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Pa. Center for the Book announces
2019 Letters About Literature contest winners

May 17, 2019

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Center for the Book has announced the Pennsylvania winners of the 2019 Letters About Literature Contest, a nationwide event sponsored by the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress. This contest invites students in three grade levels to write letters to authors — living or dead — about how an author’s words affected them or changed their worldview.

The Level I (grades four to six) winner, Aaron Concepcion, of Pittsburgh, is being honored for his letter to Jonah Winter about “Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates.” The Level II (grades seven to eight) winner, Ireland McDyre, of State College, wrote her letter to Kameron Hurley about “The Geek Feminist Revolution.” And the Level III (grades nine to 12) winner, Amaya Dressler, of Littlestown, is being honored for her letter to Marya Hornbacher about “Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia.” Winners will be awarded $200 each at a celebratory luncheon with their families on Saturday, June 8, at the Nittany Lion Inn on Penn State’s University Park campus.

One honor of high distinction also is being recognized: Level III participant Jaden Jones, of Lancaster, who will be awarded $50 for her letter to Maya Angelou about “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”

The Pennsylvania Center for the Book’s 2019 Letters About Literature contest judges included Alia C. Gant, diversity resident librarian, Penn State University Libraries, University Park, Pennsylvania; Linda Oatman High, author of books for children and teens, journalist and playwright, Narvon, Pennsylvania; Theresa M. Hoover, assistant professor of education, Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; Pat Hughes, author of books for children and young adults, Narberth, Pennsylvania; and Erica King, curriculum specialist, Penn State University Libraries, University Park, Pennsylvania.

The annual nationwide Letters About Literature Contest is sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. For participation guidelines, visit Letters About Literature at the Library of Congress.

The Center for the Book was established in 1977 as a public-private partnership to use the resources of the Library of Congress to stimulate public interest in books and reading. Since 2000, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book has been sponsored by the Penn State University Libraries.

In addition to providing space and administrative support for the center’s offices, the University Libraries and the center’s co-sponsor, Dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications Barbara I. Dewey, provide in-kind contributions that include staff and faculty time as well as the Pennsylvania Center for the Book alcove in 201-A Pattee Library.

Along with Letters About Literature, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book also administers the Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize, Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, Public Poetry Project, A Baker’s Dozen: The Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy, Poems from Life with Juniper Village, Words of Art, and the interactive Literary & Cultural Heritage Map of Pennsylvania.

For more information about the Letters About Literature contest in Pennsylvania, contact Nicole Miyashiro, editor, at nmm16@psu.edu, or visit the Pennsylvania Center for the Book website.

Published Press Release

 

Pennsylvania Center for the Book Honors 
Letters About Literature Contest Winners

October 23, 2018 Pa. Center for the Book seeks submissions for Letters About Literature contest

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Center for the Book has announced the 2019 Letters About Literature contest, a nationwide event sponsored by the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress. The contest invites students in three grade levels to write persuasive letters to authors — living or dead — about how a specific piece of literature, be it fiction, nonfiction, a poem or play, affected them or changed their worldview.

Students in grades four to 12 are invited to submit to the annual Letters About Literature writing contest, and each state will recognize and award prizes to its winners. Librarians and teachers are encouraged to take advantage of this valuable exercise in reading, reflection and writing by motivating students to write and submit their very best work.

Pennsylvania winners will receive a $200 prize and celebratory lunch with his/her family and the other winners’ families near Penn State's University Park campus.

Entries for the 2019 contest will be accepted online only beginning Nov 1. The deadline for entries is Jan. 11, 2019. The three qualifying levels include:

  • Level 1, Grades 4-6
  • Level 2, Grades 7-8
  • Level 3, Grades 9-12

With the new, online-only submission process, the following guidelines apply to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act:

  • Participants under 13 years of age as of Nov. 1, 2018, must also submit a permission form signed by a parent/guardian with their online entry.
  • Letters must be a minimum of 400 words and a maximum of 800 words.
  • Entries must be submitted online by Friday, Jan. 11, 2019.

Official rules and guidelines are available on the Letters About Literature information page on the Library of Congress website; review the list of 2018-19 documents and select Pennsylvania for more information. The annual nationwide Letters About Literature contest is sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

The Center for the Book was established in 1977 as a public-private partnership to use the resources of the Library of Congress to stimulate public interest in books and reading. Since 2000, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book has been sponsored by the Penn State University Libraries.

In addition to providing space and administrative support for the center’s offices, the University Libraries and the center’s co-sponsor, Dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications Barbara I. Dewey, provide in-kind contributions that include staff and faculty time, as well as the Pennsylvania Center for the Book Patrick and Candice Malloy Exhibit Room in 201-A Pattee Library.

For more information about the Letters About Literature contest in Pennsylvania, contact Nicole Miyashiro, editor, at nmm16@psu.edu, or visit the Pennsylvania Center for the Book website, www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu, where the 2019 contest winners will be announced in the spring.

