Texas Students Invited to Share How Books Inspire Them in 2025–2026 Letters About Literature Contest
The Texas Center for the Book has officially opened submissions for the 2025–2026 Letters About Literature Texas writing competition, inviting Texas students in grades 4 through 12 to participate. This annual contest encourages young readers to reflect on how a book, poem, essay, play, or speech has shaped their lives or perspectives.
The contest theme, “Read. Be Inspired. Write Back.”, asks students to write a heartfelt letter to an author—living or deceased—explaining how the author’s work has influenced their view of themselves or the world. Students often choose works that resonate deeply with their own life experiences, and their letters explore how literature connects to personal growth, identity, and resilience.
Entries are divided into three competition levels: grades 4–6, 7–8, and 9–12. The contest is open to public, private, and homeschool students across Texas. Prizes include $300 for first place, $200 for second, and $100 for third in each category. Each first-place winner’s school library—or public library for homeschoolers—will also receive a $300 grant. Additionally, first-place winners will receive a $400 travel stipend to attend the Texas Library Association Annual Conference in Houston in March 2026, where they will be recognized during a special ceremony.
The Texas Library and Archives Foundation sponsors the program, which is part of a national initiative of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.
Submissions will be accepted online through the official portal at xtexasstatelibrary.submittable.com/submit starting Monday, November 3, 2025. The deadline to apply is 6 p.m. Central on Monday, January 26, 2026. Students under 13 must also include a signed permission form.
For complete rules, prize details, and entry guidelines, visit tsl.texas.gov/lettersaboutliterature. Educators, librarians, and parents are encouraged to share this opportunity to help young Texans celebrate the power of reading and writing.
The Texas Center for the Book operates under the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and continues its mission to inspire readers statewide. For more information, contact Michele Chan Santos at mcsantos@tsl.texas.gov.
