Mrs.P Be-A-Famous-Writer Contest Promotes Literacy

Promoting a love of reading and writing is something I am passionate about as reading opens up so many wonderful worlds for children (and adults) to lose themselves in. The thrill of reading Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory or Alice in Wonderland as a kid was quite magical. An organization that helps to nurture this love of reading and writing is Mrs.P, an award-winning FREE interactive digital storybook destination.  Classic children’s stories are brought to life by TV star Kathy Kinney who plays Mrs.P.

Ms.Kinney and two of her friends from the industry, Dana Plautz and Clay Graham, started Mrs.P four years ago and host an annual Be-A-Famous-Writer children’s contest to help kids use their creativity and imagination.  I had a chance to speak to Ms. Kinney about the contest, the organization, and the importance of reading and writing.

She said that one of the main reasons why the trio felt Mrs. P was needed is because “No one is telling kids that reading is cool and so are you.”  I like the fact that Mrs.P is a human being and not an animated figure. You can find her reading classic children’s stories via YouTube that all children can access with the help of a parent.  It is nice to know that your child can enjoy this free and safe environment at times when it isn’t possible to head to the library or when you need a few moments to prepare dinner. They also offer study questions that a parent or educator can use to further the learning experience.

The contest has become a favorite event for teachers to engage their classrooms in each year.  They offer two categories, one for 4-8 year olds and another for 9-13 year olds.  The winners of each category receives goodies from the Sponsors including a $25 Powell’s Book Gift Card, art supplies from Sakura, and Buyer Topia is providing the two Grand Winners a $25 Gift Card monthly for a year and they will also be donate books to the school libraries of the grand-prize winners.  Publishers Hartlyn Kids, MacCheeky and Polka Dots Publishing are all providing giveaways to kids who have entered the contest as incentives to start writing.  Names will be randomly drawn out of the computer at the end of the contest and the winners will receive fabulous books. The two Grand Prize winners will have their stories professionally illustrated and made into a hard-cover book.   This year Polka Dots Publishing  is offering a chance for each child who submits a story to enter into a 25-book giveaway. The winner can choose what charity the books will be donated to.

On the website they offer Activities, Interactive Games as well as the Magic Library which features a new book  read weekly by the rather funny Mrs. P, found sitting by a fire in a lounge room.   Ms. Kinney states “She is convinced that children who read and exercise this skill will grow up to help solve problems and world affairs.”  This trio has provided a wonderful and magical world for children to enjoy and a great contest to inspire creativity and imagination.

You can read more about Mrs.P and how to enter their contest at www.mrsp.com