Letters About Literature

Letters About Literature is a national reading and writing program that asks students in Grades 4 through 12 to write letters to authors whose work has made a significant difference in their lives. It is sponsored nationally by the Library of Congress and Target Stores.

The Massachusetts Center for the Book, with primary sponsorship from the Calderwood Writing Initiative at the Boston Athenaeum, administers the Massachusetts state program. Houghton Mifflin Company & Massachusetts Library Association also provide assistance.

An annual awards ceremony is held at the State House for the top honors, honors and honorable mention Massachusetts letter writers in each of three age-level categories. Awards include dictionaries, books, totebags, and certficates. The invitation honorees receive to attend the event will explain these awards in detail. See photos of last year's awards ceremony.

The Massachusetts "top honors" letter in each of the three age-level categories is then advanced to the national program. A description of the national prizes is detailed on the guidelines.

Download Massachusetts guidelines.

Read the official rules for Letters About Literature.

Hope to hear from you about the books that matter to you!