May 23, 2001

Writers brighten Reading Rainbow

Young authors win state contest

By LISA PERKINS
Herald staff writer
       Nearly 300 young writers from across central and northern Michigan recently submitted stories they had written and illustrated to WCMU, Central Michigan University's Public Broadcasting Network, as part of Reading Rainbow's Seventh Annual "Young Writers and Illustrators" contest.
      The contest is designed to encourage children to write and illustrate their own stories. Winning stories, which can be real, fantasy or science related are selected in each grade level, kindergarten through third-grade.
      Local winners include Jacob Monette, son of Daniel and Dagny Monette of Traverse City, who won first-place in the kindergarten category with his story, "Deputy Jake in the Wild West." Monette is a student at Trinity Lutheran School.
      "He ran up the stairs saying 'I have to write a story, Mom, I just have to write a story', after hearing about the contest on Reading Rainbow," Dagny Monette said. "He came up with the idea of a sheriff dog who uses a lasso to catch bad guys. He had a lot of fun with it."
      Jenna Gordon, daughter of Joe and Angel Gordon of Fife Lake, also took first-place honors with her story, "Two Girls and a Puppy." Gordon attends first- grade at Traverse Bay Community School.
      "I got my idea from a game where dogs get in trouble, that and I would really like to have a puppy," Gordon said.
      All third-grader Sarah Ingold really wanted was a signed certificate from LeVar Burton, who hosts the television show Reading Rainbow. By taking first-place, Ingold, daughter of Tom and Susan Ingold of Lake Ann, got that and more with her story, "Max the Wonderdog." Ingold attends Westwood Elementary.
      Aaron Kelly, son of Andy and Virginia Kelly of Traverse City, received second-place honors for his story, "I Got a Birdie!" Kelly is homeschooled.
      First and second-place winners receive a Reading Rainbow video. First place winners will be invited to the CMU Public Television studio in June to have their stories video taped for broadcast. Starting in August, their stories will be broadcast during children's programming breaks over the next year.
      First-place entries from the local contest have been submitted to Reading Rainbow for its national competition. National winners will be announced in June. Grand prize winners will receive a range of prizes that include a computer and printer and a library of Reading Rainbow books and tapes. All national winners will receive a Reading Rainbow library set to present to their local schools or public library.