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Click HERE for a submission form to print and turn in with your writing. This is the submission form in Spanish.
Click HERE to fill out the submission form/turn in your work online.
The deadline for the WINTER contest has been extended to Monday, January 25. 😁
The deadline for the WINTER contest has been extended to Monday, January 25. 😁
The NEW DEADLINE for the SPRING contest is Monday, April 12, 2021
WHAT DO I WRITE?
WHAT DO I WRITE?
Letter to the Author
Letter to the Author
OPTION #1Choose a book from the list that meant a lot to you. Maybe it helped you with a problem, helped you understand someone or something else better, inspired you to learn something, or helped you feel something deeply.
Whatever makes you glad that you read the book will work!
Write a letter to the author of the book that explains why this book is important to you.
Remember the author knows what happened in the book so don't repeat what the book was about. Instead, focus on yourself and the work the author did to tell this story.*You may select an author who is no longer alive. Just pretend the author could still read it.
These letters are just for creative writing--you don't actually have to send it to the writer!
Whatever makes you glad that you read the book will work!
Write a letter to the author of the book that explains why this book is important to you.
Remember the author knows what happened in the book so don't repeat what the book was about. Instead, focus on yourself and the work the author did to tell this story.*You may select an author who is no longer alive. Just pretend the author could still read it.
These letters are just for creative writing--you don't actually have to send it to the writer!
Letter to a Character
Letter to a Character
OPTION #2Choose a book from the list that had a character who really interested you. Maybe this person is someone you would like as a friend, someone who helps you understand something, someone you want to be like, someone you feel angry at and you want to tell him or her why, or any other reason that a person in one of the stories grabbed your attention.
Whatever makes you interested in this character or wishing you could talk to him or her will work!
Write a letter to the character in the book that explains what you are feeling and asks what you want to know or understand better about him or her. Explain WHY the character matters to you.
Remember the character knows what happened in the book so don't repeat what the book was about. Instead, focus on yourself and the way you understand this character.*While some books on the list are about real people, most of them are not. Just pretend like they are and that they will read your letter.
Whatever makes you interested in this character or wishing you could talk to him or her will work!
Write a letter to the character in the book that explains what you are feeling and asks what you want to know or understand better about him or her. Explain WHY the character matters to you.
Remember the character knows what happened in the book so don't repeat what the book was about. Instead, focus on yourself and the way you understand this character.*While some books on the list are about real people, most of them are not. Just pretend like they are and that they will read your letter.
Poetry Collection
Poetry Collection
OPTION #3Choose a book from the list that meant a lot to you. Think about three different moments, people, descriptions, or details from the book that are strong in your memory.
Whatever you remember well and still think about after you read the book will work!
Write THREE poems about these specific details, people, places, or moments in the story. Try to use many details and words that create images (things people can see or hear or smell or touch). Poetry does not follow the same grammar rules as other writing (prose), but it must give the reader something to feel, imagine, and think about in a small space.
Your poems should be at least eight lines long (each one). They can rhyme, but they do not have to. If you haven't read a lot of poetry, it helps to read before you write. In the library, poetry books are in the INFORMATION/NON-FICTION area. Look in the 800s, especially around 810 for poetry to read. Your librarian or teacher can help you too.
Remember poems should make people think and offer new ideas. Don't repeat what the book was about. Instead, focus on ideas and images and feelings you remember after reading the book and how we might learn or understand something better from them.
Whatever you remember well and still think about after you read the book will work!
Write THREE poems about these specific details, people, places, or moments in the story. Try to use many details and words that create images (things people can see or hear or smell or touch). Poetry does not follow the same grammar rules as other writing (prose), but it must give the reader something to feel, imagine, and think about in a small space.
Your poems should be at least eight lines long (each one). They can rhyme, but they do not have to. If you haven't read a lot of poetry, it helps to read before you write. In the library, poetry books are in the INFORMATION/NON-FICTION area. Look in the 800s, especially around 810 for poetry to read. Your librarian or teacher can help you too.
Remember poems should make people think and offer new ideas. Don't repeat what the book was about. Instead, focus on ideas and images and feelings you remember after reading the book and how we might learn or understand something better from them.
Song Lyrics
Song Lyrics
OPTION #4Choose a book from the list that meant a lot to you. Think about emotions, important moments, people, descriptions, or details from the book that show why this book matters.
Whatever you feel and remember about the book will work!
Write the words for a song about this book (or about one part of the book-- specific details, people, places, or moments in the story).
