Writing a Grant for Picture Books?

If you're writing a grant to secure books for the classroom, I encourage your efforts! I'd also like to point you to an article I recently posted which, in short, says this: "Don't call them picture books."

Too many people think Curious George, Barney, and Clifford the Big Red Dog when they hear the term "picture books." Not that there's anything wrong with those books, but we as teachers in the upper elementary and middle school grades are typically talking about titles for more advanced readers.

Hopefully the article will help you find new ways of naming the books you're seeking. In addition, here are four pointers I'd add:

1) Proofread your submission! I once read over grant applications in my role on a curriculum advisory committe, and I was shocked at the errors which appeared on submitted forms. I'd recommend that you ask a colleague to read over your submission to see that all t's are crossed and all i's are dotted. If you use Firefox as your browser, it shows misspellings automatically.

2) Remember that presentation is everything. Is your request neat? Are graphics clear? Is it bound or presented in a pleasing way? I once submitted a grant proposal requesting funds for a Picasso-inspired art unit. I had carefully read over the requirements and considered my proposal a sure thing. What I failed to do, however, was manage my time well, and rather than snail mail the forms, I was forced to fax them to meet the deadline (yes, this was in the pre-email age). A grant reader later called me to say, "I shouldn't be contacting you, and I'll deny that I ever did. I really felt that you project deserved funding, but the fax quality was really poor. We just couldn't make out the pictures. You should really consider submitting this elsewhere, but definitely mail the forms." I did, and the project was eventually funded.

3) Double-check the math. My school secretary had a good laugh when she rechecked my figures for a Math Carnival Grant and discovered I had added incorrectly! Not only would a calculation error cast a poor light on your proposal, it could potentially put you over the allotted amount of the grant.

4) Shop around. I've seen grant requests torpedoed when a reader at the table felt that the grant seeker hadn't done their homework to find the cheapest vendor. Unless the supplies and equipment you're seeking are unique to one manufacturer or supplier, you need to satisfy your obligation to give the grant providers the most bang for their buck.