FROM: Sandra Chesshir, Arp ISD Librarian

Children's Book Week

November18-24, 2002

Arp Libraries Essay Contest for Grades 4-12

Essay due: November 19

School Winners Announced: November 23

Mail in Entries to Texas Library Association

I have a handout about this essay contest for Grades 4-12. Students who enter the Letters About Literature contest will write a letter to a favorite author, living or dead, following one of three themes, depending on the grade:

Level I for readers in grades 4-6 Theme: Tell an author how his or her book gave you wings.

Level II for readers in grades 7 & 8 Theme: Tell an author how a book became a part of your life.

Level III for readers in grades 9-12 Theme: Tell an author how a book helped you to understand your world and yourself.

National winners receive a $500 cash award. The Texas winner in each level receives a $100 cash award and two round-trip tickets to Houston on Southwest Airlines to read the winning essay at the Texas Library Association Conference. All finalists receive an award certificate. To enter, students must complete an entry coupon and staple it to the letter. I will give you specific instructions later on how to do this. Complete information is available on the Texas Center for the book website including writing tips and sample letters. Entries must be postmarked by Friday, December 6 and mailed as shown on the instructions. Texas winners will be posted in March and national winners in April 2003 on the Texas Center for the Book website:

http://dallaslibrary.org/tcbintro.htm

I will copy the complete instructions and give to interested teachers 4-12.