for this year’s completion is “Tree.” Let your imagination go wild.

Writing Competition

Grab a pen and some paper and share your brilliant ideas with us! You can enter short stories, poetry, flash fiction or true tales—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 “Tree.” Judges will be looking for creativity, originality and how well your illustration tells a story.

 
 
 

The Rules!

Writing

The competition is open to all young writers aged
5-12 who are Victorian residents.

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

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

  3. It must be your own original work and can’t infringe any copyright restrictions.

  4. The stories must be 100% from your own imagination. AI must not be used in writing your piece and the must be written without the help of parents or teachers.

  5. In order to be considered, stories must not contain any offensive language or content, keep it clean folks!

Illustration

This competition is open to all young artists aged
5-12 who are Victorian residents.

  1. Your illustration must be based on the theme “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 generative AI is permitted.

 
 

How to submit your work

Writing

  1. Download and fill out a competition entry form

  2. Submit your work with your submission form attached either by email to info@marymartinbooks.com.au or you drop it off in person 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 submission 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 the Kids Book Festival (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.