The contest, which calls for children from kindergarten to third grade to write and illustrate stories of their own creation, received more than 280 entries. Winning entries are sent to the national Contest, and winners of that competition will be announced in June 2001.
All local participants receive a certificate recognizing their literary efforts.
Nationally, the Grand Prizewinners will receive a computer and printer. Both Grand Prize and Second Place winners will also receive a personal Reading Rainbow Library set of 10 tapes and books. In addition, their schools and public libraries will each receive a similar Reading Rainbow Library. Several of the entries were quite special, including that of second grade author Margo K. Mesch. In the three years KUAT-TV has been participating in the Reading Rainbow contest, Margo has shown up as a finalist all three years, winning First Place honors in both the kindergarten and first grade levels, and this year placing second in the Second Grade category.