KCTS 9 announced its 15
th annual Reading Rainbow
young writers and illustrators’ contest, a competition designed to encourage children to write and illustrate their own stories. Stories may be fact or fiction, prose or poetry. Each entry must include at least five original illustrations related to the story.
The local contest is open to students in kindergarten through third grade in Washington state and British Columbia. Children in kindergarten and first grade should submit stories that are between 50 and 200 words in length; students in second and third grades should submit stories that are between 100 and 350 words.
Entries, accompanied by an entry form, must be postmarked by Friday, March 12.
· Can be printed out from the KCTS 9 Web site at KCTS9.org/readingrainbow.
· Can be requested by e-mail at learning@KCTS9.org or by phone at 1.800.930.6060.
Local judging of entries will take place in April. A panel of local teachers and librarians will select a first place and honorable mention winner for each grade category.
Local winners will be announced Monday, April 20. Entries earning first place in each of the grade levels will be sent on to Reading Rainbow for judging in the national competition. First-, second- and third-place winners for each of the four national grade levels will be announced in June.
Local winners will receive a prize package of Reading Rainbow books, DVDs, a backpack, art supplies and games, and will have an opportunity to record their story for broadcast on KCTS 9. Winners’ stories will be posted at KCTS9.org/readingrainbow. National grand prize winners will receive a flat-panel TV with DVD player; national second place winners will receive a digital camera; and national third place winners will receive an MP3 player. Each national winner also will receive three sets of DVDs with books—one set each for their home, school and community library. All national winners’ stories will be featured on PBSKIDS.org, one of the most-used national Web sites for children. All contest entrants will receive a certificate of achievement signed by Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton.
Reading Rainbow is an acclaimed PBS KIDS series that promotes reading. Now in its 25th season, the series has earned numerous awards. Contact Daphne Adair at dadair@KCTS9.org or call 206.443.6791 for more information.