(DURHAM, January 23, 2004) – Calling all young artists and writers! Children from kindergarten to third grade are encouraged to write and illustrate their own stories and enter them in the 10th Annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest sponsored by New Hampshire Public Television.Entries to NHPTV will be judged by a panel in May, with the local first place winners advancing to the national competition. The contest is sponsored by Reading Rainbow, the public television series that encourages children to explore the world of books, and provides students the opportunity to write, illustrate and submit their own stories. Reading Rainbow airs weekdays at 11:30 a.m. on New Hampshire Public Television. This year, the contest is partnering with the new PBS Kids campaign, Share A Story – Give Them Words To Grow By, a national initiative that encourages adults to help children develop language and literacy skills through daily activities.In 2003, the Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest attracted over 43,000 entries. More than 600 children submitted stories to NHPTV. One of those stories, Rainstorm Imagination by third grader Rosalie Rabideau of Penacook, was a national first place winner. New Hampshire has had three other past national Reading Rainbow contest winners.Contest rules and entry forms, as well as previous winning entries, are available at www.nhptv.org/kidswrite. Information also is available by calling the NHPTV Knowledge Network at(603) 868-4354. Now entering its 20th season, Reading Rainbow has received international acclaim, garnering more than 150 awards. It is a production of GPN/Nebraska ETV Network and WNED-TV Buffalo, NY. Funding is provided by the National Science Foundation, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundation and public television viewers. Beyond its award-winning local and national television programs, NHPTV is a leader in education and community outreach. NHPTV provides instructional services for 220,000 students from kindergarten through high school; offers Ready To Learn programs for children, preschool to age 12; and provides professional development programs and advanced technology training for parents, educators and child-care providers in New Hampshire and neighboring states. For more information about NHPTV programs that entertain, educate and enrich, visit www.nhptv.org.
About New Hampshire PBS: New Hampshire PBS inspires one million Granite Staters each month with engaging and trusted local and national programs and services on-air, online, via mobile, in classrooms and in communities. Beyond its award-winning television programs, New Hampshire PBS is a leader in education and community engagement. www.nhpbs.org
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