Picture-This 2024
Picture-This 2024
Picture-This Books™ encourage imagination, creativity, and kindness; they celebrate diversity and original thought, the joy of childhood and the wonder of difference.
Children read (or listen to) the magical stories once through – ideally with a grown-up, before going back to the start of the book, re-reading and adding their illustrations, one page at a time.
We joined forces with Picture-This Books™ creator Holly Wadsworth-Hill to devise this wonderful competition, allowing you to truly embrace your inner illustrator!
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The competition is over and winners have been announced - but if you would still like to complete your illustration creation, we are still running Picture-This 2024 as a creative at-home project!
Read the stories
Below are our two stories. You can also download PDF versions. Once you have read the stories follow the steps below.
There was once a zebra named Talib. Talib the zebra lived in wild grasslands, on the other side of the big blue sea.
Talib was a most curious creature, for he was not like the other zebras at all. You see, whilst Talib liked to keep himself to himself, the other zebras did not.
And, whereas Talib enjoyed the quiet, the other zebras liked to make lots and lots of noise!
They would say, with a loud and excitable chortle: “Yoo hoo, yoo hoo, over here! Look at me, look at us!” and, if no one listened, “YOO HOO, YOO HOO, OVER HERE! LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT US!”
While Talib would say, in a soft and calm voice: “Shhh please, I’m trying to read” and “I think I’ll just go and have a quiet think over there”. And these were not very zebra-ey things to say at all.
The other zebras also spent a lot of time comparing stripes and gossiping.
They would say: “My stripes are brighter than yours, just look at them when I stand like this! Aren’t I fabulous? DON’T YOU THINK I’M FABULOUS?” and “Did you see Deidre, last week? Hasn’t her behind got big? I SAID, HASN’T HER BEHIND GOT BIG?”
And Talib would say “yes, you do have very nice stripes, but what are your hopes and dreams?” and “no, I did not notice Deidre’s behind.” And these were not very zebra-ey things to say either.
It wasn’t that the other zebras were unkind to Talib, but Talib didn’t feel like he fit in with them. He often felt like an outsider, looking in. As though he were watching the fun from a distance – even when he was standing right next to it.
In case you have never felt like that, it is not a very nice feeling to feel.
You have been in a deep and dreamy sleep, but something has woken you up!
You are awake but you keep your eyes gently closed. You are still tucked up in your bed, but your bed is no longer in your bedroom…
You don’t know how you know it, but you know that you are outside. You and your bed are outside, but you don’t know where you are.
You are not worried; you are not scared.
You feel wonderful.
You are completely safe
You hear lots of sounds all around you; the sound of birds talking, bees singing, trees whispering.
You feel the warm sunshine on your face.
You can smell something fresh and sweet.
You think it smells like sunflowers, candyfloss and your favourite teddy bear.
You and your bed are outside, but you don’t know where you are.
You are not worried; you are not scared.
You feel wonderful.
You are completely safe.
Step by step guide
Read the story extracts above to decide whether you would like to create an illustration from The Imagination Garden or Not Black and White - or you could illustrate both, as there is no limit to the amount of times you can enter!
If you have any problems accessing the stories let us know at info@ootiboo.com
Use your imagination to come up with your design. Use any materials or medium you like. How will you illustrate the page?
Remember that our gallery displays square images, so keep that in mind when you are creating your entry.
Once you are finished, scan or take a picture of your creation.
All the images featured in our gallery are square-shaped, so if possible, please send in your entry as a square. We can edit your picture if it isn't the correct shape, but receiving square-shaped entries really helps us.
Now it’s time to share your fabulous creation with everyone.
Select Share in the tab above or the button below and follow the simple instructions to upload your Picture-This creation.
Check back to see your Picture-This 2024 entry and all the other creations in our Gallery.
Allow up to 24 hours for your entry to appear on the platform as all images are moderated to ensure suitability.
Make sure to let friends and family know, so they can join in and spread some joy, fun and creativity!
