Eligibility
The  Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest is open to children in Kindergarten, First, Second and Third Grades. Each grade level will be judged separately.  Children of employees of Reading Rainbow, GPN, NET Nebraska, WNED-TV, On Screen Entertainment, the Public Broadcasting System and Public Broadcasting Stations are not eligible. 
Entry Guidelines
Entrants must be in Kindergarten, First, Second or Third grade.
Only one entry per person will be accepted.
Only single author stories qualify (no co-authored stories).
Stories can be fact or fiction, prose or poetry.
Word Count
·         Kindergarten & First grade stories must have minimum of 50 or maximum of 200 words 
·         Second & Third grade stories must have minimum of 100 or maximum of 350 words
·         The word count includes “a,” “an,” & “the,” but not the words on non-story pages such as the title page
Story Text
·         Text must be printed legibly (or typed)
·         Children who cannot write may dictate their story to an adult.
·         Text may be integrated into the illustration pages or on individual pages
·         Non English text must be translated on the same page and the translation text must adhere to word 
         count
·         Invented spelling is accepted
Format & Illustrations
·         Stories must have at least 5 original, clear & colorful illustrations
·        Stories must be created on one side of paper and numbered on back of each page
Official Entry Form
·      Entry form must be complete, legible, and must include parent (& teacher, if appropriate) signature
Entry Form
Each entry must include the official Reading Rainbow Young Writers & Illustrators Entry Form, with the required signature of a parent/guardian (and, if appropriate, the signature of the sponsoring teacher), confirming that the story & art are original, and granting permission to use the entry for promotional purposes.
Rights Associated with Contest
Winners grant the right to use their names and likenesses in advertising and promotion without further compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law.  By entering, entrants agree to abide by the above stated rules, and warrant that their entry is their original work and does not infringe upon or violate rights of any third party.
No royalties will be paid at this or any time.
No royalties will be paid at this or any time.
Return of Entries
The contest administrators will make every effort, but are not required, to return entries only if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope of an appropriate size.  Reading Rainbow or local stations are not responsible for late, lost, stolen, misdirected, damaged, mutilated, incomplete or illegible entries, or postage-due mail.

Send or deliver entries to: Natalie Sparks, Box 42161, Lubbock, TX 79409-2161 OR
deliver entries to KTXT-TV located on the Texas Tech campus at 17^th and Indiana.

The local contest is a collaborative partnership of 
Barnes & Noble Booksellers of Lubbock (call Donna Fickes at 798-8990) 
Lubbock Area Coalition for Literacy (call Carol Keeney at 775-3636)
The Lubbock Avalanche Journal Make Kids Count (call Julia Childs at 766-2151) 
and KTXT-TV, South Plains Public Television (call Natalie Sparks at 742-2209.)