Following the success of the 2008 festival Cover Design competition, CBI have once again teamed up with the O'Brien Press to give budding artists the chance to design the front cover of a professionally published book!   A special edition of Sam McBratney's classic title The Lough Neagh Monster is due for release in 2010 and we need YOU to create a brand new cover design that will appeal to the young readers of today.

Here’s what you have to do...

• Track down the original version of The Lough Neagh Monster at your local library or bookshop and read it carefully. **For more information about the book click here (Word) or click here (PDF) or visit the O'Brien Press website
• Download an entry form here and print it out. Fill out your details and use the space provided to lay out your design. **See below for some top design tips!

• Send your completed entry form in to yor local library, click here for branches.

Closing date November 13th 2009.

Top Design Tips

• Before you begin, ask yourself some questions about the book:
  • What is the book about? What is the central idea of the story?
  • Do you think this book is aimed at girls, boys or both?
  • What age do you think the average reader of this book would be?
• Remember – the title of the book and the author’s name are very important and they need to be clear and readable
• Make sure to do your cover art in portrait format – use the competition entry form to make sure your design is the right size and shape.
• Most important of all – Be Creative and Have Fun!

Prizes and Entry details
Each Public Library in Tipperary will select a winner. Contact your local library for details of prizes. All entries will then be submitted to Childrens Books Ireland for judging in the countrywide competition.

The winning entry chosen by the judging panel will be used as the basis for the cover design of a new edition of The Lough Neagh Monster to be published in Spring 2010 plus a special O'Brien Winner's Hamper.

Five runners-up will also have the chance to see their artwork featured in the book and will also receive a selection of fantastic titles from The O'Brien Press.

This competition is open to residents of ROI and Northern Ireland only. All entrants must be aged 15 years or under (see T&C ). Only one entry per person will be accepted.