Senator Brasch Encourages Young Readers to Write For Letters About Literature

District 16 State Senator Lydia Brasch wants to encourage young readers in grades 4-12 to write a personal letter to an author for the Letters about Literature (LAL) contest, a national reading and writing promotion program. Stressing the importance of practicing their reading and writing skills, Senator Brasch said, “This contest is a fun and creative way to encourage students to read and write. I hope all aspiring authors will consider entering this contest.” Senator Brasch added, “Many classes visit our office at the Capitol every year, and I have learned first-hand how very creative our students are. This will be a wonderful way to let their creativity and brilliance be recognized.”

Letters can be addressed to any author from any genre explaining how that author’s work changed the student’s view of the world. Prizes will be awarded on both the state and national levels. A panel of judges from Nebraska Center for the Book will then select the state winners, who will be honored in a proclamation-signing ceremony at the State Capitol during National Library Week in April 2015. Winning letters will be displayed in the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors at Bennett Martin Public Library in Lincoln.

State winners will also receive state prizes and advance to the national competition where a panel of national judges for the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress will select one National Winner per competition level (Level I for grades 4-6, Level II for grades 7-8, and Level III for grades 9-12). Winners will receive a $1,000 cash award, to be announced May 2015. The judges will also select one National Honor winner on each competition level to receive a $200 cash award.

Submissions from grades 9-12 must be postmarked by December 15, 2013 and submissions from grades 4-8 by January 15, 2014.

Nebraska-specific information (including letters from Nebraska winners of past contests) is available at http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/LAL.html. For more information contact Mary Jo Ryan, maryjo.ryan@nebraska.gov, 402-471-3434, or 800-307-2665.

District 16 State Senator Lydia Brasch wants to encourage young readers in grades 4-12 to write a personal letter to an author for the Letters about Literature (LAL) contest, a national reading and writing promotion program. Stressing the importance of practicing their reading and writing skills, Senator Brasch said, “This contest is a fun and creative way to encourage students to read and write. I hope all aspiring authors will consider entering this contest.” Senator Brasch added, “Many classes visit our office at the Capitol every year, and I have learned first-hand how very creative our students are. This will be a wonderful way to let their creativity and brilliance be recognized.”

Letters can be addressed to any author from any genre explaining how that author’s work changed the student’s view of the world. Prizes will be awarded on both the state and national levels. A panel of judges from Nebraska Center for the Book will then select the state winners, who will be honored in a proclamation-signing ceremony at the State Capitol during National Library Week in April 2015. Winning letters will be displayed in the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors at Bennett Martin Public Library in Lincoln.

State winners will also receive state prizes and advance to the national competition where a panel of national judges for the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress will select one National Winner per competition level (Level I for grades 4-6, Level II for grades 7-8, and Level III for grades 9-12). Winners will receive a $1,000 cash award, to be announced May 2015. The judges will also select one National Honor winner on each competition level to receive a $200 cash award.

Submissions from grades 9-12 must be postmarked by December 15, 2013 and submissions from grades 4-8 by January 15, 2014.

Nebraska-specific information (including letters from Nebraska winners of past contests) is available at http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/LAL.html. For more information contact Mary Jo Ryan, maryjo.ryan@nebraska.gov, 402-471-3434, or 800-307-2665.

Senator Lydia Brasch