Crystal Lake Library Hosts 8th 'Read, Write, Win' Contest

It's that time of year again.

The Crystal Lake Public Library has kicked off the 8th "Annual Read, Write and Win" contest.

The contest is open to all students in grades 3 to 8 in Crystal Lake including homeschoolers.

The program aims to inspire area students to read and then write their own ending for the selected books. And, new this year, students with an artistic flair can choose to illustrate the ending, according to Linda Price, public relations coordinator for the library.

The 2013 contest is sponsored by the library, the Rotary Club of Crystal Lake Dawnbreakers, McHenry County College and School District 47.

To get started, participants should select the title for their grade level to read:

 Grades 3-5:

• Turtle in Paradise (book) by Jennifer L. Holm (written essay no more than 1,000 words).

• Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! (book) by Matthew McElligott (written essay no more than 1,000 words).

• Chicagoland Detective Agency #1: the Drained Brains Caper (graphic novel) by Trina Robbins (illustrated essay no more than 6 pages).

Grades 6-8:

• Unnameables (book) by Ellen Booraem (written essay no more than 1,000 words).

• A Monster Calls (book) by Patrick Ness (written essay no more than 1,000 words).

• Bad Island (graphic novel) by Doug TenNapel (illustrated essay no more than 6 pages).

Once students select their books, they write or illustrate an original ending:

1. Write a different ending to a book, or illustrate a different ending to a graphic novel.
2. Written essays of books must be no more than 1,000 words. Illustrated essays of graphic novels must be no more than six pages, and can be in your artistic style, not duplicating the style of the artist.
3. Work must be the work of the student.
4. All essays must include a CLPL entry form, which can be found online at www.clpl.org or picked up at the Crystal Lake Public Library.

Entry forms include the following information:

• Title of the book or graphic novel
• Student’s Name
• Phone number and email address
• Grade level, school, and teacher’s name
• Word count for written essays or page count for illustrated essays

Students should mail, or drop off their essay submissions with attached entry form by 5 pm Saturday, March 16, 2013 to:

Read, Write & Win!
Crystal Lake Public Library, 126 Paddock Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

More information is available by calling the Crystal Lake Public Library at 815-459-1687, ext. 6 or 7.

Winners Announced, Prizes, Judging

1. Winners will be announced and prizes will be awarded at 7 pm, Monday, April 22, at Husmann Elementary School, located across from the library.

2. First ($100), second ($75), third ($50), and fourth ($25) place gift certificates will be awarded for each book.

3. Judging will be based on creativity and mechanics (spelling, grammar and punctuation).