This contest is designed to promote the advancement of children’s reading skills through hands on, active learning. It encourages children to celebrate the power of creating stories and illustrations by submitting their own original pieces. Last year over 300 students submitted their work to WVIA for this contest. The first place student in each grade category will receive a plaque and have their story narrated by FM Host, Lisa Mazzarella for a web feature.
The PBS Kids Writers Contest is also open once again!
DEADLINE EXTENDED: Deadline for Receipt of Entries is MAY 16, 2022. Please send entries postmarked on or before May 16, 2022 to
WVIA
100 WVIA Way
Pittston, PA 18640
Attn: WVIA PBS KIDS Writers Contest 2022
Winners notified after June 1, 2022
Word Count:
Grades K-1 – 50 min; 200 max
Grades 2-3 – 100 min; 350 max
Winners will receive:
- Four (4) First Place Winners (One (1) First Place Winner Per Grade- WVIA Education ENGRAVED PLAQUE, WVIA Education TOTE BAG, BOOK COLLECTION, WVIA Education PENCIL AND PEN, STICKERS AND BOOKMARKS (ARV: $50.00)
- Four (4) Second Place Winners (One (1) Second Place winner per grade)- WVIA Education TOTE BAG, BOOK COLLECTION, WVIA Education PENCIL AND PEN, STICKERS AND BOOKMARKS (ARV: $30.00).
- Four (4) Third Place Winners (One (1) Third Place winner per grade)· WVIA Education TOTE BAG, BOOK COLLECTION, STICKERS AND BOOKMARKS (ARV: $25.00).
2021 Winners
Kindergarten
Advait Ajeet Dhuri - KDG Winner PBS Kids Writers Contest
2nd Grade
Liadan O'Shea - 2nd Grade Winner PBS Kids Writers Contest
3rd Grade
Quay Anna Beyer - 3rd Grade Winner PBS Kids Writers Contest
2020 Winners
Kindergarten
Michael Velotta - KDG Winner PBS Kids Writers Contest
1st Place
Michael Velotta – Fun Day!
(Hazleton, PA)
2nd Place
Charlie Procter – The Bird Who Lost Her Mother
(Dallas, PA)
3rd Place
Nishil Rohit – Strong Beak and the Crocodile Escape
(Newark, DE)
1st Grade
Vanessa Lee - 1st Grade Winner PBS Kids Writers Contest
1st Place
Vanessa Lee – Zero is a Hero (Broomall, PA)
2nd Place
Liam Hanson – Joe and Gus
(Jermyn, PA)
3rd Place
Rachal Beckish – The Way of the Bee (Springbrook Twp, PA)
2nd Grade
Patrick Schneider- 2nd Grade Winner PBS Kids Writers Contest
1st Place
Patrick Schneider – Mac and the Aliens' Super Adventure
(Forty Fort, PA)
2nd Place
Addison Wagner – The Mystery of Water
(Pottsville, PA)
3rd Place
Maeve Hourihane – How the Fairy Got Trapped
(South Abington Twp, PA)
3rd Grade
Grace Klein - 3rd Grade Winner PBS Kids Writers Contest
1st Place
Grace Klein – What Am I Good At?
(Duryea, PA)
2nd Place
Brianna Quinn – The Magical Flower Bush
(Forty Fort, PA)
3rd Place
Thomas Graham – Jeff and Bill Save the World
(Lewisburg, PA)
2019 Winners
Kindergarten
Madelynn Herb - Kindergarten Winner PBS Kids Writers Contest
Madelynn's book is titled "Two Little Bunnies"
1st Grade
Lucy Rose Uher - 1st Grade Winner PBS Kids Writers Contest
Lucy's Book is titled "Go Fetch Win"
2nd Grade
Asher Ulmer - 2nd Grade Winner PBS Kids Writers Contest
Asher's book is titled "Dino Friends"
3rd Grade
Ava Argento - 3rd Grade Winner PBS Kids Writers Contest
Ava's book is titled "The Magic Pencil"