• Age: 3 to 8
• Grade: p to 3

"Do we have everything?" asks Matthew's dad. "NO!" yelled Matthew."No?" said his dad."No!" said Matthew. "We don't have dog.""Dog?" said his dad."We don't even OWN a dog!""I know," said Matthew. "Now would be a good time to get a dog."

Matthew wants to take his sandbox too, but his dad assures him there will be a sandy beach where they're going. Once they arrive, Matthew meets a girl making a big sandcastle and a big sand dog as part of a contest. Matthew is determined to create something so wonderful, the judges will think it's real.

When he wins, Matthew shares his prize with his new friend and her giant sand dog.

And when Matthew returns back to his mom and dad with his own sand dog, they're so relieved it's a small dog, they let him keep it. With classic Munsch wit and Martchenko style, The Sandcastle Contest is a fun-filled story — perfect to read at home or on the beach!

El reconocido narrador ROBERT MUNSCH ha escrito decenas de libros para niños, entre ellos: Paper Bag Princess y Mortimer. Él vive con su familia en Guelph, Ontario.

Robert Munsch's profile page

MICHAEL MARTCHENKO est né à Carcassonne, en France. Il s'installe au Canada avec sa famille alors qu'il a 7 ans. En 1966, il décroche son diplôme du Collège des arts de l'Ontario et devient bientôt directeur d'une agence publicitaire. C'est lors d'une exposition d'art graphique que Robert Munsch découvre le travail de Michael Martchenko. Michael a reçu le prix Libris 2006, Illustrateur de l'année.

MICHAEL MARTCHENKO has illustrated dozens of books, and is most famous for his work with Robert Munsch, including Smelly Socks (Tes chaussettes sentent la mouffette!), Makeup Mess (Maquillage à gogo) and We Share Everything! (On partage tout!). He lives in Burlington, Ontario.

Michael Martchenko's profile page

Praise for Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko

"Laurel and Hardy, Holmes and Watson, peanut butter and jam — some things just go better together. Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko figured that out a number of years ago, and have been teaming up to produce silly, insanely popular books ever since." —Quill & Quire

Praise for Robert Munsch

“[Munsch is] a kindergarten superstar he ranks up there with Pablum and Pampers in name recognition arguably the most published Canadian author ever, in any genre.” — The Globe and Mail, Report on Business Magazine

"Munsch's parade of bright funny picture books has been a sales phenomenon in children's book publishing . . . And as Munsch books are requested by kids over and over every day in countless homes and schools, at story time and bedtime, the distinctive storyteller's voice will undoubtedly continue to be echoed for years to come by parents, teachers, babysitters and whomever else young kids can get to read to them." — The Chronicle Herald

"Arguably the most successful kid-lit writer in North America." — Toronto Star

"More witty, creative and entertaining than most of what passes for adult literature." — The Globe and Mail

“Munsch is now as important to a whole generation of children as any television character. ”— Quill & Quire