Arkansas Letters about Literature Competition

Read Taylor's national award-winning letter!

2011-04-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Erin Hunter,

There are many books in this world that are life changing, and your book, Into the Wild, is one of them. It certainly had a great impact on my life.

Before I read your book, I knew many kids who loved to read, but I was not one of them. My posse of friends and I often made fun of “the readers”. We would tease them and call them names. Truthfully, I just hated reading and could not understand why anyone would want to do it. It bored me so much that I would never read in my free time. I would rather play video games, go skating at the skate park, or just chill with my friends. However, all that changed that fateful day my mom showed me your book, Into the Wild.

I was lying on the couch, playing my DS, when my mom tapped me on the shoulder. She showed me your book with its green forest background and a rusty red cat. Normally, I would have just ignored the book and tossed it into the cardboard box of forgotten books that I kept under my bed. Except at that moment, the box was overflowing with unread books. I knew that if my mom saw me ditch the book, she would probably go into a fit about how I never read, and how it would raise my IQ, yada, yada, yada. So instead, I took the book, intending to skim it until she walked away. But, I thought, “what the heck.” I might as well read it and get it over with. That began what has become the greatest adventure of my short life.

As I read the book, I became part of Fire Paw’s story. I hunted with the Thunder Clan. I swam with the River Clan and despised Blue Star with Shadow Clan. I was not there in body, but I was so there in spirit.

When I finished reading the book, I was astonished. Done already? How could that be? I was just getting started. In that moment, I experienced something I didn’t even know existed, the hunger of the next story. But, what could I do? I just had to wait for the release of your next book, Fire and Ice. When it finally came out, I grabbed my bike and peddled as fast as I could to the bookstore. I couldn’t wait to sprawl out on my couch, open the crisp new pages, and let the characters rush forward to greet me, their long, lost friend. After that, I devoured every book in the Warriors series, and I didn’t stop there. It was as if I had become a reading machine.

From then on, I have read everything I could get my hands on. When my old friends found out about my new passion, they made fun of me. I shouldn’t have been surprised. They just did to me what we had done to others in the past.

Only now, it was me being the one teased. I quickly realized how hurtful teasing could be. I apologized to all the kids I had teased, and believe it or not, I even became friends with several of them.

Now, I am in the 6^th grade, and I am still reading like a maniac. My old friends still make fun of me on occasion, but I don’t care. Instead, I focus on becoming a better reader, and I do everything I can to achieve it.

Besides, a book can be the best friend any guy ever had. Your books have certainly been there for me, and I consider Sunrise, Darkest Hour, and of course, Into the Wild, to be some of my closest friends, and they will live on forever in my heart. I am truly grateful to you for turning me on to reading. Without your books, I might still be that ignorant bully, teasing kids and missing out on one of life’s greatest joys—reading.

Sincerely,

Taylor

Arkansas' National Winner!

2011-04-28T08:16:00.000-07:00

Arkansas has a national winner this year! Taylor Mathews, our first place winner in Level 1 (grades 4-6) of the state competition, has taken one of six national awards in the national Letters about Literature competition!

Taylor's letter to Erin Hunter, author of Into the Wild, stunned our state judges, and we are pleased that his letter must have produced a similar reaction at the national level!

Taylor is a student of Susan Gooch at Southwest Middle School, Searcy.

Congratulations, Taylor!

Photos from the Awards Ceremony

2011-04-14T10:57:00.001-07:00

to view the photos from the Awards Ceremony,

click HERE!

Generic press releases available

2011-04-07T09:34:00.000-07:00

The Arkansas Center for the Book is sending out a press release with the names of the first place winners and a link to the blog for the full list of finalists' and winners' names. Unfortunately, we cannot send out a press release that lists all of our 136 finalists' and winners' names. A press release of that length would never see the light of day.

However, I have prepared two generic press releases--one for finalists and one for second, third, and honorable mention winners. If you want to use these press releases, please feel free to do so. All that we ask is that you do nothing to the wording of the document except to enter the student's name and information as indicated by the directions. If you are unsure as to the level in which your student/child participated, please refer to the lists of names posted here on the blog.

Generic release for finalists
Generic release for second, third, and honorable mention winners

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me at (501) 682-2874 or crystal@library.arkansas.gov.

Thank you,
Crystal
Coordinator, Arkansas Center for the Book

Awards Ceremony program!

2011-04-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

If you had to miss our beautiful Awards Ceremony last Saturday, you can still download the program!

Click here to access the program!

