Announcing The CT Summer Story Project

Are you a writer? Is someone at your library a budding author? Do you have a writing club? 

Join Connecticut Humanities and the Connecticut State Library for the CT Summer Story Project!

Reminiscent of The Great Connecticut Caper, together we will create a community book of short stories. Local library staff are invited to submit a fictional short story between 850 to 2,000 words and feature local libraries and landmarks from across the state around the theme Plant a Seed, Read. We encourage submitters to interpret the theme in any way they see fit and use it in as much or little of the story as they would like. Hoping for participation from as many kids across the state as possible, we recommend writers target a 3rd to 6th grade reading and content level. 

In addition, writers are invited to submit discussion questions and a teaser video as support material for their story as it enters various library summer reading ecosystems. We also encourage writers to partner with local artists to submit one piece of artwork to accompany the story.

With this program, our goal is to develop a statewide project that provides opportunity for creativity, community partnerships, curiosity, and a love of reading and writing, all while strengthening our connection to the CT community.

Just in time for summer 2026 programming, a short story will be released digitally each week from mid-June through mid-August. Accompanying each story will be discussion questions and suggested activities providing an easy, out-of-the-box summer program.

Submit a story as a participant or prepare to participate with kids in your community waiting for the next exciting story and support material each week!

Find out what happens when you Plant a Seed, Read. in Connecticut!

Key dates:

Questions? Reach out to one of the project coordinators: