V.I. Letters About Literature is an annual national reading and writing promotion program sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and presented in partnership with Target and affiliate state centers for the book.
Students wrote a personal letter to an author explaining how that author’s work changed the reader’s way of thinking about the world or themselves. There were three competition levels: Level I for grades 4 – 6; Level II for grades 7 and 8 and Level III for grades 9 – 12. The first place winning entries on each level were forwarded to the national level judging.
Locally, the first place winners will receive a cash award of $100, a $50 Target gift card, a reader’s book journal and a certificate of appreciation. The 2nd place and 3rd runners up, on each level, will receive a cash award of $50, a book journal and certificate of appreciation. The awards program held April 14 coincided with National Library Week “Create Your Own Story @ Your Library” storytelling program at the Florence Williams Public Library in Christiansted on Thursday, which was dedicated in honor of deceased educator, storyteller and culture bearer, Delta M. Dorsch.
1st Place Winners – Levels I – III
Level I (grades 4-6) = Ryan Hodge, Ricardo Richards Elementary School sixth grader, wonfirst place on Level 1 for his letter to author Ralph Fletcher about his book entitled “Flying Solo.”
Level II (grades 7 and 8) = Anayah Ferris,Country Day Schooleighth grader, won first place on Level 2 for her letter to author Stephanie Meyers about her book entitled “Eclipse.”
2nd place runners up on Levels I – III
Level I (grades 4-6) = Diamond Mark,Ricardo Richards Elementary School fifth grader, won second place on Level 1 for her letter to author Pam Munoz Ryan about her book entitled “Esperanza Rising.”
3rd place runners up Levels I – III
Level I (grades 4-6) – Lemiah Bates, Ricardo Richards Elementary School sixth grader, wonthird place on Level 1 for her letter to author James Patterson about his book entitled “Maximum Ride.”
Just under 70,000, adolescent and young adult readers nationwide in grades 4-12 participated in this year’s Letters About Literature program. The letters were submitted to the Library of Congress Center for the Book, went through two rounds of judging and then the semi-finalists letters were returned to the V.I. for territory-wide ranking by judges which determined the territory’s winners. National winners will be announced this month.
For more information, visit the Letters About Literature Web site www.lettersaboutliterature.org. For more information about the Virgin Islands Public Libraries, contact Ingrid Bough, territorial director, or visit the Web site at www.virginislandspubliclibraries.org.