Top marks for Borehamwood teacher’s story in national competition

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Published on Wednesday, 04 September 2013 11:00

Last Updated on 03 September 2013

Monica Costa

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Do you remember our special storytelling event this summer at Vauxhall City Farm with Tamzin Outhwaite?
Well, well, we now have a winner for the literary competition. A newly-wed trainee teacher from Borehamwood has won this year’s national Munch Time children’s story writing competition. Shayna Evans scoops the £1000 cash prize for her story ‘Here Comes the Airplane!’ (you can download it for free) which won following a public vote.

The rhyming tale for pre-schoolers features a fussy Munch the Cow who won’t eat and is the perfect read for parents wanting to encourage their own fussy eaters to enjoy a more varied diet.

Shayna, aged 29, said: “This is so exciting! I never dreamt that my story would actually win – it is as surreal as a mad hatter’s tea party! I hope to write more children’s stories in the future. I’m absolutely delighted!”

The competition, by Munch Bunch® yogurts, is in its fifth year and is supported by the National Literacy Association. It aims to highlight and celebrate the importance of stories and creative time between young children and parents, and gives amateur writers the opportunity to shine. A previous Munch Time winning author subsequently secured a publishing deal and has established a successful career in writing.

As well as winning the top cash prize, Shayna’s story will be professionally illustrated and turned into a book. A further three runners up win £500 each and the top 10 stories in the competition, selected by an expert judging panel, and put forward for a public vote can be enjoyed at www.munchtime.co.uk.

Munch Time judge and chair of the National Literacy Association, Ray Barker, says:

“We congratulate Shayna on her winning story which is not only fun and engaging for children, but also a valuable tool for parents with fussy eaters. Stories are powerful resources that should be celebrated and enjoyed from an early age and the Munch Time story writing competition is a great initiative that encourages this.”