story time

Fisher-Price has launched a fantastic series of books to entertain little ones, from newborn right up to toddlers. Bright, colourful books packed with simple characters are a great way to spend time with your little one, exploring and sharing words, sounds and stories.

and win

Fisher-Price are giving one lucky Prima Baby or Babyexpert reader the chance to write a book and have it published as part of their 2011 collection. Our winner will have the opportunity to visit London to meet the publishers, see their book go through design and development stages, as well as receive a collection of Fisher-Price books and toys worth around £1000!

how to enter

To enter simply write your story, which should be based on the Precious Planet characters pictured here and above. It's best if you can illustrate your story, but don't worry if you can't manage this, simply tell us what the pictures should look like. Send your entry to Fisher-Price Book Competition, Mattel UK, PO Box 3135, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 4YL or email to ukpress.office@mattel.com. Please remember to enclose details of your name, address and a contact telephone number.

Please read the terms and conditions below before entering:
We're looking for words and ideas for a book that features one or more of the Precious Planet animals featured here. The book should have lots of repeat reading appeal and really capture babies' and toddlers' imaginations. Think about introducing elements of subtle learning to help children recognise words, activities and improve hand-eye co-ordination. Keep the word count fairly low, as parents will read this aloud to their little ones and tots have a pretty short attention span!

Tips on writing: From Neil Dunnicliffe, HarperCollins:

• Make the words work with the pictures - so that parents and other adults can point out the illustrations as they read the story
• Keep the language simple but fun
• Keep it short - and make every word count
• Think about the rhythm and sound of the words you are using
• Repetition of key words can help little ones to recognise and anticipate words and the sounds that they make
• When writing, read your work out loud to make sure it works
• Humour is important - and toddlers often like silly and surreal things
• Rhymes can help to keep everyones interest but it is far harder to write rhyming text than you might think!

How to enjoy reading: From Dr Kathleen Alfano, Fisher-Price:

• Bedtime stories:  sharing stories when you're safe and tucked up in bed builds positive images of reading that will last a lifetime
• Little and often is great to ensure reading is a natural part of life together
• All little ones love surprises - as you turn the pages of picture books look for hidden surprises and characters on each page
• Don't be afraid to make weird and wonderful noises and over-pronounce.  This will help familiarise even the youngest babies with the rhythm of speech and words
• As you explore the book, start building familiarity with letters through simple play ideas such as picking out individual letters: S for Snake or F for Freddy
• Shapes are also important, as words and letters are just shapes too.  As you go through books look for objects in the pictures that are shapes and call them out
• Don't just focus on the story as its written, use the pictures to play other games too.  Count how many round things you can see on the page, how many red things etc are great ways to build in all aspects of learning too.

Terms & conditions

This competition is promoted by HarperCollins Publishers ("HarperCollins"), 77-85 Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8JB.
This promotion is open to all UK residents aged 18 or above except employees of HarperCollins and Mattel UK Limited ("Mattel") (or their parent, subsidiaries or any affiliated companies) and their immediate families, who are not allowed to enter the competition.
To enter the competition you must design and write a 10 page baby book which is age appropriate for 0 -18 month olds.  The book must only use characters from the Fisher-Price^TM Precious Planet range.  The book can be hand drawn, "described" in writing or designed by computer (the "Book"). You can enter this competition by post to Fisher-Price book competition, Children's Brands and Licences Publishing, HarperCollins Publishers, 77-85 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 8JB or by e-mail to fisherprice@harpercollins.co.uk.
As a condition to your entry in this competition, you agree that all copyright and other intellectual property rights in the Book and any and all related content and materials shall be the property of Mattel UK Limited's parent company, Mattel, Inc.
Closing date for entries is 5pm on 16^th May 2010.  No entries received after this date will be valid. No purchase necessary. Only one entry allowed per person.
The prize is £1000 of Fisher-Price toys and books and the potential of the winning Book being published in 2011 by HarperCollins.  The winner will be presented with 10 free copies of the Book if the winning Book is chosen to be published. HarperCollins will have creative and editorial control of the Book, subject to approval by Mattel and may change your Book (Including but not limited to changes to creative and content) before publication as deemed appropriate. HarperCollins reserves the right not to publish any of the entries if none of them are deemed to be suitable.
The prize is non-refundable, non-transferable and subject to availability. No royalty or other fee will be payable by HarperCollins or Mattel or any affiliated companies in respect of the publication or any other exploitation of your Book.
No cash alternatives are available.
HarperCollins reserve the right in their reasonable discretion to substitute any prize with a prize of equal or greater value.
The winner of the competition, if any, will be selected by a panel of judges as the Book which in their opinion is clear about the age range to which it is appealing (ie newborn +, 6 months+, or other) assist with a key aspect or aspects of a baby's development (eg developing language skills, motor skills etc) and/or be used at a particular time (eg bath, bed, mealtime, etc).
The Judges will be equally weighted between HarperCollins and Mattel.  The Judges decision as to who has won the competition shall be final.  The winner will be notified by e-mail or phone no later than the 31^st May 2010.
In submitting your Book entry to us, you warrant to us that the Book is your own original work and does not infringe the rights (including copyright) of any third party and is not otherwise unlawful.
The entries will not be returned so please keep a copy for your records.
Any applications made on behalf of or for another person or multiple entries will not be included in the competition.
To obtain the name of the prize winner (if any) after the closing date, please write to Neil Dunnicliffe, Brands and Licences Publishing, HarperCollins Publishers, 77-85 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 8JB, enclosing a self addressed postage paid envelope by May 31^st 2010.
The entry instructions are part of the Terms and Conditions for this competition.
By entering the competition you are agreeing to accept these Terms and Conditions. Any breach of these Terms and Conditions by you will mean that your entry will be invalid.
By entering this competition, you are agreeing that if you win your name and image may be used for the purpose of announcing the winner in any related publicity with HarperCollins, and/or Mattel without any or additional payment or permission.
Any personal information you give us will be used solely for this competition and will not be passed on to any other parties without your agreement. HarperCollins' privacy policy can be found at:  http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/legal/Pages/privacy-policy.aspx
Under no circumstances will HarperCollins or Mattel or any affiliated companies be responsible for any loss, damages, costs or expenses arising from or in any way connected with any errors, defects, interruptions, malfunctions, delays changes in or cancellation of  the promotion of the competition or in the prize.
Any dispute relating to the competition shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales and will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.