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Letters About Literature 2000 Essay Contest
Students in grades 4-12 are invited to enter the Letters About Literature contest. Students write letters to favorite authors, living or dead, and explain how the author’s book somehow changed the their way of thinking. There are two competition levels: one for grades 4-7 and another for grades 8-12. National winners in each level will receive a $l,000 U.S. Savings Bond. The Texas winner in each level will receive a cash award of $l00 and two round-trip tickets to Houston on Southwest Airlines to attend the Texas Library Association Conference to read the winning essay. Second place winners will receive $50. All finalists will receive an award certificate.
For more information about the Letters About Literature contest in Texas, contact:
The Texas Center for the Book at the Dallas Public Library at (214) 670-7808 or email gailbialas@dallaslibrary.org
Sponsored by Weekly Reader Corporation, King’s College, The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, Texas Center for the Book at the Dallas Public Library, Texas Association of School Librarians, and Southwest Airlines top
The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress Presents
Letters About Literature 2000a national essay contest sponsored by
Weekly Reader Corporation and King’s CollegeBooks have wings. You can’t see them, but they are there just the same. For some readers, books give them wings to rise above prejudice and discover pride in their cultural and racial heritage. For others, the wings help them cope with difficult situations--a parent’s divorce, the death of a family member, or the illness of a friend. For still others,the wings allow them to see the world--and themselves--from a new perspective and that can be both wonderful and painful. The wings are real, but first you must read to feel their power and their lift.
| Dear John Hersey,I want to be strong like the people in your book Hiroshima were. They never gave up and fought dearly for their lives and the lives of others. I want to hold up like this when a period of my life becomes so difficult and depressing that I feel I cannot go on... Jeremee Peters, The Meadows School, Las Vegas, NV Dear Stephan Crane, As I sit here tonight to write this letter I listen to the news on the television about recent bombs the U.S. has dropped on Iraq, and it makes me think about the things Henry and I have in common: our fears, wonders, and questions we share about war. The Red Badge of Courage made realize that soldiers are there to fight and kill, and that even though it may not be the right thing to do, sometimes it is the only thing left to do. Sam Watters, Kyrene de la Esperanza School, Phoenix, AZ |
The Contest
This 17th annual writing contest invites students to write a letter to an author—living or dead—explaining how the author’s book gave them wings and changed their way of viewing the world and themselves. The contest has two competition levels: Level I for students in grades 4-7; Level II for students in grades 8-12. This year, judges will select five national winning essays in each competition level. Each winning student will receive a cash award of $100. In addition, participating state Center for the Book affiliates will present cash awards to the top essayists in their states.
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