(DURHAM, May 11, 2005) – Forest safaris, royal crayons, and peanut butter and jelly fish were all the subjects of winning stories in this year’s Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. More than 470 stories were submitted to New Hampshire Public Television by children in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont, an increase of nearly 100 submissions over last year’s contest. Now in its 11th year, the contest, like the Emmy Award-winning Reading Rainbow television series, encourages children’s love for reading, writing, and illustration. Reading Rainbow, hosted by LeVar Burton, airs on NHPTV weekdays @ 2 p.m. Children ages four through eight, researchers have found, are most likely to adopt positive reading habits, skills and attitudes.A panel of New Hampshire teachers, librarians, writers, and illustrators selected first, second, and third place stories at each grade level of the contest. The first place NHPTV stories at each grade level will compete against stories submitted by PBS stations around the country. The national Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest winners will be announced June 11. In 2003, Rosalie Rabideau of Penacook was the national third grade first place winner.The first, second and third place winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony at the NHPTV Broadcast Center in Durham Saturday, June 4, 2005 from 10 a.m. – noon. Children’s book illustrator and Jaffrey, NH, resident Erick Ingraham will speak to the contest winners as a fellow artist, and will offer encouragement for their creative endeavors. Ingraham, an award-winning illustrator, drew the artwork for Mary Calhoun’s book Hot-Air Henry (1981), which was selected for the Reading Rainbow television program. It’s the story of a curious cat who goes for an unexpected ride in a hot air balloon. Ingraham’s artwork in the book has been cited as being exceptionally well researched and true to real life ballooning. “NHPTV contest winners will receive a copy of Hot-Air Henry,” noted Susan Adams, NHPTV’s Media Technology Coordinator, and coordinator of the station’s Reading Rainbow contest, “thanks to the generosity of Imagination Village.” The educational material and school supply store in Concord will provide the students with a copy of the book, which Ingraham will autograph. “Parents and teachers often tell us how much children enjoy writing and illustrating stories to enter the Reading Rainbow contest. The fact that the number of entries increased this year by nearly 25% indicates the contest’s popularity,” noted Kelly Clark, Assistant General Manager and Director of Educational Services. One parent wrote NHPTV to say, "I have a 9-year-old daughter who tends to be a reluctant writer…the Reading Rainbow contest was the challenge she needed to get excited about writing." Another parent, lauding the writing and illustration contest, said, "By holding the contest, NHPTV inspires the future generation of writers, story tellers, artists and great thinkers. Reading and writing abilities are fundamental to success and need to be nurtured in our young students." A complete list of the NHPTV contest winners, along with the winning stories and illustrations, is available at www.nhptv.org/kidswrite.
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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