The Neag School of Education, the Connecticut Writing Project, and the UConn Department of English invite your students to enter the 34th annual Letters About Literature contest.
What is Letters About Literature?
Each year, a reading and writing contest known as Letters About Literature is held nation-wide for students in grades 4-12. The contest, previously sponsored by Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, is now hosted by individual states.
Students are asked to read a book, poem, or speech and write a letter to that author (living or dead) about how the text affected them personally. Letters are judged on the state level. Tens of thousands of students from across the country enter Letters About Literature each year.
How is the University of Connecticut involved?
UConn’s Neag School of Education, along with the Connecticut Writing Project and UConn’s Department of English, are the contest’s designated sponsors for the state of Connecticut for the 2026-27 academic year.
Contest judges from Connecticut will include current Neag teacher education alumni and students and teacher-consultants of the Connecticut Writing Project from across the state. These judges will select the best Letters About Literature submitted by Connecticut students at each of the three competition levels:
- Level 1: grades 4 – 6
- Level 2: grades 7 – 8
- Level 3: grades 9 – 12
Connecticut students chosen as contest winners, and runner-ups, will receive a prize and state recognition at each level. Submittals are accepted starting November 1, 2026.
Are you interested in volunteering to help review the nominations? Click here to sign up.
School Contest Rules
Deadlines and Prizes
Prizes will be awarded in Spring 2027 at the level, in each of the three competition levels:
- Level 1: grades 4 – 6 (Submission deadline: Jan. 30, 2027)
- Level 2: grades 7 – 8 (Submission deadline: Jan. 30, 2027)
- Level 3: grades 9 – 12 (Submission deadline: Jan. 30, 2027)
Submission Form
Access the Online Submission Form
Parental Consent Form for Students Under 13
Questions?
Email Danielle Pieratti at danielle.pieratti@uconn.edu or Doug Kaufman at douglas.kaufman@uconn.edu.
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