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Letters About Literature is a national reading and writing promotion for children and young adults sponsored by the Illinois Center for the Book in cooperation with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in partnership with Target.
The program invites 4th - 12th grade students to read a book that interests them and write a letter to the author explaining how the book changed their view of the world or themselves.
The contest consists of three competition levels - Level I for grades 4 - 6, Level II for grades 7 & 8 and Level III for grades 9 - 12. One state winner is chosen for each level. State Level winners receive a $50 Target gift card, a check from the Illinois Center for the Book and a plaque at an awards ceremony. State level winners' letters are forwarded to the National competition where six national winners (two at each level) and twelve national honorable mentions (four at each level) are selected. Each of the six national winners receive a $500 Target gift card along with a $10,000 grant for their school or community library for reading promotion for children and young adults. The national honorable mentions will receive a $100 Target gift card and a $1,000 grant for their school or community library.
Students can enter Letters About Literature through their schools, youth programs, libraries or individually. When the current entry form and guidelines are available, they can be accessed through a link below. If you have questions or want to be included on the mailing list, please contact Bonnie Matheis at the Illinois Center for the Book at Bonnie Matheis.
Information about Letters About Literature 2013 will be available in Fall 2012. If you have questions or want to be included on the mailing list, please contact Bonnie Matheis at the Illinois Center for the Book at Bonnie Matheis.