The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Program Class, and The People for Leisure and Youth (PLAY) are partnering to publish a new bilingual children’s book. The story is titled Strawberry Moon Says, Goodnight and is set in and around the Santa Maria Valley. An illustration contest, open to Santa Maria-based students (grades 4 through 12), for inclusion in the book began on May 4.
Participants of the competition are given verses from the new book, which they are instructed to illustrate. Contestants can pick up illustration templates and other supplies at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, which is located at 600 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. Artwork submissions can be dropped off at either the youth center or any Community Bank of Santa Maria or Santa Maria Mechanics Bank location (the deadline to enter the contest is Sept. 25).
Proceeds from the future sales of Strawberry Moon Says, Goodnight will support Northern Santa Barbara County United Way’s literacy programs in Santa Maria, Orcutt, and Guadalupe, as well as various recreational arts programs for local youth. To find out more about the book or the illustration contest, call the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department at (805) 925-0951, Ext. 2260.
This article appears in May 14-21, 2020.