The Library of Congress, in conjunction with public libraries in five Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia, has launched the seventh annual essay contest for elementary school students on books that have made a difference in their lives. Students who will be entering the fifth and sixth grades this fall are invited to write a one-page essay on “A Book that Shaped Me.”
The top five finalists from each state, together with state winners and three grand prize winners, will be honored Sept. 1 at the LOC’s National Book Festival in Washington. Winners and finalists will receive gift cards. Full information about the contest, along with a list of participating local libraries and contest entry forms, is available at the LOC’s Website.
Asking 10, 11 and 12-year-olds to write about books that have shaped their lives might seem like overreach. After all, their lives are just beginning. But my encounter with the book that would shape much of the rest of my life took place in the fifth grade. It goes to show that it is never too early to be moved by a book.
Last year’s winners’ list covered a pleasingly wide variety of titles. In addition to many current young adult books there are a number of traditional classics, such as Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, and some modern classics including I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. There are also some adult titles, such as Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly and The Bible. No two of the top finishers wrote about the same book and the short essays show some remarkable insights into the books and practical applications of their lessons.
The contest runs through July 7 and finalists and winners will be notified in August. The rules are pretty simple: Write a one-page essay on a book that has had a personal impact on your life. The essay may be either typed or hand-written and your local librarian can help with editing. The work should be turned in to the local participating librarian. You can get all of the details at the LOC contest Website.
There is not much you can do for students that is more valuable than introducing them to books and encouraging reading. With the ability and the desire to read, everything else can fall into place. Without reading, every other subject becomes a challenge. This summer’s “A Book that Shaped Me” contest is a great way to encourage and reward a pastime that can provide a lifetime of benefits.