For young people, certain books become turning points in their development as readers. For some, it's a book that gives them a sense of recognition, a feeling that others might have similar life experiences and problems as they do. For others, it's one that transports them to a faraway time or place. For publisher and writer Mary "Casey" Martin, Johanna Spyri's classic Heidi was just such a book. Says Martin, "My mother would read a chapter at bedtime and through the young character's adventures, my sister and I were taken to the Alps. I think it made me appreciate a good story and also gave me my wanderlust." She continues, "In my family are some great oral storytellers. So I was heavily influenced by the books and the storytelling from my youth."

Martin, as vice president of the Wisconsin Center for the Book, chairs a unique competition that challenges students in grades four through twelve as both readers and writers. Letters About Literature (LAL) encourages students to write a letter to any author—living or deceased—whose work has touched them in some way. Its slogan is "Read. Be Inspired. And Write Back."

Says Martin, "Letters About Literature teaches lifelong skills. Classes or individuals can participate. These letters are not meant to be book reviews. Creativity and uniqueness are considered, but the basics and the use of good grammar are the real keys to an award-winning letter." She explains her own motivation for participating in the project: "My passion for this project comes from receiving 'gifts'—letters! In the mailbox, something other than bills or promotional pieces is what I grab first—the handwritten or personal mail. These letters from family and friends, letters of encouragement or congratulations, can make my day."

The call for entries goes out each fall. Students compete first on the state level, and Wisconsin winners go on to the national level. (Read letters by Wisconsin winners in last year's competition.) The contest originates at the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and is offered in partnership with Target Stores. This is the twelfth year that state students have been eligible through the Wisconsin Center for the Book.

The deadline for mailing the entry forms to the national address is December 4, 2004. To get an official entry form or to learn more about the competition, visit www.wisconsinacademy.org/book.

"There's still plenty of time to enter this state and national letter-writing competition," says Martin. But she cautions, "Be sure to follow a good letter-writing format and be creative—and make sure to include sufficient postage. It's a shame when letters are disqualified or miss a deadline due to a minor detail."

Those with questions about LAL can contact Martin via e-mail at casey@homebrewpress.com, by toll-free phone at 1-888-492-4531 or through postal mail at:

LAL 2005-Wisconsin
P.O. Box 185
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495-1085

The Wisconsin Center for the Book is a volunteer organization and a project of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. Its mission is to promote books and the book arts, to encourage the joy of reading, and to honor Wisconsin's literary heritage. The Center honors all aspects of the literary world and links citizens, writers, illustrators, publishers, librarians and educators.

All LAL entries are sent by December 4, 2004, to a national address for sorting. Qualifying letters are returned in January 2005 to respective states. State-level judging takes place in February. All Wisconsin semi-finalists receive certificates in March. Winners and semi-finalists are invited to an awards reception at Barnes & Noble on the west side of Madison in early April to read their letters and receive any additional gifts.

The top three Wisconsin winners are re-entered into the national level. National winners will be notified in early April 2005.

Martin concludes, "In this time of electronic information, the letter format is still a vital form of communication. Students and individuals need to develop and maintain these skills. Letters can provide insight into some of our leaders, writers, educators and poets through their choices of words, phrasing, creative expression—even the paper they've chosen—and the same choices exist for students who participate in this competition."

Read last year's award-winning Wisconsin Letters About Literature

• First Place, Level I (Grades 4-6)
• First Place, Level II (Grades 7 & 8)
• First Place, Level III (Grades 9-12)