Fishing's important for poster winner

One of the youngest entries in the Book Bonanza poster contest just happened to be one of the best.

Seven-year-old Tobin Sworts' entry won the poster contest, and the young man pocketed $20 for his depiction of a rainbow trout reading a book about fly fishing.

The theme of this year's Book Bonanza is "Rainbow of Words."

"Tobin was one of the youngest students to enter, but we thought his was the best," said Audrey Leighton of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, which hosted the poster art contest.

His art will adorn all the Book Bonanza posters. The Book Bonanza is slated for Oct. 25 in the Cottonwood Creek Mall. Sworts is a first-grader with the Cyberlynx Correspondence School. He accepted his award and $20 in cash Wednesday morning, along with his art teacher, Peggy Compton.

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators meets twice a month, on the first Tuesday at 7 p.m. and the third Saturday at 10 a.m., both at the First Presbyterian Church in Wasilla.

The group is hosting a poetry contest for the Book Bonanza as well. Open to youth and adults, entrants must use the theme of "Rainbow of Words" and pen a poem, in any style. Poems will be judged on the theme, how they communicate a feeling and, of course, spelling and grammar.

People can mail their poems to Book Bonanza, 567 Westcove Dr., Wasilla, AK 99654.

On the back, entrants should write their name, phone number, home address, grade and teacher's name, if applicable. Prizes will be given in each age group -- adult, high school, sixth- through eighth-grade, third- through fifth-grade; and kindergarten through second-grade.