Ozzie and the Art Contest

Ozzie, a budding artist, is thrilled when his kindergarten teacher Miss Cattywhompus announces an art contest. Ozzie is certain he'll win top prize. But when he doesn't follow contest directions, his painting doesn't qualify. Ozzie is devastated until Miss Cattywhompus explains that just because he didn't win doesn't mean he can't continue to enjoy doing art.

Ozzie loves to draw. Ozzie loves drawing and being an artist more than anything--even more than skateboarding! So when his teacher, Miss Cattywhompus, announces an art contest, Ozzie can''t wait to get started. He works really hard on his picture of a goat. He knows it will win first place. There is only one problem. Miss Cattywhompus didn''t ask the class to draw pictures of goats--the contest instructions say "Draw a Boat." Ozzie''s picture doesn''t win first place. And even though it does win honorable mention, he is devastated. How could he not win? He worked so hard. With a little help from Miss Cattywhompus, Ozzie comes to see that he, with his love of art, has won something far more important than a contest. In his picture book debut, Dana Sullivan has used his personal experience with artistic disappointment to create a warm, lovable character whose story will feel familiar to anyone who has followed his or her passion and hit an ever-so-slight bump in the road.