ATHENS, Ohio -- Calling all young artists and writers. WOUB-TV and "Reading Rainbow" invite youngsters to participate in the Ninth Annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers & Illustrators Contest.

Children from kindergarten to third grade are encouraged to write and illustrate their own stories and enter them in Reading Rainbow's Young Writers & Illustrators Contest, which is conducted in cooperation with WOUB-TV. Applications are available from WOUB-TV, local libraries and elementary schools in WOUB-TV's viewing area and the PBS Kids Web site at www.pbskids.org/readingrainbow.

"Reading Rainbow's Young Writers & Illustrators Contest allows Reading Rainbow fans to take their excitement and love of books a step even further, to authoring and illustrating their own book," said Dr. Twila C. Liggett, executive producer of the series.

Entries are first judged at WOUB-TV, with the local winners advancing to the national competition. Each child who participates in the contest receives a special certificate of achievement signed by "Reading Rainbow" host LeVar Burton.

There will be more national winners this year. For the first time a third place winner will be added to the national first and second place winners in each age category (K-3rd grade.) All national winners will receive a Reading Rainbow library set, comprised of ten DVDs and matching feature books. First place winners will receive a computer and printer and second place winners will take home a DVD player. In addition, all 12 winners will receive "Reading Rainbow" library sets for their schools and for their local libraries.

Noted children's book authors, illustrators, publishers, educators and representatives from such organizations as the American Library Association and the National Council of Teachers of English make up the panel of national judges, who evaluate the entries and select the winners.

The deadline for entries is Tuesday, April 1.

For additional information about Reading Rainbow's Young Writers and Illustrators Contest, contact Denise Birchfield, community outreach literacy coordinator, at WOUB-TV, 9 South College Street, Athens, OH, 45701, (740) 593-0113, or check online at woub.org/kids.