Young authors, illustrators honored for contributions to Reading Rainbow contest at Peabody Library
(Photo Contributed) Kindergartner Olivia Porter reads her story aloud to the assembled audience at the Reading Rainbow recognition ceremony. Her mother, Rachel Porter, stands nearby.
Submitted by Peabody Public Library’s Children’s Department
Contestants in the 14th Annual Reading Rainbow contest for writing and illustration, along with their families and other fans, met in the Community Room of the Peabody Public Library on March 17. This year’s entries display a wealth of artistic talent and writing skill. 
Books awarded First Place honors were read aloud by Olivia Porter (Kindergarten), Ari Fest (first grade), Alayna Trier (second grade) and Brooks Walker (third grade). Each winner will now proceed to the regional competition.
Children’s Librarian Peggy McCarthy recognized all participants for their effort and talent, and congratulated them for having stepped into the creative community of budding authors and illustrators.
Peabody Public Library is pleased to sponsor the Reading Rainbow contest each year. The following students were honored for the level of effort it took to complete an entry in the contest: Kindergarteners -- Elizabeth Wagner and Delaney Taylor; First Graders -- Jon Buchanan, Madison Schroeder and Seth Westmoreland; Second Grader -- Lenah Beck; and Third Graders -- Alex Buchanan, Ryan Jordan, Madison More, Lillian Rice, and Elijah Westmoreland.
“We appreciate their families, who encourage creativity and support their children in the work it takes to create a book,” McCarthy said. “We also acknowledge the dedication and serious thought of the panel of judges who faced difficult choices in ranking this year’s excellent group of entries.”
Judges for this year’s competition include Frances Brown, Laurel Steill and Jennifer Zartman Romano.
The annual Reading Rainbow contest is also sponsored by WFWA PBS39, Fort Wayne Public Television. The contest is open to kindergarteners through third graders who write and illustrate their own stories. Regional winners will be notified by phone on April 14, recognized on air on May 1 and sent on to the National Judging, which will take place in June.