Florida’s Journey Into the Land of Narnia

~ A reading in the arts contest that highlights the release of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" as a major motion picture ~

The book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis was first published over fifty years ago. The story introduces readers to four English schoolchildren who find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia. They assist Aslan, the golden lion, to triumph over the White Witch, who has cursed the land with eternal winter.

The book, having been made into a movie entitled "The Narnia Chronicles: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media and is scheduled to be released Friday, December 9, 2005. In collaboration with these two media giants and several other partners, Just Read, Florida! is implementing a statewide event featuring grade level specific contests to promote literacy among all Florida grades 3-12 public, private and home school students prior to the release of the film.

Elementary School (grades 3-5) Essay Contest

• Only one entry per student is allowed
• Essay must be 1,000 words or less
• Entries are to be based on the book: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis wherein the participant would respond to the following question: If you had the opportunity to become a character in the story, which character would you be and how would it change the ending of the story?
• Submission must have a title, student’s name, phone number, grade level, school, teacher’s name and word count written on the cover page of the entry. Entries not having ALL of this information will automatically be disqualified.
• All entries must be postmarked no later than 5:00 p.m. EST, Friday, November 25, 2005 to the following address:
  Just Read, Florida!
  Attn.: Carolyn Vega
  325 W. Gaines St., Suite 1548
  Tallahassee, FL 32399

Middle School (grades 6-8) Illustration Contest

• Only one entry per student is allowed
• The medium for the artwork can be pen-and-ink, pencil, colored pencils, pastels, watercolors, acrylics, or mixed media. Medium to heavy-weight art paper is recommended. The minimum size is 8 1/2“ by 11” and the maximum is 24” by 30”. Only 2-D artwork will be accepted, and all work must be an original creation.
• Artwork is to be based on any character(s), place or scene from the book: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.
• Submission must include a title, student’s name, phone number, grade level, school and teacher’s name written on the back side of the entry. Entries not having ALL of this information will automatically be disqualified.
• All entries must be postmarked no later than 5:00 p.m. EST, Friday, November 25, 2005 to the following address:
  Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale
  Attn.: Arlene Wites
  1799 SE 17th St.
  Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316

High School (grades 9-12) Short Video Contest

• Teams of 1-3 may enter
• Only one entry per student/team is allowed
• Film may be 7 minutes or less
• Entries must be in VHS, DV Cam, Mini DV or DVD format only
• All entries must include a musical score which can be original
• Entries are to be based on a reenactment of any chapter or segment of a chapter from the book: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.
• Submission must be accompanied by a document providing the title, students name(S), phone number, grade level, school, teacher’s name, and length of film. Entries not having ALL of this information will automatically be disqualified.
• All entries must be postmarked no later than 5:00 p.m. EST, Friday, November 25, 2005 to the following address:
  Governor’s Office of Film & Entertainment
  Attn.: Niki Welge
  The Capitol, Suite 2001
  Tallahassee, FL 32399