The Oklahoma Center for the Book in the Oklahoma Department of Libraries has announced the winners of the 20222023 My Favorite Book statewide writing competition for students in fourth through twelfth grades. This year 774 students representing public, private, charter and home schools participated in the competition, which requires them to write a letter to the author of a favorite book and explain how the book or one of the book’s characters impacted their life.

Cash prizes are awarded with first-place winners receiving $500; second-place $250; and third-place $100. In addition, the first-place winners will select their school or public library to receive a $1,000 grant. An awards ceremony will be held Friday, May 12, 2023, at the Oklahoma State Capitol Multi-Purpose Room 100. The program will begin at 10:30 am. Students will be reading their winning letters at the event.

The My Favorite Book competition is sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, the Friends of the Oklahoma Center for the Book, and the Kirkpatrick Foundation.

“The contest is designed to encourage young people to think critically about the books they read,” according to Connie Armstrong, director of the Center. “The letter writing exercise also emphasizes formal and important ways to communicate in a world filled with texting and social media posts.”

The winning students are: Division I (Grades 4 through 6) First Place: Olivia Baldwin, Blanchard Intermediate, Blanchard For letter to author Ally Carter for the Winterborne book series Second Place: Saray-al Butler, Epic Charter Schools, Del City For letter to author Carole Boston Weatherford for The Faith of Elijah Cummings Third Place: Milo Manning, Homeschool, Sallisaw For letter to author Harold Keith for Rifles for Watie Division II (Grades 7 and 8) First Place: Azmerrah Teav, Homeschool, Broken Arrow For letter to author Noah Webster for Webster’s American English Dictionary Second Place: Sarah Avelar, Sequoyah Middle School, Edmond For letter to Kelly Yang for Front Desk Third Place: Cynthia Gonzalez, Bethany Middle School, Bethany For letter to Jacqueline Woodson for the Before the Ever After Division III (Grades 9 through 12) First Place: Emercyn Looper, El Reno Public High School, El Reno For letter to author Markus Zusak for The Book Thief Second Place: Everleigh Rainbolt, Sapulpa High School, Sapulpa For letter to author Alton Carter for The Boy Who Carried Bricks Third Place: Quinn Brown, Pawnee High School, Pawnee For letter to author Jerry Spinelli for Milkweed For more information about the My Favorite Book writing competition and other programs of the Center, visit Oklahoma. gov/libraries/ocb, or contact Connie Armstrong at 405/522-3383 or connie.armstrong@libraries.ok.gov.

The Oklahoma Center for the Book in the Oklahoma Department of Libraries is a state affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and is organized to focus attention on the vital role of books and reading in our lives. The Center promotes the past, current, and future works of Oklahoma authors; promotes the literary heritage of the state; and encourages reading for pleasure by Oklahomans of all ages.