KASL

River of Words

New in 2010-2011! The Kansas Center for the Book (KCFB) in partnership with Mammoth Publications introduces River of Words! In affiliation with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, River of Words is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting poetry and art abou tour environment and our watersheds.

This is a free poetry and art contest for school age children kindergarten through grade 12 (ages 5-19). The contest encourages creative expression and community awareness of our most critical environmental resource--water.

Kansans are urged to get students involved in this free creative opportunity. All entrants receive acknowledgement in the form of a "Watershed Explorer" certificate. About 100 poems and artworks are selected as national finalists each year. Winners receive ribbons, books, and/or art supplies, t-shirts and other prizes. There are four categories: I--kindergarten-grade 2; II--grades 3-6; III--grades 7-9; and IV--grades 10-12.

All submissions from Kansas students will be returned to Kansas in February for state judging. Do not submit entries to KCFB or Mammoth Publications. Refer to the "How-to-Enter" button on the quick links of the web page. Former Kansas Poet Laureate Denise Low and her Mammoth Publications will join KCFB to conduct the statewide contest. Sponsors are being sought now to determine prizes and honors.

Nationally, eight Grand Prize Winners are selected--four in poetry and four in art, in each of the four different age categories. Grand Prize Winners are flown to Washington, DC for the awards ceremony.

River of Words is in its 15th year, but this will be the first year for Kansas to participate. School age poets and artists are encouraged to share their reflections about their environment and their watersheds creatively. More information and entry forms are available through our website at www.kcfb.info or call at 800/432-3919.

Help make a strong impression with the first year of Kansas participation in River of Words!

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
[email protected] 
www.kcfb.info 

Letters About Literature

Students grade 4-12, write a letter to an author whose book has changed your life and be a winner

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, [email protected].

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
[email protected] 
www.kcfb.info