From Farmer Jack’s tractor to rebellious fruits, to talking carrots and magic portals, the message about nutritious eating and healthy living came through loud and clear - and creatively - in the winning stories in the Rhode Island PBS Kids Club Writers Contest. The purpose of the annual national contest is to promote reading and imaginative writing and illustration among children in Kindergarten through third grade.
More than 70 young authors in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts submitted stories with a healthy living theme to the Rhode Island PBS inaugural contest by the March 21 deadline. Of the qualified entries, up to four winners (first, second, and third places, plus an honorable mention) were chosen per grade to receive special recognition and prizes during a ceremony at Rhode Island PBS studios on April 16. All participants received a certificate.
The first place winning stories (one from each grade) will go on to compete with entries from across the country in the national PBS contest, which will be judged in May. National winners will be announced by PBS in June.
Locally, the four first place winners will be recorded reading their stories at Rhode Island PBS studios later in April. Their stories and all of the local winning entries will be scanned and posted to the Rhode Island PBS Kids Club Web site (ripbs.org/kidswrite) in May.
Congratulations!
Winners of the 2014 Rhode Island PBS Kids Club Writers Contest are:
Kindergarten
Oliver S. of Newport, RI, for his story “
Farmer Jack.”
First Grade
Iris B. L. of Providence, RI, for her story “
Soccer is Fun and Healthy”
Sage B. of Cumberland, RI, for his story “
The Food Problem”
Nola T. of Providence, RI, for her story “
Stay Healthy”
George G. of Providence, RI, for his story “
Be Healthy”
Second Grade
Asher P. of Providence, RI, for his story “
Healthy Power!”
Grace M. of Providence, RI, for her story “
Being Healthy”
Morgan F. of Pawtucket, RI, for her story “
Cat and Sam’s Healthy Eating”
Jacob A. of Providence, RI, for his story “
Katey and the Carrot”
Third Grade
Raye O. S. of Providence, RI, for her story “
Healthy Living”
Meghan H. of Rehoboth, MA, for her story “
Carly’s Healthy Tips”
Trevor K. of Providence, RI, for his story “
The Wizard and the Dog”
Sommadina A. of North Providence, RI, for her story “
The Fruit Portal”
Helping Hands
Several organizations from across the state collaborated with Rhode Island PBS to promote the contest, as well as guide the children through the writing process, and ensure that entries qualified. These collaborators include: Cranston Public Library, Henry Barnard School in Providence, The Lincoln School in Providence, East Smithfield Public Library, Joy Feldman & The Picture of Children’s Health, Redwood Library and Athenaeum in Newport, the Rhode Island Department of Health, and Salve Regina University in Newport.
Contest judges were Carolyn Belisle and Alissa Becker from Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI, Kathryn Rok and Dr. Gia Renaud from Salve Regina University, and Megan Weeden from the Cranston Public Library.
The local contest was made possible by Blue Ribbon Sponsor Corner Bakery Café, with additional support provided by Red Ribbon Sponsors Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI and CVS | Caremark. National contest sponsors are LeapFrog and Highlights for Children magazine.
Mark Your Calendar for Next Year!
The 2015 Rhode Island PBS Kids Club Writers Contest will run from Monday, January 26 through March 20.
The local Rhode Island PBS contest started January 27 and continues through March 21. Entries will be judged and winners chosen from in each grade, so there will be four first place winners. Winners and participants will be honored during an awards celebration in April. Local winners will be entered into the national contest, which is judged in May and June. 
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