Maryland Center for the Book

Letters About Literature Writing Contest

Students submit letters to their favorite authors for the Letters About Literature writing contest.

Letters About Literature (LAL) is a state and national writing contest that encourages young readers in grades 4 to 12 to respond to an author through a letter expressing how that author and book changed their worldview and themselves.

This contest not only promotes reading and writing, but it also inspires creativity in young people and encourages them to be life-long readers. It develops critical reading and writing skills that students need to be successful both in their school careers and as adults.

Fans of any genre, fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or the classics, are invited to participate, with the chance to receive awards and recognition at the state and national level.

LAL is one of the signature programs of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, and is implemented by the Maryland Center for the Book at the state level.

For information on the national program, visit the Web site at www.lettersaboutliterature.org.

Please contact Jean Wortman at 410-685-4187 or jwortman@mdhc.org for more information on the Maryland LAL program.

Announcements and materials:

(NEW) LAL guidelines for 2010-2011