Calling All Young Authors and Illustrators

Kids in Kindergarten through 3rd grade are encouraged to stretch their creative wings by entering the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest. Sixteen winners from the Quad City region (4 from each grade) will be honored at a celebration in May, awarded excellent prizes and appear in an on-air promotion for WQPT programming. First place winners will go on to compete in the national contest.

Kids must submit one original story with illustrations (see guidelines below). Parents and teachers may work with children, but the concept and text must be the child's work. Each story will be read by an educator or writer, and the best stories will be submitted to a panel of judges who will select the winners. Finalists and participating classrooms will also receive free books. All children who enter will receive a special certificate, along with their returned stories. In addition, the winners will appear in local promotion of PBS programming, and the stories submitted by the first place winners will be featured on the WQPT website.

Contest Deadline
Stories must be postmarked by Tuesday, April 10, 2012. Deliver or send to WQPT located on the 60th St. campus of Western Illinois University at 3561 60th Street (Second Floor), Moline, IL, 61265. Please note that WQPT has moved to new offices since last year's contest. For more information please contact Ana Kehoe at 309/764-2400 or at-kehoe@wiu.edu.

New this Year...

Stories may also be submitted online at no cost through a tool developed by our contest sponsor, StudentPublishing.com. The new upload tool is easy to use and allows you to receive a free animated copy of your story that can be shared with friends and family. In addition, parents have the option of purchasing a hardback copy of their child's story as a great keepsake. Check it out at:
http://pbs.studentpublishing.com/contest/welcome.php?stationID=14

Eligibility & Entry Guidelines

Entrants must be in kindergarten, first, second or third grade.
Only one entry per person will be accepted; all subsequent entries will be disqualified.
Only single author stories qualify (no co-authored stories).
Stories can be fact or fiction, and prose or poetry.

Word Count

Kindergarten and first grade stories must have a minimum of 50 words and a maximum of 200 words.
Second and third grade stories must have a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 350 words.
The word count includes "a," "an," and "the," but not the words on non-story pages such as the title page or those that enhance the illustrations.
Text must be printed or written legibly or typed.
Children who cannot write may dictate their story to be printed, written legibly or typed.
Text may be integrated into the illustration pages or on separate 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/Drawings

Stories must have at least 5 original, clear and colorful illustrations.
Original art can include drawings, photographs, collages, and 3-D.
Stories must be created on one side of the paper and numbered on the back of each page.

Complete the Official Entry Form

The entry form must be complete and legible.

Remember: Stories must be postmarked or delivered by Tuesday, April 10, 2012. Mail To: WQPT Story Contest, WQPT/Western Illinois University at 3561 60th Street (Second Floor), Moline, Illinois, 61265.