Announcing the Winners
14th Annual Reading Rainbow
Young Writers & Illustrators Contest

Many thanks to all of you who entered, you can view photos from the 2008 winners reading thier stories at the Alabama Book Fair.

Three hundred children in grades K-3 throughout the state have been busy since January working on their own “canvas of imagination!” These young authors and illustrators sent their creative works to APT for contest judging in late March. Judges were noted children’s author Charles “Father Goose” Ghigna; Steve Hannum, Provider Services Manager for The Literacy Council, and Jan McShan, the Early Childhood Education Program Specialist for Birmingham City Schools. First, second, and third place winners were chosen from each grade, with first-place stories going on to compete in the national contest. There were so many creative entries that the judges commented on how difficult it was to choose. Every young writer/illustrator who participated received a Certificate of Participation signed by Reading Rainbow’s LaVar Burton.
 
All twelve winners received generous gift packages from APT and were recognized at a special awards ceremony held on April 19 at the Alabama Book Festival in Old Town Montgomery. During the celebration, the children were invited to read their winning stories to the audience. Following the ceremony, the children and their families enjoyed a luncheon at the historic Young House to continue the festivities.

The winning stories were:

Kindergarten:
First Place- The Turtle’s First Trip to the Moon by Caroline Quina of Mobile
Second Place- Buggy Bug’s Birthday by Percy James Pickett of Phenix City
Third Place- Winter, Winter by Taylor El’ana Moore-Jones of Dixon’s Mills

First Grade:
First Place- Mean Jake Goes to the Dentist by Jordan Hale of Hartselle
Second Place- Gymnastic’s Girl by Maggie Mann of Warrior
Third Place- When My Hair Was Very Long by Claire Wright of Madison

Second Grade:
First Place- The Forgotten Fairy by Sabrina Rue of Northport
Second Place- The Day Coyote by Ellie Talalight of Gardendale
Third Place- Daisy the Duck by Terrell Ann Bolton of Warrior

Third Grade:
First Place- A Child’s Look at Poetry by Kelly N. Miles of Montgomery
Second Place- The Queen Who Didn’t Like Rubies by Isabella Gillette of Hartselle
Third Place- Oliver’s Missing Bike by Tori Arrington of Fort Payne

Many thanks to all of you who entered, you can view photos from the 2008 winners reading thier stories at the Alabama Book Fair.

Read national winning stories from previous years at the Reading Rainbow Contest Website.

The 2007-08 Reading Rainbow Young Writers & Illustrators Contest is an educational outreach initiative of Alabama Public Television. For assistance, contact smartina@aptv.org.