1920 x 640_About MPL

   

   

Youth Bookmark Design Contest


Turn Your Artwork into an Official Festival Bookmark


Open to ages 5–18 in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties. Design an original bookmark inspired by this year's South Texas International Book Festival theme, Pages to Possibilities. Winning designs will be professionally printed and recognized during Festival Day.

Download Entry Forms: English  /  En Español

   

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About the Theme

   

Colorful graphic displaying the 2026 South Texas International Book Festival theme, ‘Pages to Possibilities.’
Pages to Possibilities encourages you to tell your story through art. Create a special moment from your past or your life today and where you hope to be in the future. Or, imagine how the world is today and how you hope it will be tomorrow.

   

   

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Important Dates

   

Contest Opens
Monday, August 3, 2026

Submission Deadline
Friday, October 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM

Awards Ceremony
Saturday, October 24, 2026

   

   

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Contact

   

Questions about the contest?
Contact us at (956) 681-3090

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2026 Contest Guidelines 

   


General Eligibility:

Guidelines:

  • Contestants must be between the ages of 5 and 18 years old.
  • Contestants must reside in Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy, or Cameron Counties.
  • All entries must address the theme “Pages to Possibilities”.

Judging:


Entries will be reviewed by members of the South Texas International Book Festival committee. The decisions of the judges are final.

Download a Form:


You are able to download a form below, or pick one up in person at any McAllen Public Library location.

English Youth Contest Form
Spanish Youth Contest Form
  • The contest opens on Monday, August 3rd.
  • Submission deadline is Friday, October 2 at 5:00 PM. 
  • Late entries will not be considered. 
  • Submissions may be turned in at any McAllen Public Library location. 
  • An individual may submit only one entry. 
  • Entries must be the contestant's original work. Copyrighted materials such as characters, art and logos will not be accepted. 
  • Submissions will be judged in three separate age categories: 5-8 years, 9-13 years, and 14-18 years.
  • Use only the space provided. Everything outside of the lines will not be considered for the contest.
  • Acceptable art tools include colored pencils, crayons, markers, pens, paint, watercolor, and digital illustration.
  • Entries that are AI-generated are not eligible for entry.
  • Please do not sign or initial the entry.

   

   

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2025 Winning Entries

   

A simple drawing featuring a taco, a flower, the Mexican flag, and a sunny sky celebrating Mexican food, nature, and national pride.

1st Place, Ages 5-8
"Abuelita & I Cooking Memories" by Zul Martinez-Rodriguez

A child dressed in blue shares candy with a person in a green costume on Halloween while another child reaches for a jack-o'-lantern candy bucket beneath purple clouds.

2nd Place, Ages 5-8
"Carving Time" by Oliver Castro

A large Mexican flag waves above a grandmother and child baking together in a kitchen, with an American flag below representing family and cultural heritage.

3rd Place, Ages 5-8
"Flower" by Ximena Lopez

A glowing fantasy illustration featuring a crowned figure with a heart on their chest surrounded by flowers, woodland animals, candles, stars, and magical objects.

1st Place, Ages 9-13
"My Influenced Soul" by Ella Tovar

A colorful collage celebrating Mexican culture with a family reading together, folklórico dancers, wildlife, sports, flowers, horses, and traditional celebrations.

2nd Place, Ages 9-13
"My Filipino Roots" by Angela Escovilla

A stylized illustration of a young woman wearing traditional Vietnamese clothing standing before bamboo and cherry blossoms, with lotus flowers floating in the water below.

3rd Place, Ages 9-13
"Vietnamese" by Jenny Ha

A colorful collage celebrating Mexican culture with a family reading together, folklórico dancers, wildlife, sports, flowers, horses, and traditional celebrations.

1st Place, Ages 14-18
"Mis Raíces" by Sofia M. Treviño

A sepia-toned western landscape with riders on horseback, desert cliffs, a canyon sunset, and a cowboy in the foreground.

2nd Place, Ages 14-18
"La Excursión" by Francesca Beas

A series of scenes showing family milestones, including graduation, traditional dancing, gardening, and harvesting, connected by flowers and vines.

3rd Place, Ages 14-18
"Sueños de Padres (Parents' Dream)" by Arriana Delgado

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