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Have your students publish their story online with PBS KIDS!

Sharpen your pencils, pick up your favorite markers, and fire up your imagination. PBS SoCal is calling all kids kindergarten through 3rd grade to join other young writers across California for its annual PBS KIDS Writers Contest.

BookPal couldn't be more excited to partner with our client to support literacy development in our home state of California. PBS SoCal does a variety of amazing things to encourage young kids to read and write more, and we're proud to work with such an inspiring client!

[caption id="attachment_29138" align="alignnone" width="2600"] Previous PBS KIDS Writer's Contest winners.[/caption]

Interested in entering the 2017 PBS KIDS Writers Contest?

The contest is open to all children in the K-3 grade range. Each child can submit one entry for the contest and each entry must meet the following requirements:

• Stories submitted by children K-1 must be within the 50-200-word range.
• Stories submitted by children in the second and third-grade must fall within a 100 to 350-word range.
• At least five illustrations must be included with each tale told.

First, second, and third place winners will be chosen from each grade. Every child who submits an original piece will be recognized for their participation with a Certificate of Appreciation. Winning authors are invited to an awards ceremony in May and will receive a prize package from PBS SoCal. All entries must be postmarked by April 30, 2017 and must include an Official PBS SoCal Entry Form signed by the child’s parent, guardian, or teacher.

Get started with your students!

• Writers Contest Booklet
• Classroom Activities Teacher’s Guide
• Prompt – Draw This!
• Prompt – Write This!
• Story Revision Checklist

Don't forget to check out the official entry form and contest rules:

• English: Contest Rules| Entry Form
• Spanish: Contest Rules| Entry Form

Mail your stories and completed entry forms to the address below.

PBS SoCal
Attn: Writers Contest
Grade: ____
3080 Bristol St. Suite 400
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

The Writers Contest booklet is locally funded by Read Conmigo. If you are an educator and would like to request a large quantity of booklets to use in your classroom, please fill out PBS SoCal's request form. If you have any questions about the contest, please contact: writerscontest@pbssocal.org.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Susie & Alison!

[caption id="attachment_29139" align="alignnone" width="2736"] Previous year's Writer's Contest awards.[/caption]

How is your organization promoting literacy with the books you buy? Share your story by leaving a comment below.

This post was written by Elizabeth Lee, the marketing manager at BookPal. She is currently reading Traction by Gino Wickman and The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery.