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, invites readers in grades 4 through 12 to enter Letters About Literature, a national reading-writing contest. To enter, readers 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.

Click here for the Entry Form for Schools and Libraries.
Click here for the Entry Form for Individuals.
Click here for the Official Rules.

There are three competition levels: Level I for children in grades 4 through 6; Level II for grades 7 and 8, and Level III, grades 9 - 12. Winners, announced in the spring of each year, receive cash awards at the national and state levels.

The 2011-12 contest begins in August 2011 and ends in January 2012. Letters must be postmarked by January 6, 2012. Visit www.lettersaboutliterature.org for official rules and free teaching materials, including lesson plans, assessment checklists, writing samples, plus teaching tips from many LAL teachers who have previously participated.