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Letters About Literature

Letters About Literature 2013

New Mexico’s Champions Announced!

Arielle Moosman, a sixth grader, in Ramah is the Level 1 champion. Arielle wrote her letter to Dr. Seuss about his book The Lorax.

Stella Sandel, a seventh grader, at Mesa View Middle School in Farmington, is the Level 2 champion. Stella wrote her letter to Judy Blume about her book Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Sarah Ecton, a tenth grader, at Estancia Valley Classical Academy in Moriarty, is the Level 3 champion. Sarah wrote her letter to Nora Baskin about her book Almost Home.

There were 270 New Mexico students who entered the 2013 contest. Of those 270 entries, 114 advanced to round two judging and there are 89 semifinalists who advanced to round three state judging. In Level 1, there were 96 entries with 38 letters advancing to round two and 34 letters moving on to round three. In Level 2, there were 135 entries with just 55 letters advancing to round two and 34 letters moving on to round three. In Level 3, there were 39 entries with 21 letters advancing to round two and all of those moving on to round three. All of the state semifinalists who advanced to round three judging will receive an award certificate in the mail.

From the 89 New Mexico semifinalists, the state judges selected three champions, three second place writers, and nine honorable mention letters. The three New Mexico champions' letters have been sent to the Library of Congress for the national competition. The results of the national judging will be released in early May.

Many New Mexico schools from around the state participate in the competition. We appreciate the support of teachers, librarians, and parents for Letters About Literature.

Our special thanks to the New Mexico judges:

Level 1 - Veronica N. Gonzales, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, Santa Fe;

Devon Skeele, State Librarian, New Mexico State Library, Department of Cultural Affairs, Santa Fe;

Flo Trujillo, Youth Services Coordinator, Farmington Public Library, Farmington

Level 2 - Becky Ewing, Manager, Books Etcetera, Ruidoso; Joe Hayes, Author & Storyteller, Santa Fe;

David L. Caffey, Chair, New Mexico Library Commission, Clovis

Level 3 - John W. Byram, Director, University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque; Angela Wilds, Assistant Director, Marshall Memorial Library, Deming; Dorothy Massey, Co-Owner, Collected Works Bookstore, Santa Fe

Letters About Literature encourages young readers to read a book and write a letter to the author about how the book changed their view of the world. The writers compete in the state contest to win $125 cash prize per competition level and a $1,000 cash award for first place or $150 for second place in the national contest.

This is the first year New Mexico State Library has sponsored the competition.

Readers in grades 4-10 wrote a personal letter to an author explaining how his or her work shaped their perspective on the world or themselves. Students could write about works of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Entries in Spanish were accepted and translated for the New Mexico judges. State judges selected the top letter writers in New Mexico, who then advanced to the national competition.

Letter writers competed at three levels: Level I is grades 4-6; Level II is grades 7-8; and Level III is grades 9-10. One winning letter from each level from each state is entered into the final national competition.

For more information about New Mexico’s Letters About Literature contest, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Lori Thornton at 505-476-9717.

To read about the Letters About Literature contest at the national level, please click here:

Letters About Literature – Center for the Book – Library of Congress

Thank you to all the students, teachers, librarians, and families who participate in New Mexico's Letters About Literature program. Keep reading and writing!

Letters About Literature is sponsored by the New Mexico State Library, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. Letters About Literature is also sponsored by The Center for the Book at the Library of Congress.