Having trouble getting your students to connect with the books they are reading? The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and Target Stores have teamed up to create a national writing contest promoting literacy. To enter, students write a letter to an author (living or deceased), explaining how the author’s book changed the student’s way of thinking about the world or him/herself. The letter should not be a book summary or fan mail, but rather a personal and descriptive account of the book’s impact on the student. The contest is a great way to encourage students to make text-to-self associations and develop a passion for books.
The Letters About Literature program is open to students in grades 4-12. Winners receive cash awards at the national and state levels. The deadline for the next competition is December 6, 2008.
