Reading Is Fundamental Names Winners of Charlotte's Web Art Contest

Reading Is Fundamental Names Winners of Charlotte's Web Art Contest

Twelve Kids Win for Artistic Interpretations Based on Classic Children's Book

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF(R)), the nation's largest and oldest nonprofit children's and family literacy organization, in cooperation with HarperCollins Children's Books, Walden Media, and Paramount Pictures, today announced the winners of RIF's Charlotte's Web Art Contest.

The art contest, inspired by the Newbery Honor book written by E.B. White and an upcoming feature film from Paramount Pictures and Walden Media, invited children ages 5-15 to create artwork representing their interpretations of the book Charlotte's Web. Approximately 1,200 children sent posters using a variety of media including paint, markers, photography, pencil, computer graphics, crayons, and even collage.

RIF selected 12 winners in three categories: ages 5-8, 9-11, and 12-15. Each category had one grand-prize winner and three honorable mentions. The three grand-prize winners were: Noel Fuentes, 7, Miami; Jamie Lyle, 11, McEwen, Tenn.; and Emily Kathleen Boucher, 13, Somersworth, N.H. Honorable mention winners include: Drew Webb, 7, Lubbock, Texas; Abigail Barrett, 6, Locust, N.J.; Darius Davis, 8, O'Fallon, Mo.; Emiko Chisholm, 11, Tappan, N.Y.; John Ordono, 10, St. Louis; Felipe Pereiro, 9, Miami; Mitch Nolte, 12, Anniston, Ala.; Faith Lamb, 12, Lincoln, Neb.; Daniel Saenz, 13, Pharr, Texas.

"Since the founding of RIF 40 years ago, our mission has been to show children how much fun reading can be," said Ernestine Benedict, director of online communications at RIF. "Contests like this one, which link reading with art, offer kids the motivation to read more and to make recreational reading a part of their daily lives."

The three grand-prize winners will each receive a private pre-screening of the film Charlotte's Web for up to 200 guests, and a prize package donated by Walden Media, Paramount Pictures Corporation, and HarperCollins Children's Books. The nine honorable mention winners will also receive a Charlotte's Web prize package, which includes one book-buying gift certificate valued at $50, a set of special edition Charlotte's Web books, and one RIF Reading Planet T- shirt.

In Charlotte's Web, the best-selling children's book of all time, Wilbur the pig, the runt of the litter, has a youthful manner that makes him seem naive to the other animals in his new barn, but to Charlotte -- the spider who lives in the rafters -- he is a welcome friend. Their friendship is shown to be a lasting one when the other animals reveal that the pig's days are numbered. It seems that only a miracle will save Wilbur's life. A determined Charlotte spins words into her web in an effort to convince the farmer that Wilbur is "some pig" and worth saving. Charlotte's Web's Wilbur finds that the most powerful force in the world is the bond of friendship.

A Paramount Pictures and Walden Media presentation of a Kerner Entertainment Company/Nickelodeon Movies production, Charlotte's Web is directed by Gary Winick, stars Dakota Fanning and features the voices of Julia Roberts, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Oprah Winfrey, Cedric the Entertainer, Andre Benjamin, Thomas Haden Church, Robert Redford, Reba McEntire, and Kathy Bates. The film has been rated G by the MPAA and will be in theaters nationwide on December 15, 2006.

To view all winning artwork and to learn more about upcoming RIF reading motivational activities and contests, visit our web site at http://www.rif.org/.

Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF's highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provides 4.5 million children with 16 million new, free books and literacy resources each year. For more information and to access reading resources, visit RIF's website at http://www.rif.org/.

Celebrating the Joy of Reading for 40 Years

HarperCollins Children's Books is one of the leading publishers of children's books. Respected worldwide for its tradition of publishing quality, award-winning books for young readers, HarperCollins is home to many children's classics -- Charlotte's Web, The Chronicles of Narnia, Goodnight Moon, Where the Sidewalk Ends and Where the Wild Things Are; popular series -- A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Princess Diaries. HarperCollins Children's Books is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, one of the leading English language publishers in the world and a subsidiary of News Corporation. Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australasia. You can visit HarperCollins Children's Books on the Internet at http://www.harperchildrens.com/.

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a unit of Viacom, is a global entertainment company that produces and distributes filmed entertainment through the Paramount Motion Picture Group which includes Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films and Nick Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Studios and Worldwide Television Distribution

Walden Media LLC specializes in entertainment that sparks imagination and engages young people in the learning process. Producing both original works and adaptations of acclaimed children's literature, Walden Media projects are enhanced by comprehensive outreach and supplemental programs for teachers, librarians, and parents. Walden Media is a division of Anschutz Film Group (AFG).

Source: Reading Is Fundamental, Inc.

CONTACT: Tisha L. Richardson of RIF, +1-202-536-3528,
trichardson@rif.org

Web site: http://www.rif.org/
http://www.harperchildrens.com/

-------
Profile: intent