The young authors and illustrators are recognized for their unique creative writing and original artistic efforts for the contest, which is in its 15th year. The local awards ceremony May 3 at the University of Arizona Poetry Center was sponsored by Arizona Public Media, and author Jennifer J. Stewart was the event speaker.

A panel of Tucson-area authors, educators and community volunteers reviewed 319 entries submitted by K-3 students from 17 schools in southern Arizona. Each student wrote and illustrated an original story for the contest, and winners received certificates signed by Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton, in addition to Reading Rainbow bags stuffed with books, DVDs and gift certificates from Bookmans Entertainment Exchange. Winning stories included:

Kindergarten:
First Place - My Special Blanket by Sophia Smith-Gatto Runner-up - How the Moon is Shiny by Stephanie Gonzalez-Knott
Honorable Mention - Family Time is Fun by Elissa Marie Ornelas

First Grade:
First Place - A Girl with Magical Shoes by Carolina Sanchez
Runner-up - The Dragon and His Crown by Sasha Gil
Honorable Mention - Garden of Lullaby by Hanna Bennion

Second Grade:
First Place - Watermelons Are Taking Over by Faithe Elsberry
Runner-up - The Pickle Aliens and the Cacti by Seo-Hyun Yoo
Honorable Mention - A Day in the Life of a Dung Beetle by Andy Liaupsin

Third Grade: First Place - The Gentle Tornado by Katie Soler
Runner-up - Carnotaurus Hatches the Eggs by Daniel Knight
Honorable Mention - The Best Tea Party Ever by Maura Pierce

The Emmy award-winning PBS television series Reading Rainbow is broadcast in Southern Arizona by Arizona Public Media and can be seen weekdays at 4 p.m. on KUAT Kids digital television channel 27.2; on Comcast cable channel 200 and Cox cable channel 80. More quality kids programming can be found on the Arizona Public Media website at www.kids.azpm.org/.