Student submissions to Letters About Literature (LAL), a national reading and writing initiative sponsored nationally by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and in Kansas by the Kansas Center for the Book, in partnership with Target, are now being accepted. To enter, young readers write a letter to an author, living or from the past, describing how that author's work somehow changed the student's view of the world or himself/herself. The project, which focuses on reader response and reflective writing, has three competition levels: Level 1 for students in grades 4-6; Level 2 for students in grades 7-8; and Level 3 for students in grades 9-12. Winners on the state level each receive a cash award from the Kansas Center for the Book as well as a $50 Target gift card. National winners will receive a $500 Target gift card. Again this year the libraries of national winners and runners-up will receive cash awards from Target in the names of the winners.
Target sponsors Letters About Literature as part of its national reading initiative, "Ready, Sit, Read!" which is aimed at fostering a love of reading among children at an early age.
Visit the website for participation guidelines, consider how Letters About Literature might fit into your classroom activities or enhance your programming for children, and use the entry coupon on the reverse side of the form to enter. Feel free to download and photocopy--one entry form is required for each student. If you have questions please contact me at the Kansas Center for the Book, State Library of Kansas, 300 SW 10th Room 169-W, Topeka, KS 66612-1593, (800)432-3919, kcfb@kslib.info.
All entries must be received by December 10, 2010. Mail to: Letters About Literature, Competition Level (indicate Level 1, 2, or 3), PO Box 609, Dallas, PA 18612. Teachers and sponsors can download the official how-to-enter guidelines at the LAL website,http://www.lettersaboutliterature.org. To see previous Kansas winners and their letters, or to download a copy of the LAL teachers' guide, which includes lesson plans, black line masters, and assessment checklists, visit the Kansas Center for the Book website athttp://www.kcfb.info. And good luck!
Roy Bird, Director
Kansas Center for the Book
State Library of Kansas
300 SW 10th Room 169-W
Topeka KS 66612 1593
800/432-3919
royb@kslib.info
www.kcfb.info