State Winners

2011-04-07T09:16:00.001-07:00

The following are students who competed in all levels and who were named as Winners in the state Letters about Literature Competition for Arkansas. The Arkansas Center for the Book has permission to print their names.

LEVEL 1 (Grades 4-6)
First Place: Taylor M.
Second Place: Sarah S.
Third Place: Ashley W.
Honorable Mention: Shae Woodard

LEVEL 2 (Grades 7-8)
First Place: Jordan S.
Second Place: Susannah S.
Third Place: Erica P.
Honorable Mention: Quinten Johnson
Honorable Mention: Tucker Windley

LEVEL 3 (Grades 9-12)
First Place: Savanna G.
Second Place: Serena G.
Third Place: Brittni M.
Honorable Mention: Alexis B.
Honorable Mention: Cara C.

State Finalists--Level 3 (Grades 9-12)

2011-04-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

The following are students who competed in Level 3 (grades 9-12) and who were named as Finalists in the state Letters about Literature Competition for Arkansas. The Arkansas Center for the Book has permission to print their names.

Arianna A.
Savannah B.
Samantha B.
Brandon C.
Miles C.
Brianna C.
Emilee D.
Tyra D.
Catherine D.
Jordan F.
Mandi F.
Abby F.
Robert G.
Joseph K.
Sarah M.
Astha M.
Natalie N.
An T. P.
Ainsley P.
Danielle R.
Jordan R.
Ashley S.
Ian T.
Autumn T.
Morgan T.
Jackob T.
Kristen T.
Kristen V.
Shalyn W.
Alexis W.

State Finalists--Level 2 (Grades 7-8)

2011-04-07T09:10:00.000-07:00

The following are students who competed in Level 2 (grades 7-8) and who were named as Finalists in the state Letters about Literature Competition for Arkansas. The Arkansas Center for the Book has permission to print their names.

Macy Anne B.
Breeanne C.
Lance D.
Mollie E.
Joe F.
Cate F.
Jack F.
Devin F.
Hallie H.
Jonathan H.
Arynn J.
Will J.
Alexis L.
Taylor M.
Kierstin M.
Jessica M.
Leah N.
Demi P.
Caitlin R.
Brooklynne R
Gabrielle S.
Delaney S.
Leslie S.
Bobbye Sue S.
Natalie V.W.
Heather W.
Jackie W.
Wesley W.

State Finalists--Level 1 (Grades 4-6)

2011-04-07T09:06:00.000-07:00

The following are students who competed in Level 1 (grades 4-6) and who were named as Finalists in the state Letters about Literature Competition for Arkansas. The Arkansas Center for the Book has permission to print their names.

Macie A.
Bailey Ann B.
Amanda B.
Kayce B.
Ragan B.
Neely C.
Bailey Anne C.
Keaton C.
Jordyn C.
Shelby D.
Dillon D.
Brant E.
Ayla E.
Tasha F.
Jonathan F.
Michaela G.
Timetra H.
Erika H.
Kaylei H.
Lilli H.
Jarvis J.
Whit J.
Kali K.
Margaret L.
Kelsey M.
Riley N.
Robbie P.
Meg R.
Morgan S.
Alizaye S.
Darryn S.
Aliajah S.
Melanie S.
Buster V.
Sarah W.
Sydney W.

Letters about Literature Awards Ceremony

2011-04-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

The Letters about Literature Awards Ceremony will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, April 2, 2011, at the Old State House Museum, in Little Rock.

RSVP for the ceremony has closed.

If you have questions, please call 501.682.2874 or email acfb@library.arkansas.gov.

thank you,
Crystal

We have winners!

2011-03-14T11:26:00.001-07:00

Our judges did an excellent job on Friday, March 4! We have winners of this year's state LAL competition! Well done, everyone!

The winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on April 2, 2011!

State judging is underway!

2011-02-25T14:33:00.000-08:00

The state round of competition is underway. The letters that are being judged in the state competition have arrived, and our state judges are reading them right now!

Soon, teachers and students will be notified!

Well, aren't y'all special!

2011-01-26T07:24:00.000-08:00

Congratulations, Arkansas! We've had our best year yet! Arkansas students submitted 1,450 letters to this year's national Letters about Literature competition! This is a record high for Arkansas! Great job to every student who participated and to every teacher, parent, and guardian who encouraged that student to write!

Now we wait . . .

2011-01-05T07:12:00.000-08:00

The national office has told me that the number of letters this year has increased from last year, so right now, we do not have an official number of entries from Arkansas. We have to be patient and wait . . . We should have final numbers by the end of January!

