PBS KIDS Go! seeks entries for writing, illustration contest

Eight, Arizona PBS is issuing a call for entries in the PBS KIDS GO! 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 PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is produced by PBS KIDS Raising Readers, managed by WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and implemented locally by Eight, Arizona PBS.

The submission deadline for the Arizona contest is April 12, 2013 (postmark date). Each winner's story will be posted on the contest website at www.azpbs.org/asset.

Full details and contest rules here:  http://www.asset.asu.edu/new/pbs_writing_contest.html.

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.

The City of Phoenix and the Latino Institute have partnered with Eight, Arizona PBS for the past 3 years on the Arizona segment of this national contest, and will host the awards ceremony for the Arizona winners on April 27, which will feature a local children’s author/illustrator.

"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.

Only one entry per person will be accepted, and each entry must be created by a single author or illustrator. All materials submitted as part of the entry must be the participant’s own original work. The entry form must have the required signature of a parent/guardian, confirming that the story and art are original, and granting certain rights to the entry materials. Entry materials become the property of Eight, Arizona PBS, however every effort will be made to return original entries if submitted with a self-addressed, stamped envelope of appropriate size.

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

All Arizona entries must be postmarked by April 12, 2013 and mailed to:

Eight Educational Outreach
PBS KIDS GO! 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.

Eight, Arizona PBS was founded in 1961. Its signal reaches 86 percent of homes in Arizona. With more than 1 million viewers weekly, Eight consistently ranks among the most-viewed public television stations per capita in the country. For more information, visit azpbs.org. Eight is a member-supported service and the public media enterprise of Arizona State University.