Calling All Storytellers in Grades K - 5!

(Durham, January 10, 2011) – Is your child creating works of art that tell a tale? Do they love to dabble with paints and markers and write stories? Nurture their imagination and storytelling by encouraging them to enter the NHPTV-PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest sponsored by New Hampshire Public Television! Children in grades K – 5 are invited to enter their original illustrated stories to the NHPTV-PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest. The deadline to submit stories is March 24th. Applications, contest rules, and writing resources are available at nhptv.org/kidswrite. The competition is designed to promote the advancement of children’s reading skills through hands-on, active learning.“Kids naturally have a keen sense of curiosity and incredible imaginations. Research shows that there is a critical connection between writing and the development of early literacy skills,” said Susan Adams, Education Manager of the NHPTV Knowledge Network. “PBS KIDS GO! programs such as WordGirl, Word World, and Between the Lions open up the worlds of letters, words, and storytelling to children. Following last year’s NHPTV-PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, 95% of parents and 94% of teachers surveyed reported an improvement in writing skills as a result of participation in the contest.” NHPTV partners with schools, public libraries and other literacy organizations to implement the contest. A panel of local judges will select first, second and third place winners in April 2011. This is the 16th year that NHPTV has hosted a writing and illustrating contest for children, and more than 10,000 children have written and illustrated stories for the contests. Six local children have been recognized for their work with national awards, and two local children had their stories animated for air on the PBS children’s program ZOOM. The contest started as the Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest in 1994 and became the NHPTV-PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest in 2010. Children have been recognized for their achievement at annual awards ceremonies that included special guests Congressman Charles Bass, and authors and illustrators Marty Kelly and Terry Weidner. The NHPTV-PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest is made possible with support by NEA-NH.New Hampshire Public Television Knowledge Network educational services are recognized as a trusted and highly valued resource for outstanding media-rich programs, services, and resources. They promote excellence in teaching and learning for educators, childcare providers, parents, students, and learners of all ages. NHPTV airs more than 55 hours of quality PBS children’s programming each week.

Visit the NHPBS PRESSROOM at www.nhpbs.org/pressroom
Phone (603) 868-1100  •  Fax (603) 868-7552

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Pressroom Contact

Carla Gordon Russell
Director of Communications
crussell@nhpbs.org
(603) 868-4339