LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE CONTEST

Attention, Connecticut schoolteachers!

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 nationwide 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 runners-up will receive a prize and state recognition at each level. Submissions will be accepted starting December 1, 2026.

Are you interested in volunteering to help review the nominations? Sign up here.

UConn Letters About Literature banner, featuring bold dimensional red and yellow lettering above a row of vintage book spines against blue wooden planks, co-sponsored by the Connecticut Writing Project, English Department, and Neag School of Education.
Read about the 2026 winners.

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

Submit via Submittable

Parental Consent Form for Students Under 13

Access the Consent Form.pdf

Questions?

Email Danielle Pieratti at danielle.pieratti@uconn.edu or Doug Kaufman at douglas.kaufman@uconn.edu.

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