PRESS RELEASE:

KUED is inviting children through 6th grade to participate in the 16th annual KUED Reading Marathon. Curious George®-the popular storybook character by Margret and H. A. Rey, and star of the number-one rated PBS-animated program in 2008, will be the theme for this year's Super Reader Party, in which children are rewarded for reading.

KUED's 16th Annual READING MARATHON, running November 7 through December 1, 2008, encourages children and their families to spend quality time reading together. The literacy event is in partnership with Utah's public libraries and community agencies including Salt Lake Community Action Program Head Start, Boys & Girls Clubs of Salt Lake and Utah PTA. Last year, more than 3,000 children participated in the Reading Marathon and more than 2,000 children and their parents celebrated with Curious George and The Man With the Yellow Hat® at the Utah State Fair Grounds in January.

Kids may pick up a reading log at their public library or online at www.kued.org/reading. Children of pre-school age through sixth grade have different reading goals to meet; details are outlined on the reading log. Participants may read alone, read to someone else, or be read to by another person.

"KUED's Reading Marathon is a great way for families to spend time together," says Jacqui Voland, Community Outreach Manager for KUED. "As part of our Ready To Learn education initiative, the read-a-thon is a fun way to promote literacy."

During the first week of the competition, literacy partners statewide will host kick-off parties. For a list of locations and Reading Marathon requirements, visit the KUED website www.kued.org/reading.

Once children complete the marathon, they will be able to go online at home or at their local library to enter their own reading hours. Super Readers can then print both a reading certificate and an invitation to the Super Reader party.

"Providing services online allows us to streamline the process for our community partners and viewers, allowing more time for fun," Voland explains. Mini-grant applications for libraries located100 miles or more from Salt Lake can also be submitted online this year.

At the Super Reader Party in January, hands-on learning activities, entertainment and free books are all part of the reward for being a KUED "Super Reader," and appearances by Curious George and The Man With the Yellow Hat.

For additional information on KUED's READING MARATHON, call (801) 585-3523 or visit www.kued.org/reading.

Curious George® airs weekdays on KUED-Channel 7 at 7 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Local and National Funder Credits

Reading Marathon is made possible in part by Nu Skin and Target.

Ready To Learn educational events and services on KUED-Channel 7 are made possible by the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, the Emma Eccles Jones Foundation, United Way of Salt Lake, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Qwest, U.S. Bank, The University of Utah, and the Utah Education Association.

In-kind sponsors: Utah State Fairpark, Cream O' Weber, Dairy Council of Utah, Nicholas and Company, Inc, Utah's Hogle Zoo and Clark Planetarium.

Community Partners of KUED's 2008 READING MARATHON are Salt Lake City Public Library, Salt Lake County Library System, Park City and Summit County Libraries, Davis County Libraries, Utah State Library Division, Salt Lake CAP Head Start, Utah's Hogle Zoo, Utah Museum of Natural History, Intermountain Therapy Animals, REFORMA de Utah, Clark Planetarium, Boys' & Girls' Clubs of Greater Salt Lake, Utah PTA, University Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI), Davis Education Foundation, and The Governor's Commission on Literacy.

National funding for Curious George is provided by Chuck E. Cheese's®, Sun-Maid® and public television viewers.

CURIOUS GEORGE is a production of Imagine, WGBH and Universal. Curious George and related characters, created by Margret H.A. Rey, are copyrighted and trademarked by Houghton Mifflin Company and are used under license. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLLP. Television Series: © 2008 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. The PBS KIDS logo is a registered mark of PBS and is used with permission. FOR PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY.

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