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Congratulations Winners! 2021 Writers and Illustrators Contest - Celebrate the Outdoors

We are pleased to announce our 2022 winners and would like to congratulate them on their accomplishments!

Children from around the state sent in their best illustrated stories on the theme “Anyone Can be a Hero.”

The contest strives to foster creativity and literacy in young Utah artists and writers.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a story! PBS KIDS Utah celebrates all of the talented Utah children who entered this year’s contest.

Enjoy reading the winning stories below!

Kindergarten Winners

A hand drawn colorful banana that is smiling along with the title How To Catch a Banana Thief by Connor

First Place

"How to Catch a Banana Thief"

by Connor

Three cookies with pink

Second Place

"The Warrior Cookies! (3 of course!)"

by Kallie

Simple green flower with stem and The Magical Garden by Uriah title

Third Place

"The Magical Garden"

by Uriah

First Grade Winners

Drawing of grey moon with a brown rabbit in a space helmet floating next to it

First Place

"The New Moon"

by Oscar

Drawing of a pink penguin with a yellow beak, white tummy, and a purple tuft on head

Second Place

"The Littlest Unipenguin"

by Elizabeth

Dark haired young boy wearing a green shirt, holding his arms out to the side

Third Place

"Super Helper"

by Samuel

Second Grade Winners

Full color cover with tall buildings with a young girl and pig in front of them

First Place

"Sausage the Service Pig"

by Evelyn

Colorful hand drawn busy cover with items like an elephant with purple bow, a red bird swimming, a monkey sitting smiling, a cat in a sweater, a green parrot, and more

Second Place

"Lyla Mercedes the Little Red Panda"

by Samantha

Hand drawn cororful text of the title Everyone Can Be A Hero

Third Place

"Everyone Can Be a Hero"

by Ineza

Third Grade Winners

Book cover with An Ordinary Hero title and a young smiling girl with a blue shirt with a red heart. She has blue eyes and a blue bow on top of her head.

First Place

"An Ordinary Hero"

by Sophie

Cute hand drawn colorful book cover with cute creature perched on a tree

Second Place

"Forest Heroes"

by Gil

Three young friends, a tree, and a blue background. One friend is holding a bow and arrow.

Third Place

"The Power of Friendship"

by Kaylee

Fourth Grade Winners

Filer image

First Place

"My Uncle is a Spy"

by Ilanka

Filer image

Second Place

"One Small Change Can Make a Big Difference"

by Scarlett

Book cover with collage of photos of actual items including  bottle caps, plastic items...with a fish in a lake in the center.

Third Place

"Trash Cleaners"

by Blaise

Fifth Grade Winners

Beautiful hand drawn image of a young girl looking up to a earth she is holding in her hands, she is standing in the water with green shore in front of her.

First Place

"The Girl & the Lake"

by Tawny

Colorful garden full of flowers and 3 healthy cacti, blue sky and yellow sun with a puffy cloud

Second Place

"The Cactus"

by Anastasia

Text-only book cover that says I Am AWESOME-MAN by Flynn

Third Place

"I Am Awesome-Man"

by Flynn

Sixth Grade Winners

Colorful book cover with yellow sun, green tree with a momma and baby bird, and a green hummingbird, leaves are falling from the tree

First Place

"Size Isn't Everything"

by London

Pink fox with two cute creatures next to them, a decorative border of flowers and leaves frame the image.

Second Place

"Better Together"

by McKenzie

Hand drawn title Little Unexpected Heroes with a young girl and a pink octopus

Third Place

"Little Unexpected Heroes"

by Annabelle