Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, My Nephew & James Patterson

I just wanted to congratulate my nephew, Dan, who was one of 56 national winners in James Patterson's Dollars for Scholars program.  He had to write an essay about a book that influenced him and what he likes to do in life.  Dan wrote about the children's picture book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr., and how it sparked his love of words and reading. Now, he has a nice sum of money to spend at an independent bookstore.

Here was the information about the contest. 

In September, author James Patterson launched a new program to support college-bound high school students. “Book Dollars for Scholars” was a contest open to high school seniors who had an opportunity to win one of 56 gift certificates, ranging from $250 to $5,000 apiece, for use at any IndieBound-affiliated independent bookstore.


High school students entered the contest to win the certificates by participating in an essay contest via http://www.jamespatterson.com/. The essay question asked, “How has your favorite book inspired you toward what you’d like to do in life?” Essays were read by Patterson and select members from his ReadKiddoRead.com board.

Students whose essays demonstrated the most creative thoughts on how books can energize real-life pursuits had a chance of winning one of eight first-place awards of $5,000 apiece; one of eight second-place awards of $2,500 apiece; or one of 40 third-place awards of $250 apiece.

“My hope with this award is to help students going to college – where they’ll be immersed in textbooks and great classics, and be under pressure to succeed – to maintain their interest in enjoying a good book for fun,” said Patterson in a release. “I’m looking forward to reading the entries!”

The contest was sponsored by Patterson, who chose to work with IndieBound to provide gift certificates for the contest winners. The contest entry page notes that winners will be able to use their gift certificates to purchase books at any bookstores listed on the IndieBound.org website, either in-store or online.

I'm proud of him for writing such an outstanding essay. And, I'm a little pleased because I gave his mother the information about the contest, and didn't even know if he entered.  Add in the fact that I'm the one who first read that book to his older brother and sister, a library book they loved so much that their mother bought it, and later read it to Dan.

Congratulations, Dan! Have fun reading!