This year’s annual Gift of Reading book drive has a new component. In addition to collecting books to share with children for the holidays, we’re inviting young readers to enter a 200-300 word essay competition on the subject of why reading books is important to them.
Who can enter the 2019 Gift of Reading competition?
All writers in the following age groups are welcome to submit their essays by 6 pm on November 30th:
- 2nd to 5th Grade
- 6th to 8th Grade
- 9th to 12th Grade
The printed or hand-written essays can be handed in personally to Cinda Meister at BookSmart or sent by mail to BookSmart at 421 Vineyard Town Center, Morgan Hill, CA 95037. Please include the child’s name, parents’ name, phone number, email address, school and grade level. Download the flyer in English/Spanish here.
What are the prizes?
There are nine prizes in total with the winning essay in each age group being published in the Morgan Hill Life Newspaper! First place writers will also receive a $50 BookSmart gift certificate, a cool writing journal, and a certificate of merit presented in front of the City Council.
Donate your books by December 14, 2020
Please give the Gift of Reading this holiday season. Drop off your new and like-new books at a book barrel near you, for example at BookSmart, where in-store purchases towards the program receive a 20% discount!
The 2019 Gift of Reading is co-sponsored by: the Edward Boss Prado Foundation, the Friends of the Morgan Hill Library, Sonrisa Stables, Morgan Hill Life, and AAUW-Morgan Hill.