Sevier County, TN. – “Celebrate Books” is the theme for the 2009 Children’s Book Week, May 11-17, sponsored by the Children’s Book Council. This annual event, designed to promote reading in children since 1919, prompted the Sevier County Public Library System (SCPLS) to host an annual art and writing contest to design baseball trading cards.

The SCPLS collaborated with the primary, elementary and middle schools in Sevier County to promote the 2009 Children’s Book Week literacy event with its 6th Annual Book Week Contest featuring the student’s favorite children’s book or character in a children’s book. Sevier County students in grades pre-K – 8th designed baseball cards for the 2008-09 event. The baseball card contest ended December 1, 2008 and winners from the 1,462 entries have been chosen to be presented during Children’s Book Week 2009.

Each student who entered the contest will receive a certificate of appreciation and the winning entries (1st, 2nd & 3rd) will receive 30 copies of their professionally printed baseball card in addition to a certificate. The winning entries for grades Pre-K – 4th grade are:

1) First Place: Kali Davis, 2nd Grade, Sevierville Primary

2) Second Place: Chris Johnson, 2nd Grade, Boyd’s Creek Elementary

3) Third Place: Joshua Powell, 4th Grade, Boyd’s Creek Elementary

Honorable Mention Winners for Pre-K – 4th grade include Stephanie Villagran, 4th Grade (Sevierville Intermediate); Anna Ball, 4th Grade (Sevierville Intermediate); Rebecca Elias, 2nd Grade, (Sevierville Primary); Daniel Gomez, 2nd Grade (Sevierville Primary); Victoria Pittman, 2nd Grade (Sevierville Primary); Hope Trentham, 4th Grade (Sevierville Intermediate); and Nick Clabo, 4th Grade, (Wearwood Elementary). 

The winning entries for grades 5th – 8th are:

1) First Place: Gabby Clark, 7th Grade, Northview Middle

2) Second Place: Molly Cross, 8th Grade, Sevierville Middle

3) Third Place (Tie): Josh Buras, 6th Grade, Wearwood Elementary

4) Third Place (Tie): Bailey Styles, 5th Grade, Pigeon Forge Middle School

Honorable Mention Winners for 5th – 8th grade include Annie Braham, 5th Grade (Sevierville Intermediate); Casey Moseley, 5th Grade (Sevierville Intermediate); Natalie Sellers, 6th Grade (Seymour Middle); Bethany Brakebill, 7th Grade (Seymour Middle); Megan Hunter, 8th Grade (Wearwood Elementary); Jacob Line, 8th Grade (Wearwood Elementary).

The Sevier County Public Library System would like to thank all of the principals, teachers and media specialists in Sevier County who were instrumental in promoting this event with enthusiasm and excitement in their schools. Certificates and baseball cards will arrive at the schools during Children’s Book Week, May 11 – 17. For more information about the event or the winning entries, please call Robin Cogdill at (865)774-3246.