2003 Winners!

Alabama Public Television received hundreds of fantastic books from children across the state during this year's

Thank you to all of the kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders who participated - and to the parents and teachers who encouraged them to do their best. First Place and Honorable Mention awards were presented for each of the grade levels competing.

First Place winners in Alabama were Jessica Goodwin of Decatur ("Bob the Ball Ornament"), Rachel Cohrs of Birmingham ("I Wish I We're a Dog"), Hattie O'Hara of Decatur ("Red Ribbons") and Annalise Holmes of Eva ("Planet Opposite").

They will all receive $100 gift certificates from Books-A-Million, which has sponsored the contest every year and is a longtime supporter of children's programming on Alabama Public Television. Alabama's First Place winners will now compete for the national grand prize in June.

Hayley Suzanne Stewart of Trinity - who won both a State and a National First Place prize last year in the Reading Rainbow Competition - won an honorable mention this year for her book ("Ralph's Big Adventure").

Other Honorable Mentions were awarded to Jonathan Reddix of Alabaster ("Flying My Kite"), Luke Henry of Russellville ("The Mouse Who Had Kittens") and Mason Wooliver of Somerville ("Tito and the Forest"). They will each receive $50 gift certificates from Books-A-Million.

Of course, everyone who sent in a book was awarded for their hard work. Each child received a special Certificate of Participation signed by Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton.