Are your students ready to showcase their love for literature in an innovative, visual way? The ELA Honor Society’s Winter Book Bento Creative Challenge is almost here! This unique competition invites students to blend their passion for reading with creative expression by crafting a “book bento” that tells the story of a book through carefully arranged objects.
This is THE challenge for any creative ELA student members and submissions are open from December 9, 2024, to January 13, 2025.
A book bento is a photo display that centers around a book, surrounded by thoughtfully chosen objects that represent themes, characters, or elements within the story. Imagine it as a visual summary or tribute to a favorite book—a snapshot that captures the book’s essence in one creative arrangement. These objects can be anything from personal items that remind you of the book’s message to symbols that represent its key themes or characters.
The Book Bento Challenge allows students to think beyond words, translating the heart of their favorite book into a powerful visual piece. It’s a fun, hands-on way to express their interpretation of the story and share what the book means to them.
How to Get Started
- Select a book: Students should choose either the 2025 Big Read, Aneesa Marufu’s The Balloon Thief or a book that they connect with and can envision representing through objects. They should think about what elements make it stand out to them, and mindmap ways to symbolize those in a single image.
- Gather objects: Students must collect items that symbolize characters, themes, settings, or moods from the book. They need to be creative! They should look for items that capture the essence of the story.
- Create the layout: Students must arrange their book and objects in an eye-catching way, experimenting with different layouts until they find one that feels just right. They should consider colors, textures, and the overall composition to make their bento visually appealing.
- Capture the perfect shot: Students must photograph their book bento with good lighting, focusing on clarity and detail. Their photo should highlight each object’s significance in your visual story.
Once they are satisfied with their photo, students should submit it to the Book Bento Winter Creative Challenge! They should be sure to include a short text that explains their choices.
Read more about the ELA Honor Society’s Book Bento Creative Challenge and encourage your students to apply between December 9, 2024, and January 13, 2025.
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