Winning Young Authors Named in Rhode Island PBS Contest

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.

WILD KRATTS World Adventure App for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

PBS KIDS has announced the launch of the all-new WILD KRATTS World Adventure App for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, a science-focused app based on the popular animal-themed children’s series. A must-have app for WILD KRATTS fans, World Adventure is now available only on the App Store, just in time for Earth Month and the start of WILD KRATTS’ third season on PBS KIDS. Through 30 levels of gameplay, WILD KRATTS World Adventure helps build key skills and encourages science inquiry. With the app, children ages 4 to 8 can tilt and tap their way through games that help them learn how different animals live and adapt to their habitats.

“Celebrating creatures from around the globe, WILD KRATTS helps young viewers discover that animals can take them anywhere in science,” said Lesli Rotenberg, General Manager, Children’s Programming, PBS. “WILD KRATTS is one of PBS KIDS’ most popular series online, and the World Adventure App extends the WILD KRATTS experience, helping young children learn natural science concepts as they peck along with woodpeckers, swing with orangutans and jump alongside dolphins.”

WILD KRATTS World Adventure brings animal science to life. In each of the three games, kids observe, explore and use creature power suits to complete missions and help the Kratt Brothers. As children play along with Martin and Chris, they will learn important concepts such as how orangutans use momentum to swing from tree to tree, how dolphins jump in and out of the ocean and how woodpeckers find food in trees. As levels are completed, kids earn creature power “selfies,” habitat stickers and “Wow! Facts” that help further their environmental science and natural history learning.

“WILD KRATTS World Adventure is the ultimate app for WILD KRATTS fans,” said Chris Kratt, co-creator of the family favorite series. “The app offers all-new, interactive experiences that further kids’ knowledge and passion for animals and the environment.”

“Our goal is to make natural and environmental science fun for young children and to establish that enthusiasm early on, delivering the best content experience for every child across today’s many media platforms,” added co-creator Martin Kratt.

The WILD KRATTS World Adventure App is available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch for $2.99, only on the App Store or at www.AppStore.com/PBSKIDS.