You do not have to write the music, just the words. Song lyrics usually rhyme and have rhythm patterns (beats that are the same in each line).
Most people start by writing the chorus--the part you sing several times in a song. Think about "Happy" or "Let It Go"--there is a short part you sing many times in each song. The chorus is usually about 6-8 lines long and it is the most important message of the song. This is the chorus (repeated part) of "Happy":
Because I'm Happy . . . Clap along if you feel like a room without a roofClap along if you feel like happiness is the truthClap along if you know what happiness is to you.Clap along if you feel like that's what you want to do
The other parts of the song are called the verses. Once you have your chorus, write at least two verses. The verses often introduce the big idea of the chorus or maybe even tell a story. Before Elsa sings "Let It Go!" she starts with
The snow glows white on the mountain tonightNot a footprint to be seenA kingdom of isolationAnd it looks like I'm the queen
This first verse starts to introduce where she is and how she is feeling. Maybe you could use the verses to talk about different people in the book or different things that happened? Then the chorus could be a big message about the whole book.
If you haven't seen song lyrics written down before, ask an adult to help you find some online. You can see how you write them down, what the rhyme and rhythm looks like, and how the chorus is repeated between verses.
Whatever you feel and remember about the book will work!
Write the words for a song about this book (or about one part of the book-- specific details, people, places, or moments in the story).
You do not have to write the music, just the words. Song lyrics usually rhyme and have rhythm patterns (beats that are the same in each line).
Most people start by writing the chorus--the part you sing several times in a song. Think about "Happy" or "Let It Go"--there is a short part you sing many times in each song. The chorus is usually about 6-8 lines long and it is the most important message of the song. This is the chorus (repeated part) of "Happy":
Because I'm Happy . . . Clap along if you feel like a room without a roofClap along if you feel like happiness is the truthClap along if you know what happiness is to you.Clap along if you feel like that's what you want to do
The other parts of the song are called the verses. Once you have your chorus, write at least two verses. The verses often introduce the big idea of the chorus or maybe even tell a story. Before Elsa sings "Let It Go!" she starts with
The snow glows white on the mountain tonightNot a footprint to be seenA kingdom of isolationAnd it looks like I'm the queen
This first verse starts to introduce where she is and how she is feeling. Maybe you could use the verses to talk about different people in the book or different things that happened? Then the chorus could be a big message about the whole book.
If you haven't seen song lyrics written down before, ask an adult to help you find some online. You can see how you write them down, what the rhyme and rhythm looks like, and how the chorus is repeated between verses.
To see all of these options on one page that you can print, click HERE. The rubrics are Google Docs so you can also open them and print copies if you'd like (right-click).
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?
THE RULES
THE RULES
Only one entry per person, per contest (contest= Fall, Winter, Spring)
Late entries will not be judged or saved.
Entries will not be returned (keep a copy for yourself if you want one).
Your entry must be YOUR original work. If you use quotes from any source, be sure to put quotation marks around them and mark where they are from so you are not stealing someone else's work!
Each contest will have at least five judges. None of the judges will be people who work or volunteer at any of the participating elementary schools.
Entries will be judged anonymously using the rubrics.
We will not return scores or share the rubrics.
Students will compete at grade level (all fourth graders will compete only with other fourth graders, for example).
Winners will be top scorers for each grade (the top 3-5 scores, depending on the number of entries).
All categories will be scored together and the winners will be the top scores, regardless of which category they fit (no separate prizes for poems, letters, etc.)
You CAN submit new work to each contest (Fall, Winter, Spring). Please do not enter the same writing.
To see "How to Participate" and the Rules and Deadlines on one page that you can print, CLICK HERE.
DEADLINES
DEADLINES
Your work must be in the district office by 5:00 pm on the due date to be judged.
Enter 1) By email, 2) on paper (through your Best Books leader) or 3) upload a document at the end of the online submission form.
If you are entering using email, remember the address is BestBooksContest@gmail.com. To avoid last minute computer problems, try to finish and submit at least one day before the deadline. Please do not send other email to this account. It will not be read or answered.
If you are turning this in on paper, give it to your librarian (or other Best Books leader) at least five days before the deadline so that there is time for the district mail to get the papers to the EdTech office.
NEW! You can now upload a file to the online submission form. Fill out the form then upload a filed at the very end
NEW DEADLINES:
NEW DEADLINES:
WINTER CONTEST: Monday, January 25
WINTER CONTEST: Monday, January 25
SPRING CONTEST: Monday, April 12
SPRING CONTEST: Monday, April 12
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