It's that time of year ... plan for a Common Core, technology-involved, learning experience in your classroom, library, or book club. We've chosen City of Orphans because it has possibilities for many children to be involved in the filming. Thinks newsies and rival gang, Maks' family ... there are numerous possibilities.

And the book is now available in PAPERBACK!

Create your video and then have a teacher or librarian register and upload it for the City of Orphans Video Contest.

1) Upload your video between March 1st and March 31st.

2) First round of online "favorites" voting is April 8-13, 2013.

3) Top ten finalists will be posted for voting from April 22-26, 2013.

4) Winner will be announced on May 10, 2013.

The Grand Prize is a free in-person visit by Avi to your classroom or library in the contiguous United States, and lunch with Avi for the videographer and sponsoring teacher or librarian.

Nine finalists will win a one-hour Skype visit from Avi to his or her classroom or library.

Five voters, drawn at random, will receive an autographed copy of City of Orphans.

We will post how- and where-to-upload details on this page on February 1, 2013.

For Contest updates, "like" Avi's Author page on Facebook.

Here are some helpful resources. And here's a little about last year's winner! Good luck!