FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Austin, TX – The Texas Center for the Book, under the direction of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, is delighted to announce the winners of the 2025-2026 Letters About Literature Texas contest, a statewide competition sponsored by the Texas Library and Archives Foundation.

In Letters About Literature, students read a book, poem, short story or other written work and write a letter to an author—living or dead—explaining how his or her work changed their view of themselves or the world.

More than a thousand students entered from across the state, the highest number of entries since 2019. The field was strong with many excellent entries. There were three categories of competition: grades 4-6, grades 7-8 and grades 9-12.

First-place winners receive $300, as well as an additional $300 for their school library. Second-place winners receive $200, and third-place winners receive $100.

Many thanks to all the students who entered the contest.

2026 Letters About Literature Winners
Level 1 (Grade 4 – 6)
First prize – Dalia Goldman, 10, Jack Segal Academy of Beth Yeshurun, Bellaire (Houston area); wrote to Lois Lowry, author of Number the Stars  
Second prize – Angelyn Anup, 10, Timber Creek Elementary School, Tomball ISD, Spring; wrote to Eleanor Coerr, author of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes
Third prize – Samuel Webb, 10, St. Matthew Catholic School, San Antonio, wrote to Nathan Hale, author of Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales

Level 2 (Grade 7 – 8)
First prize – Emily Rigoulot, 13, Westbrook Intermediate School, Clear Creek ISD, Friendswood, wrote to Lois Lowry, author of The Giver
Second prize – Rilyn Snell, 13, Westbrook Intermediate School, Clear Creek ISD, Friendswood, wrote to Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places
Third prize – Charity Bremer, 12, E. Merle Smith Middle School, Sinton ISD, Sinton, wrote to Shel Silverstein, author of Diving Board

Level 3 (Grade 9 – 12)
First prize – Sophia Haagenson, 17, Katy High School, Katy ISD, Katy, wrote to Jewell Parker Rhodes, author of Ninth Ward
Second prize – Esmeralda Leal, 16, Veterans Memorial Academy, San Benito CISD, San Benito, wrote to Pam Muñoz Ryan, author of Esperanza Rising
Third prize – Zak Hu, 17, Hebron High School, Lewisville ISD, Carrollton, wrote to Atul Gawande, author of Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End

Funding for this program is generously provided by the Texas Library and Archives Foundation.

More information about the Letters About Literature Texas contest is available at www.tsl.texas.gov/lettersaboutliterature. Information about the 2027 competition will be posted later this fall.

One of 50 state centers affiliated with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, the Texas Center for the Book is under the direction of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. For more information contact Michele Chan Santos at mcsantos@tsl.texas.gov or visit tsl.texas.gov/centerforthebook.

###

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission provides Texans access to the information they need to be informed, productive citizens by preserving the archival record of Texas; enhancing the service capacity of public, academic and school libraries; assisting public agencies in the maintenance of their records; and meeting the reading needs of Texans with disabilities. For more information, visit www.tsl.texas.gov.