Kentucky Students Connect With Characters

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 9, 2011) — Five Kentucky students recently won the University of Kentucky School of Library and Information Science's second Connecting With Characters Contest as part of the McConnell Youth Literature Conference in February.

The Connecting With Characters Contest provided an opportunity for the youth of Kentucky and surrounding states to connect with the characters in the works of conference presenters Rafael López, Sharon M. Draper and Matt de la Peña. The conference aims to draw librarians, teachers, and other professionals who work with youth to share ideas, examine materials, and meet authors, illustrators, and other leaders in the field of youth literature. The contest is open to all youth in Kentucky and its border states who are in preschool through 12th grade.

Students were asked to respond to characters in works by López, Draper and de la Peña by either drawing a picture or writing a letter to the character, depending on the age of the student.

"The Connecting with Characters Contest is a unique literacy opportunity in which young people can explore their individuality as it is experienced through reading," said conference organizer Stephanie Reynolds.

The 2011 Connecting with Characters contest winners are:

-- Addalyn Hulen, Age 7, 2nd Grade, McCracken County Public Library, Linda Bartley, Librarian, Paducah, KY ("Book Fiesta" by Rafael López)

-- Rishabh Raj Kapoor, Age 10, 5th Grade, Hearn Elementary School, Becky Nelson, Librarian, Frankfort, KY ("Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper)

-- Rebeccah Lynn Kinder, Age 12, 7th Grade, Bonderant Middle School, Leigh Kuhn, Librarian, Frankfort, KY ("Double Dutch" by Sharon M. Draper)

-- Taylor Joyce Schafer, Age 15, 10th Grade, Campbell County High School, Christina Board, Librarian, Alexandria, KY ("Tears of a Tiger" by Sharon M. Draper)

-- Holly Rose Peek, Age 15, 10th Grade, Campbell County High School, Christina Board, Librarian, Alexandria, KY ("Romiette & Julio" by Sharon M. Draper)

Students in preschool through second grade were invited to draw a picture based on one of the following López books: "Book Fiesta," "Yum! Mmmm! Qué Rico!," or "Our California."

Students in third through fifth grade were invited to write a letter to a character in one of the following Draper books: "Out of My Mind," the Sassy Series ("Little Sister is Not My Name," "The Birthday Storm," and "The Silver Secret"), or the Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs Series ("The Buried Bones Mystery," "Lost in the Tunnel of Time," "Shadows of Caesar's Creek," "The Space Camp Adventure," "The Backyard Animal Show," and "Stars and Sparks on Stage").

Students in sixth through eighth grade were invited to write a letter to a character in one of a different set of Draper books including: "The Battle of Jericho," "Darkness Before Dawn," "Double Dutch," "Forged by Fire," "Just Another Hero," "November Blues," "Out of My Mind," "Romiette and Julio," or "Tears of a Tiger."

Students in the ninth through 12th grade category were invited to write a letter to a character in one of the books "Ball Don't Lie," "I Will Save You," "Mexican WhiteBoy," or "We Were Here" by de la Peña  or one of Draper's books "Just Another Hero," "The Battle of Jericho," "November Blues," "Tears of a Tiger," "Forged by Fire," "Darkness Before Dawn," "Romiette and Julio," or "Copper Sun."