DURHAM, January 25, 2005) — 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 11th Annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest sponsored by New Hampshire Public Television.Entries to NHPTV will be judged locally by a panel in April, and those first place winners will advance 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 2 p.m. on New Hampshire Public Television. In 2004, more than 500 children submitted stories to NHPTV for the Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest; at the national level there were over 45,000 entries. In 2003, one of NHPTV’s submissions was a national first place winner. New Hampshire has had three other past national Reading Rainbow contest winners.“We’re pleased to be able to offer our children the opportunity to use their imaginations to write and illustrate their own stories and cultivate their excitement for reading,” said Kelly Clark, Director of Educational Services at New Hampshire Public Television.The parent of a past entrant to the Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest wrote to NHPTV to say: “My 5-year-old daughter was absolutely thrilled when she learned about the Reading Rainbow contest. She sat down immediately and spent the next two hours working on her story. For several days running she looked forward to completing more and more — and was very proud of the finished product (I was quite proud of her, too).” All stories must be received by New Hampshire Public Television by Monday, March 21, 2005. 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) 868-4364.Now entering its 21st 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. Beyond its award-winning local and national television programs, New Hampshire Public Television is a leader in education and community outreach. NHPTV provides instructional services for 206,000 students from kindergarten through high school; offers Ready To Learn programs and services for children preschool to age 8, parents, and early education professionals; and provides professional development programs and advanced technology training for educators 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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