Letters About Literature Texas: Read. Be Inspired. Write back.

The Texas Center for the Book is delighted to announce the opening of the Letters About Literature writing contest for 2025-2026. Texas 4th-12th graders are invited to participate in Letters About Literature, an annual writing competition administered by the Texas Center for the Book. Students read a book or poem and write a letter to an author—living or dead—explaining how his or her work changed their view of themselves or the world. 

Students may have a strong connection to the theme of the book or with a particular character. They may write about challenging events in their lives that relate to the book they have read. The possibilities are limitless, and we look forward to reading your entries!

The submission portal will open on Monday, November 3, 2025. 

Deadline is 6 p.m. Central time, on Monday, January 26, 2026.

There are three categories of competition: grades 4-6, grades 7-8, and grades 9-12.

First-place winners receive $300. Second-place winners receive $200, and third-place winners receive $100.

Winning students will be recognized and receive their awards at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference in Houston, in March 2026. More information about the contest is available at www.tsl.texas.gov/lettersaboutliterature 

Support for Letters About Literature Texas is provided by the Texas Library and Archives Foundation.