Statewide - On Saturday, May 17, 2003, NJN Public Television recognized the regional winners of Reading Rainbow's Ninth Annual Young Writers and Illustrators Contest at a special awards ceremony at Barnes & Noble at Princeton MarketFair in Princeton. 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 are entered in the national Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest.

The winners of Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest Regional Contest in New Jersey are:

• Kindergarten
  Winner: Alexander Valdes, Toms River: The Goblin
  Runner Up: Tiziana Cappuccia, Elizabeth: My Long Neck Friend
• First-Grade
  Winner: Chloe Harkins, Hamilton: When Daddy Was Away
  Runner Up: Julia Gallelli, Yardley: The Penguin and the Polar Bear
• Second-Grade
  Winner: Andrew Felano, Oak Ridge: Billy Bob's
  Runner Up: Patrick Schroll, Red Bank: The Comet That Came to Alaska
• Third-Grade
  Winner: Kathleen Connors, Holmdel: Angel's Sweet Dreams
  Runner Up: Amelia Llanos, Stewartsville: The Monkey in Joe's Pajamas
  

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 has been provided by NJ FamilyCare, with in-kind support from Barnes & Noble, Six Flags Great Adventure 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 Rainboww 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.