Eight issues call for entries in PBS KIDS Writers Contest, showcasing creativity of children in grades K-3

Eight, Arizona PBS offers young K-3 writers and illustrators opportunity to compete for local prizes and entry into national contest

PHOENIX — (Feb. 5, 2013) Eight, Arizona PBS is issuing a call for entries in the Arizona PBS KIDS Writers Contest — a national-local contest designed to promote the advancement of children’s reading skills through hands-on, active learning. The contest encourages children in grades K-3 in communities across the country to celebrate the power of creating stories and illustrations by submitting their own original pieces.

The submission deadline for the Arizona contest is March 21, 2014 (postmark date).  Each winner's story will be posted on the contest website at www.azpbs.org/contest.

Full details and contest rules here:  https://azpbs.org/contest

Participants who enter the local contest through Eight Educational Outreach will have a chance at entry into the national competition. First, second and third place winners will be selected in each grade level in Arizona, and the first place winner in each grade level will be sent on to the national competition.

“We are happy to again offer the PBS Kids Writers Contest to our community,” says Eight, Arizona PBS Educational Outreach Specialist Sam Becker.  “This competition is a great way for kids to grow their creativity, imagination, and expression; all while getting a chance to win some fun prizes.  We’d like to thank Bookmans, The Latino Institute, and Valley of the Sun AzAEYC (Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children) for helping make this contest possible.”

The City of Phoenix and the Latino Institute have partnered with Eight, Arizona PBS for the past four years on the Arizona segment of this national contest and host the annual awards ceremony for the Arizona winners, featuring a local children’s author/illustrator. This year’s ceremony will be held April 25 at Margaret T. Hance Park (67 W Culver St., Phoenix, 85004) during the El Día de los Niños event (http://phoenix.gov/parks/culture/cultural/latino.html).

“The City of Phoenix is pleased to continue our partnership with Eight, Arizona PBS on this great event, and to support and encourage the development of writing skills early on in our kids’ education,” says Carmela Ramirez of City of Phoenix, Arts & Culture division of Parks and Recreation.

This year’s guest author is Arizona’s inaugural poet laureate, ASU Regents’ Professor of English Alberto Ríos, who is also an award-winning poet and author, and host of the Eight, Arizona PBS series Books & Co.

“Writing is thinking, no matter what—from laundry list to novel,” says Ríos.  “I’m all for thinking, I’m all for writing, and I’m all for the future this combination ignites.  Encourage writing and you encourage a future we can trust will take care of itself.”

To register, complete the online entry form at: https://azpbs.org/contest.

• All Arizona entries must be postmarked by March 21, 2014 and mailed to: Eight Educational Outreach PBS KIDS Writers Contest 555 N. Central Ave., Suite 500 Phoenix, AZ 85004

Entries will be judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling and integration of text and illustrations. Eight will judge all local submissions.

Information regarding the national portion of the contest can be found at http://pbskids.org/writerscontest/.