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Our 2020 PBS SoCal KIDS Writers Contest Winners

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Learn more about the PBS SoCal KIDS Writers Contest here.


The 2020 PBS SoCal KIDS Writers Contest continued celebrating the creativity and imagination of young writers in Southern California for the 11th year. While many of the stories submitted for this year's contest were inspired by current events and stay-at-home orders during the pandemic, all stories were full of hope and dripping with talent, making it difficult for our judging panel to select the final winners. Below are the winners of first, second, and third places for Kindergarten-3rd grades, plus winners for the following special categories: Humor, Kindness, Science Fiction and Illustration.

First Place

The Lonely Fish by Mason B.
Grade: Kinder

The Dancing Pickle by Terriyon Holland
Grade: 1st

The Dancing Pickle

The Stay at Home Story by Makayla S.
Grade: 2nd

My Brother Wants to be a Ninja by Lucy S.
Grade: 3rd

Second Place

Sea Party Rescue by Clarissa C.
Grade: Kinder

We Are Happy Together by Naomi S.
Grade: 1st

The Quest for Light
Grade: 2nd

The Cotton Candy Forest and Marshie the Marshmallow by Jocelyn C.
Grade: 3rd

Third Place

The Dance of the Year by Maya M.
Grade: Kinder

The Pirate Fight by Dylan F.
Grade: 1st

Grace Can Do It! by Emma V.
Grade: 2nd

Where Did Mossy Go? by Roger H.
Grade: 3rd

Special Categories

My Teacher by Jay L.
Grade: Kinder
Category: Humor

Tidepool Talents by Henry B.
Grade: 1st
Category: Kindness

Supergirl vs. Coronavirus by Emberly T.
Grade: 3rd
Category: Science Fiction

Dawn and Dusk by Ankitah Garuadapuri
Grade: 3rd
Category: Illustration