In memory of Yamhill's beloved author Beverly Cleary the Yamhill Downtown Association (YDA) are having another contest and celebration! We have a spectacular event this year with so much family fun. Check out the link below for the full event. The story and color contests open on Beverly Cleary's birthday, April 12th, which is today!
Get out your pencils, your tablets, and creative colors!
My part of this wonderful town celebration is to help organize the story and art contests for kindergarten through 12th grade. Every year we highlight a different book or character from Beverly Cleary. I've been waiting for this year to come. It is one of my favorites. I remember reading THE MOUSE & THE MOTORCYCLE and RALPH S. MOUSE when I was young. Ralph S. Mouse said, "Sometimes the biggest adventures can come from the smallest creatures."
This year's story theme is : What if something small made a big difference?
Write a story using this theme and create a fun character who helps. I got kind of excited about remote control cars and thought this would add some fun to the story. So add a remote control vehicle of your choice to your story and make sure to check out the prizes! Details to enter and prizes are found in this handy pdf file to print and use in your classroom or for those learning at home. Please feel free to post them and share.
Download Story and Color Contest Details HERE :
If you need a little help getting started with your story then print this story starter helper to get you going.
Download Story Starter page HERE:
Ralph S. Mouse had many challenges but he took them all with a sense of readiness. He did not let something hard get in his way. He figured out how to get around a problem even though he was small. We look forward to reading your stories!
The Coloring Contest is created by our wonderful Yamhill artist, Kimberly Howell who has helped us each year. Please check out her website for more color pages and her Beverly Cleary Yamhill History Coloring and Activity Book HERE See what she is doing next. Cool Fun Fact: Kimberly's birthday is actually the same day as Beverly Cleary's, April 12, what a fun connection!
The Color Contest is open for ages Kindergarten -2nd grade.
Download and print HERE:
The Run! Rock! Read! 5K Runaway is back this year, along with a new 10K that morning. In addition, we have an exciting, fun family contest this year to highlight Beverly Cleary's book character Ralph S. Mouse. With the help of the City of Yamhill Parks we are adding a temporary RC race track in Jane Heinrich Park. Bring your own remote control car or truck to the race to win prizes!
Please check out the run, organized by Jenny and Kara of the YDA. RUN! ROCK! READ! 5K & 10K RUNAWAY! Saturday May 11th. Details and Register Link Here
You don't have to enter the race, just bring a friend for the fun filled community activities created by the YDA, hooray! Come watch the race or join in the cheers and live music at the finish line. Run, read, or walk the historic trail and join in our community literacy efforts with books, prizes and even cake. It all begins on the back lawn of The Larson House. Yamhill is a great place to visit! We hope you take on one of our challenges to be inspired to read, run, write and rock your own story!
And remember:
"Every challenge is an opportunity for growth and learning," says Ralph S. Mouse.
Our community efforts are supported through the Yamhill County Cultural Coalition grant, generous donors, and volunteers. Cool graphics, T-shirts, stickers, postcards, signs are made by our devoted YDA member and artist, Kara Weber.