This document provides information about the Letters About Literature competition in Nebraska. It summarizes the competition levels, sponsors, and a book of letters published by the Library of Congress. It encourages readers to write a letter to an author whose book made a difference and provides resources to help with letter writing. The document discusses the role of the Nebraska Center for the Book in partnering with the Library of Congress on this competition and resources for librarians, teachers, and students.

1. Letters About Literature:
Read. Be Inspired. Write Back.

2. National Reading and Writing Promotional Competition
• Center for the Book in the Library of Congress
• Dollar General Literacy Foundation
• Nebraska Center for the Book
• Nebraska Library Commission
• Houchen Bindery
• Chapters Bookstore in Seward
• Humanities Nebraska

3. Level 1 for grades 4-6
Level 2 for grades 7-8
Level 3 for grades 9-12

5. Journeys: Young Readers’ Letters to Authors
Who Changed Their Lives
• Published for the Library of
Congress Center for the Book
and edited by Catherine Gourley
Publisher: Candlewick Press
(2017)
• Readings by Christine Walsh,
Kearney Public Library Assistant
Director, and Nebraska Center
for the Book Vice President

6. Now You…
•What author would you write to?
•What book made a difference in your life?
•What would you say?
• Exercise

8. What is the Nebraska Center for the Book?
• Mission
• Why Letters About Literature Competition in Nebraska?
• How Nebraska Center for the Book interacts with the Center
for the Book in the Library of Congress on Letters About
Literature and other Library of Congress Resources
With Christine Walsh, Kearney Public Library Assistant Director and
Nebraska Center for the Book Vice President

9. What is the story on the Nebraska Center for the
Book’s participation in Letters About Literature?
• History
• Stories
• Prizes/Awards
• Fun
With Laureen Riedesel, Beatrice Public Library Director and
Nebraska Letters About Literature Coordinator

10. How can librarians help?
• Partner with classroom teachers
• Promote the library as the place to find the book that makes a
difference
• Share the teacher materials at
http://www.read.gov/documents/LAL-Teaching-Guide-REVISED.pdf
• Challenge adults to write their own letters as examples
• Recruit writing mentors from local writing groups or college classes
• Host a Letters About Literature Webinar for Educators viewing party
(broadcast on Oct. 25, archived at
http://www.read.gov/letters/teachers.html
• Host a letter-writing clinic for students in target age ranges

12. Resources for Letter Writing Clinics
• Guidelines & Entry Forms
http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/LAL_Grant/2017/docs/LAL_Gui
delines2017.pdf
• Teaching Guide http://read.gov/documents/LAL-Teaching-Guide-REVISED.pdf
• Past Winners (Ashley Xiques and Sydney Kohl) read their letters on NET Radio’s
“All about Books” http://netnebraska.org/basic-page/radio/all-about-books ...list
of all past Nebraska winners at:
http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/LAL.html.
• Library of Congress Letters About Literature Website (from Catherine Gourley)
http://www.read.gov/letters/
• Reflective Writing Assessment
http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/LAL_Grant/2017/docs/LALRef
lectiveWritingAssessment2016.pdf
• Connect on Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/NebraskaCenterfortheBook/

16. ELA (English Language
Arts) Standards
1.1.6. Reading Comprehension: Students
will construct meaning by using prior
knowledge and text information, while
reading grade-level literary and
informational text.
1.1.6.a. Identify author’s purpose (e.g.,
explain, entertain, inform).
2.2.2. Writing: Students will write in
multiple modes for a variety of purposes
and audiences across disciplines.
2.2.2.b. Provide evidence from literary or
informational text to support ideas or
opinions.

18. For more information, please contact: