Call for Entries: 2011–2012 Letters About Literature Contest
Entries due by January 6, 2012
We invite students in grades 4-12, to enter the 2011 Letters About Literature Contest, a national reading and writing promotion program organized by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in partnership with Target Stores. To enter, students write a letter to the author (living or dead) of their favorite book, poem, or short story; and describe how that book moved or changed them.
There are three levels for participants: Level I grades 4-6; Level II grades 7 & 8; Level III grades 9-12.
Download the Contest Guidelines and Official Rules.
The National Letters About Literature Web Site contains even more information you may need to help you or your students enter the contest.
The contest deadline is January 6, 2012
This is the tenth year that the Maine Center for the Book, the programming arm of the Maine Humanities Council, has run the Letters About Literature contest in Maine. Teachers who have involved their students with the contest have some very positive comments about its effectiveness as a teaching tool.
A teacher from Camden-Rockport Middle School had this to say:
What a great opportunity your contest was for my students. We had fantastic discussions about books and authors. The materials on-line helped immensely with the structuring and developing of their letters. Peer sharing of their thoughts was very valuable. Even though the entire process took quite a few periods, I think the overall results were well worth the time spent. Thank you.
A teacher from Leeds Central School wrote,
This year a lot of my students avoid reading and writing, so it has been difficult to motivate them. This contest was one way that helped to spark them, and I have seen more effort in this task than I have seen in any other so far this year. They have truly enjoyed this writing activity and I have been very impressed with the results.
To enter:
For more information about the contest, visit the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress web site: www.lettersaboutliterature.org where you can download the guidelines, entry coupon and teaching resources [sample lesson plans and letters] and find more general information.
Letters About Literature, 2011 Awards
Congratulations to the students listed below, who were awarded 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place, and Honorable Mention awards at the state level in the 2011 Letters About Literature Contest.
2011 Awards
Letters About Literature is a national reading-writing contest offered by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, in partnership with Target Stores and in cooperation with affiliate state centers for the book. Readers in grades 4-12 are invited to write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, from any genre—fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic—explaining how that author’s work changed the student’s way of thinking about the world or themselves. There are three competition levels: Level I for children grades 4-6; Level II for grades 7 and 8, and Level III for students in grades 9-12.
In addition to the national sponsors named above, the Letters About Literature contest in Maine is sponsored by the David Royte Fund. The David Royte Fund, created in 2006 by Merle and Leonard Nelson and Dr. and Mrs. Paul Royte, honors the father of Merle and Paul, Mr. David Royte. Mr. Royte served as a valued member of the Board of Directors of the Maine Humanities Council for many years.
Level I (grades 4-6)
First Place Winner: Charlie Budd, Grade 5, Mary Snow School, Bangor. Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
Second Place Winner: Reilly LeBlanc, Grade 5, Hollis Elementary, Hollis. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Third Place Winner: Kailey Smith, Grade 6, Leonard Middle School, Old Town. Hoot by Carl Hiassen
Honorable Mention: Andrew Vaillancourt, Grade 6, Leonard Middle School, Old Town. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Level II (grades 7-8)
First Place Winner: Libby O'Brien, Grade 8, Cape Elizabeth Middle School, Cape Elizabeth. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Second Place Winner: Lily Jordan, Grade 8, Cape Elizabeth Middle School, Cape Elizabeth. Webster's Third New International Dictionary by Noah Webster (Merriam-Webster Inc.)
Third Place Winner: Faith Price, Grade 7, Greely Middle School, Cumberland. The Dumb Bunnies by Dav Pilkey
Honorable Mention: Adam Poitras, Grade 8, Windham Middle School, Windham. Totally Joe by James Howe
Level III (grades 9-12)
First Place Winner: Kirsten Page, Grade 10, Scarborough High School, Scarborough. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
Second Place Winner: Kayleigh Cleary, Grade 12, Scarborough High School, Scarborough. She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
Third Place Winner: Allison Rowe, Grade 11, Bangor. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
Honorable Mention: Nakita K. Floyd, Grade 11, Noble High School, North Berwick. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Complete List of Semi-Finalists (Listed by School)
Eva Brydson
Adeline Hayes
Lily Jordan, Second Place Winner, Level II
Rachel Lockwood
Ford Malter
Libby O'Brien, First Place Winner, Level II
Mary McColley, South Berwick
Zoë Onion, Wells
Allison Rowe, Bangor, Third Place Winner, Level III
Kailey Smith, Third Place Winner, Level I
Andrew Vaillancourt, Honorable Mention, Level I
Nakita K. Floyd, Honorable Mention, Level III
Ashley Sheedy
Meghan Lynch
Frances Mahoney
Kirsten Page, First Place Winner, Level III
Devin Hagerty
Ashley Kelley
Bailey Paige St. Pierre
Adam Poitras, Honorable Mention, Level II
Delaney Wood
