Enter Our Freedom to Read Contest

The Bible.
Harry Potter.
A Wrinkle in Time.
Shel Silverstein's poems.
Captain Underpants.

What do these books have in common?  Chances are, you have at least one of them in your house!  They have something else in common, though:  all have been recent targets of efforts to remove them from school and public libraries.

Banned Books Week is the national book community’s annual celebration of the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment.  The 2012 Banned Books Week will be held from September 30 through October 6.

Here at Spark, we support First Amendment freedoms, and we also support a parent’s right to make choices as to what is appropriate for his or her child.  For example, we recognize there is a big difference between deciding that your own child should wait a year or two before reading The Hunger Games and advocating that certain books should permanently be removed from a public, taxpayer funded library.  

With that in mind, we want to celebrate American children's freedom to read during this year’s Banned Books Week. We're celebrating with a writing contest for that special reader, writer, and thinker in your life!  And, it's free to enter!

CONTEST NEED TO KNOW INFO

WHO?  The Spark Freedom to Read Contest is open to children in kindergarten through fifth grade who live in the Middle Tennessee area.  All children are eligible (public and private school students and home school students) except for immediate family members of Spark employees and contest judges. 

WHAT?  Entries will be grouped into 3 categories by grades:  K-1, 2-3, and 4-5. Children should prepare a written response to the questions based on their grade level.  There is no minimum length for responses, but children should take care to answer all of the questions in their grade category.  Creativity and critical thinking are encouraged.   All work must be the student's original writing. 

Kindergarten - 1st Grade:  What is your favorite book?  Why do you like it? 

Children in this group may dictate their answers to someone who can legibly write or type it.  Handwritten entries, even if messy, are welcome.  Children may include illustrations.

2nd Grade - 3rd Grade:   What is your favorite book?  Why do you like it?  In your opinion, what makes a book a good book? 

4th Grade - 5th Grade:   During Banned Books Week, Americans celebrate the freedom to read.  Frederick Douglass said:  "Once you learn to read you will be forever free."  Who is Frederick Douglass?  What do you think he meant?   How can reading make a person free?

Students in this category should list any sources consulted for information.

For all categories, judges will score based on (1) clarity of the response; (2) overall content of the response; and (3) whether the response answers all questions for the grade category.  The judges' decision is final.

PRIZES?  Yes!  All participants will receive a small prize and $10 off their next Spark workshop.  The top entries will be published on our website with their parents' permission along with a brief biography of the authors.

1st Place K-1st Category:

$25 Parnassus Books Gift Card

2nd Place K-1st Category:

$10 Parnassus Books Gift Card

1st Place 2nd-3rd & 4th-5th Categories:

$50 Parnassus Books Gift Card

2nd Place 2nd-3rd & 4th-5th Categories:

$20 Parnassus Books Gift Card

HOW?  There is no entry fee.  Each child may only submit one entry.  No co-written entries.  Each entry must be accompanied by a completed entry form.  Entries may be submitted by snail mail or email.   Email entries to sparkreadiness@comcast.net and put "Freedom to Read Contest" in the subject line. You may scan and send a handwritten response, add a Word document as an attachment to the email, or simply type the response directly into the email. If you prefer to mail your entry, please email us and say so, and we will provide a mailing address for your convenience.

WHEN?  Entries must be received by midnight on November 7, 2012.  Please note that mailed entries will not be returned. 

QUESTIONS?  Did we forget something? Post any questions here or on our Facebook page and we'll answer right away!  www.facebook.com/SparkREADiness

Download the Entry Form Here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XRthZqNucdGTYqAtmE1Iy-RN_CEcw0S8uyYXoExTMiQ/edit

We hope to announce winners by the end of November.  "LIKE" us on Facebook to receive updates on this contest and other Spark READiness events!

*Parnassus Books is not a sponsor of this contest, and is not affiliated with it in any way.  We just want to support our local bookstore!*