Published Press Release

 

May 8, 2018 Letters About Literature Award

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. —The Pennsylvania Center for the Book recently recognized the Pennsylvania winners of the 2018 Letters About Literature Contest. The annual contest invites students in three grade levels to write letters to authors — living or dead — about how an author’s words affected them or changed their world view.

The Level I winner in grades four through six, Owen A. Wagner of Elizabethtown, was honored for his letter to Erin Entrada Kelly about “Hello Universe.” The Level II winner from grades seven and eight, Claire Venanzi of Pottstown, wrote her letter to Misty Copeland about “Life in Motion.” And the Level III winner, representing grades nine through 12, Ellen Poplavska of Allison Park, was honored for her letter to Stephen King about “Mr. Mercedes.” Winners receive $200 and will be honored at a celebratory luncheon with their families on Saturday, June 2, at the Nittany Lion Inn at Penn State’s University Park campus.

An additional honor of high distinction is also being awarded to Level 1 contest participant Clare A. Troll of Somerset, who will receive $50, for her letter to E. B. White about “Charlotte’s Web.”

The Pennsylvania Center for the Book’s 2018 Letters About Literature contest judges included Alia C. Gant, diversity resident librarian, Penn State University Libraries, University Park, Pennsylvania; Linda Oatman High, author of books for children and teens, journalist and playwright, Narvon, Pennsylvania; Theresa M. Hoover, assistant professor of education, Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; Pat Hughes, author of books for children and young adults, Narberth, Pennsylvania; and Erica King, curriculum specialist, Penn State University Libraries, University Park, Pennsylvania.

The Letters About Literature Contest is sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. For participation guidelines, visit Letters About Literature at the Library of Congress at www.read.gov/letters.

The Center for the Book was established in 1977 as a public-private partnership to use the resources of the Library of Congress to stimulate public interest in books and reading. Since 2000, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book has been sponsored by the Penn State University Libraries.

In addition to providing space and administrative support for the Center’s offices, the University Libraries and the Center’s co-sponsor, Dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications Barbara I. Dewey, provide in-kind contributions that include staff and faculty time as well as the Pennsylvania Center for the Book alcove in 201-A Pattee Library.

Along with Letters About Literature, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book also administers the Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize; Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award; Public Poetry Project; A Baker’s Dozen: The Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy; Poems from Life; and the interactive Literary & Cultural Heritage Map of Pennsylvania.

For more information about the Letters About Literature contest in Pennsylvania, contact Nicole Miyashiro, editor, at nmm16@psu.edu, or visit the Pennsylvania Center for the Book website.

Published Press Release

 

May 17, 2017 Letters About Literature Award

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Center for the Book recently recognized the Pennsylvania winners of the 2017 Letters About Literature Contest. A nationwide event sponsored by the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress, the contest invites students in three grade levels to write letters to authors — living or dead — about how an author’s words affected them or changed their worldview.

The Level I (grades four to six) winner, Lydia Floreck, of Gettysburg, was honored for her letter to Susan Cain about “Quiet Power.” The Level II (grades seven to eight) winner, Madison A. Kelleher, of Montoursville, wrote her letter to Robert Munsch about “Love You Forever.” And the Level III (grades nine to 12) winner, Hailey Cross, of Scottdale, was honored for her letter to James Hurst about “Scarlet Ibis.”

Winners receive $200 and will be honored at a celebratory luncheon with their families on Saturday, May 20, at the Nittany Lion Inn on Penn State’s University Park campus.

Additional honors of high distinction also are being awarded to two Level III contest participants, Gabrielle Easterling, of Rosemont, for her letter to Laurie Halse Anderson about “Chains,” and Maegan Shetterly, of Scottdale, for her letter to Laurie Halse Anderson about “Speak.” Each will receive $50.

The Pennsylvania Center for the Book’s 2017 Letters About Literature Contest judges, all Pennsylvania faculty or professionals, included Alia C. Gant, diversity resident librarian, and Megan Gilpin, Library Learning Services outreach coordinator, both from Penn State University Libraries, University Park; Linda Oatman High, author of books for children and teens, journalist and playwright, Narvon; Theresa M. Hoover, assistant professor of education, Wilson College, Chambersburg; and Pat Hughes, author of books for children and young adults, Narberth.

The annual nationwide Letters About Literature Contest is sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. For participation guidelines, visit www.read.gov/letters.

The Center for the Book was established in 1977 as a public-private partnership to use the resources of the Library of Congress to stimulate public interest in books and reading. Since 2000, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book has been sponsored by the Penn State University Libraries.

In addition to providing space and administrative support for the center’s offices, the University Libraries and the center’s co-sponsor, Dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications Barbara I. Dewey, provide in-kind contributions that include staff and faculty time as well as the Pennsylvania Center for the Book alcove in 201-A Pattee Library.

For more information about the Letters About Literature Contest in Pennsylvania, contact editor Nicole Miyashiro at nmm16@psu.edu, or visit the Pennsylvania Center for the Book website, www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu

Published Press Release