The primary goal of Reading Rainbow is to encourage kids to explore the world of books. The popular, award-winning television show has opened the world of literature to children for more than 25 years. For more information on the Reading Rainbow television series, click here.

Reading Rainbow also encourages youngsters to become authors and storytellers. Each year, children are encouraged to participate in the "KPTS Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest."

KPTS sponsors a local competition and conducts workshops to teach children how to compose a good story. Winners at the local level move on to compete with other winners around the nation.

KPTS awarded trophies and prizes to winners of the local KPTS Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest 2009. The ceremony was on Saturday, April 11 inside the Cargill Learning Center located at the Sedgwick County Zoo.

The contest was open to students in the Kindergarten thru the Third grade. First place winners for overall story had their work entered in the National Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. In addition to awarding prizes for the overall story, KPTS created a special category for art. Children that did not win for the overall story but had illustrations that showed creative and unique talent also won prizes.

Winners of the local contest had their work published in Creative Children 2009, a book produced by KPTS. The book is available for $10 by contacting KPTS at 316-838-3090. Thank you to the local corporate sponsors who made the prizes and the publication of Creative Children 2009 possible. The sponsors include: Cargill, Bombardier Learjet, LSI, Papa John’s Pizza of Wichita and Monart School of Art. KPTS would also like to extend a special thank you to Kohl’s and J.P. Weigand and Sons Realtors for donating their time to make the award ceremony a big success. The sponsors and supporters mentioned are proof that south central Kansas has a strong sense of community.

2009 KPTS Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest Winners and complete list of entries.

2008 Winners