What:

• NJN Public Television will recognize the regional winners of Reading Rainbow's Ninth Annual Young Writers and Illustrators Contest at a special awards ceremony. Over 2,150 children from throughout New Jersey and surrounding areas, grades K-3, submitted entries for the contest that encourages students to write and illustrate stories. The NJN winners' stories will be entered in the national Reading Rainbow's Ninth Annual Young Writers and Illustrators Contest.

Where:

• Barnes & Noble, Princeton MarketFair, US Route One, Princeton.

When:

• Saturday, May 17 at 2 pm.

Who:

• The winners of Reading Rainbow's Ninth Annual Young Writers and Illustrators Contest Regional Contest in New Jersey are:

Kindergarten:

• Winner: Alexander Valdes         The Goblin                                   Toms River
  
  Runner Up: Tiziana Cappuccia   My Long Neck Friend                     Elizabeth
  

First-Grade:

• Winner: Chloe Harkins               When Daddy Was Away                  Hamilton
  
  Runner Up: Julia Gallelli            The Penguin and the Polar Bear       Yardley

Second-Grade:

• Winner: Andrew Felano              Billy Bob's                                      Oak Ridge
  
  Runner Up: Patrick Schroll         The Comet That Came to Alaska      Red Bank

Third-Grade:

• Winner: Kathleen Connors           Angel's Sweet Dreams                      Holmdel
  
  Runner Up: Amelia Llanos          The Monkey in Joe's Pajamas           Stewartsville

Contest judges include Carol Albritton, Office of Program Planning and Design, NJ Department of Education; Denise Bone, Community Volunteer; Veronica Goldberg, NJN Foundation Trustee; Gale Kathleen Grossman, NJPBA Commissioner; Vernon H. Hammond, CLU Agent, Ferrara Financial Group and NJN Community Advisory Board Member; Mrs. Wally Hammond, Development Editor, Peterson's Thomson Corporation; Ann Lawrence, Director, Office of Early Literacy, NJ Department of Education; Deborah Toomey, Director, NJ Library for Blind and Handicapped; and Dr. Harris Vernick, Retired Physician and Educator. NJPBA Commissioner Gail Vernick serves as chair of the contest.

The NJN winners' stories will be entered in the national Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. All twelve national winners receive a Reading Rainbow library set, featuring ten DVD's and book titles. First place winners receive a computer and printer; second place winners receive a DVD player. All twelve winners receive Reading Rainbow library sets of ten DVDs and books for their schools and libraries. Funding for the Reading Rainbow's Ninth Annual Young Writers and Illustrators Contest is provided by Barnes & Noble, Six Flags, New Jersey Family Care and Panasonic. Personal donations of saving bonds will be given by Dr. and Mrs. Vernick and Vernon Hammond to the winners.

Hosted by LeVar Burton, Reading Rainbow is a popular, Emmy award-winning PBS series that brings the pleasure of reading to life. This children's favorite, which airs on NJN weekday mornings at 10:30 am, is part of NJN's Ready to Learn program, which is designed to promote a love for reading and to help prepare children for success in school.