National Geographic Kids Almanac Challenge 2027 Sweepstakes

The adult submits on behalf of the child

• The submitting parent or guardian must be an adult resident of the 50 United States, DC or Canada excluding Quebec.
• The child whose work is entered must be between 6 and 12 at the time of entry.
• The artwork and description must be original, previously unpublished and accompanied by the completed permission form.

Build one complete email package

1. Ask the child to draw or otherwise depict a shark with one or more imagined adaptations.
2. Add a short description explaining the adaptation, how it helps the shark and what inspired it.
3. Complete the official permission form and email the form, art and description together before the deadline.

The idea must connect adaptation with survival

The prompt asks for more than a shark picture. The child should show a unique adaptation and briefly describe what it does, how it helps the animal and what inspired the feature. That relationship between drawing and explanation is the core of a complete entry.

Because winners are chosen randomly, polished professional technique is not the deciding factor. The practical objective is an original, understandable submission that satisfies every format and permission requirement.

The grand prize has personal and classroom components

The grand-prize winner receives a six-book National Geographic Kids pack and a $250 gift card. A separate set of eight books is intended for the child’s fall classroom, creating an educational prize beyond the winner’s own collection.

The sponsor states an approximate value of $495.86 for the full grand package. Five runner-up winners each receive one National Geographic Kids book valued at approximately $15.

Incomplete pieces are not accepted separately

The official rules explicitly warn against piecemeal submissions. Sending the art without the permission form, or the form without both the art and description, results in automatic disqualification.

The adult should check that attachments open correctly, names and contact details match the permission form, and the entire package is emailed during the entry period. Keeping a sent-email copy provides a useful record.

Originality and third-party rights still apply

The work must be the child’s own and previously unpublished. It should not reproduce protected characters, logos or other third-party material unless the entrant has the required rights, which is generally best avoided in a children’s art entry.

The parent or guardian remains responsible for the submission and any required winner paperwork. A child is not officially confirmed as a winner until the adult has completed the sponsor’s verification process.

One child, one entry and a five-day claim period

• Only one entry is allowed per child, although a parent may submit separately for more than one eligible child.
• Entries are randomly selected rather than judged on artistic quality.
• A potential winner and parent or guardian may have five days to return required prize-claim documents.