Thanks,
Crystal

10 days to postmark deadline!

2010-12-01T08:28:00.001-08:00

Just a reminder that you have 10 days to submit your letters to the national Letters about Literature competition.

The postmark deadline is Friday, December 10, 2010.

Please submit all letters to:

Letters About Literature

Competition Level (Indicate level 1, 2, or 3)

P.O. Box 609

Dallas, PA 18612

For contest rules and entry coupons, please visit

http://www.lettersaboutliterature.org/how_to_enter

Deadline is fast approaching!

2010-11-18T11:16:00.001-08:00

The entry deadline for the Letters about Literature competition is just a few weeks away!

All of your letters need to be submitted by
Friday,
December 10, 2010.

Classroom sets should be mailed in one envelope.
Each letter needs to have a coupon attached to it!

Clarification!

2010-09-30T11:08:00.000-07:00

The Letters about Literature Competition is open to any and all children in grades 4 through 12, whether they submit letters via a school classroom or independently.

Publicity for Letters about Literature

2010-09-30T09:41:00.001-07:00

If you want the poster, click here!

You are free to print at your discretion.
The poster cannot be altered in any way, shape, or form, as it is the intellectual property of Target.

If you want the bookmark, click here!

Frequently Asked Questions!

2010-09-30T09:23:00.001-07:00

If you've got questions, and I know you do, follow this link!

Hopefully, some of your questions will be answered!

Lesson Plans for teaching Letters about Literature!

2010-09-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Teachers,

Did you know that the National Letters about Literature Office has put together a Teacher's Guide to assist you as you guide your students in their letter-writing adventure?

If you have not looked at the Teacher's Guide, or if you've used your copy so much that it's falling apart, click here to see what LAL has in store for you!

I love the Teacher's Guide! I hope you will, too!

A note especially for teachers!

2010-09-21T14:54:00.000-07:00

TEACHERS, PLEASE NOTE!!

(and this is taken directly from the Letters about Literature website . . .)

• Please do not assign the same book to an entire class as this misses the spirit of the program — identifying a personal relationship with an author and/or book. Likewise, rather than assigning the same opening paragraph or topic sentences, encourage students to express themselves individually.

• Mail class sets in one flat envelope rather than submitting letters letters individually. When mailing class sets, please include a list of names of individuals whose letters are enclosed. IN ADDITION, please ensure that EACH LETTER HAS ITS OWN ENTRY COUPON. Do not submit one entry coupon for an entire class, because letters are separated from their class sets during the various rounds of assessment.

• Although we cannot acknowledge receipt of letters, we LOVE your cover letters. Your feedback is critical for our program's effectiveness as well as testimony for our funders. Additionally, a cover letter is a great way to ensure that you are put on the LAL mail list for next year.

• OWNERSHIP. All letters become the property of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Please make a copy of your entry as no letters will be returned.

• NOTIFICATION. We regret that we cannot contact every participant who enters. However, an accurate E-MAIL ADDRESS will help us keep in contact with you. Please refer to the www.loc.gov/letters website for program updates throughout the year as well as a note regarding our privacy policy! State Centers for the Book will notify state winners on or about 3/30/2011. The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress will notify National Winner and National Honorable Honors Winners by May 1, 2011.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A Purchase will not enhance your chances of winning. MANY WILL ENTER, FEW WILL WIN. Open to Legal Residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C. enrolled as a student in grades 4–12 during 2010/2011 school year, 9 years of age or older as of 9/1/09. Contest Starts 9/1/10 and ends 12/22/10. See below for entry information. Void where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules.

2010-2011 Competition Guidelines

2010-09-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

So, you want to write a letter, and you want to compete; but you need to know the details . . .

To read the Guidelines (rules and entry coupon) straight from the Letters about Literature website, click here!

To download the Competition Guidelines (and entry coupon) in pdf format, click here.

Follow the Guidelines to the letter, and you're sure to succeed. Or at least, your letter will arrive at the National Office in Dallas, Pennsylvania on time.

Have questions? Post them to this entry or email us at acfb@library.arkansas.gov!

Don't forget--you need to attach an entry coupon to your letter to submit it!

2010-2011 Competition Deadline

2010-08-03T12:49:00.000-07:00

Greetings participants!

Just a reminder that this year's deadline is

December 10, 2010!

In the coming weeks, I will be posting information about where to mail your letters, etc.

Until then, relax and enjoy the rest of your summer!

Thank you,
Crystal