How to Host a Gingerbread Book Character Contest
Contests are fantastic ways to spur engagement and showcase your community’s creativity! Get in the holiday spirit by challenging readers to decorate a paper gingerbread person as their favorite book character and display them in the library or online for public voting. The target audience for this passive activity is ages 5-12, but teens may enjoy it, too!
Promotional Blurb
“Pick up an entry form from the Youth Desk, decorate the gingerbread template as your favorite book character using the craft supplies of your choice, and return it by Friday, December 6 at 5:00 pm! For all ages.”
Create Your Submission Criteria
Decide how you will display the submissions (share photos online, make an in-person display, etc.), how long you’d like voting to last, and how voting can take place (social media, a Google form, paper ballots, etc.). Then create a gingerbread person template that contestants can either return to you once complete (if you’re going to display them in-house) OR a photo of their artwork (if you’re going to display them online).
For added fun and to cross-promote the contest, set up a craft table with templates and supplies for families to complete while in the library.
Here is an example of a combined entry form and template that was printed on 8.5 x 14 cardstock:
Displaying the Entries
For this example, once the submission period closed, a staff member wrote an entry number on each entry form and taped the same number to the foot of the corresponding gingerbread character. Teen volunteers then cut the templates out and displayed them on the library’s walls with painter’s tape.
Voting
For in-person voting, simply set out ballots, a ballot box, and pencils!
You can purchase a ballot box, build your own, or use a bucket. I’ve used these buckets from Dollar Tree for an endless variety of activities over the years, including collection boxes for ballots, event surveys, and mouthed baby toys.
After the voting period ends, tally up the votes and announce the winner! In addition to showcasing the winning design on social media, I like placing a paper star next to it when doing an in-house display.
Check out fun examples of gingerbread characters from the Freeman Fine Arts Academy!
Book Display
Plus, don’t forget to help promote the contest with a themed book display!
