Contest challenges kids to tell a two-sentence winter story

Children’s Literacy Foundation announces grants, contest

Feb. 3, 2023  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

The Children’s Literacy Foundation has announced deadlines for several grant opportunities and a writing contest for kids ages 12 and under to tell a story about winter – in just two sentences. 

The nonprofit literacy advocacy organization based in Waterbury has a number of programs open to public libraries, schools and community organizations serving children from infancy through age 12 in Vermont and New Hampshire. 

Those entities can apply to participate in the various programs through grant applications on the CLiF website. The foundation works to promote reading and writing through free programs and the distribution of new children’s books to children in the region. 

“We are excited to offer a variety of literacy grants for new and old partners alike,” said program manager Cassie Willner. “Now, more than ever, we know these opportunities matter for kids and we are deeply committed to reaching underserved communities across Vermont and New Hampshire.”

Grant applications, including eligibility requirements, are available online at clifonline.org. 

Writing contest 

Kids aged 12 and under in Vermont and New Hampshire can enter the Two-Sentence Winter Writing Contest. The challenge: Using only two sentences, write a story about winter. Prizes of new books will be awarded in several age categories. Deadline: Feb. 28. Details online at clifonline.org/winter-writing-contest. 

Grants

Revive Your Literacy Programming: Grant provides $500 to past CLiF grantees to help them revive enthusiasm for reading and writing programs, with options including author/illustrator visits, books, school-wide projects, and more. Deadline: Feb. 10. 

Community Building: Want to engage with your community around literacy? Re-connect with audiences after the pandemic? This grant is designed to connect kids with their communities while building a love of literacy. Deadline: March 1. 

Year of the Book: This grant offers $25,000 value of literacy programming and new books to qualifying elementary schools in New Hampshire or Vermont for the 2023-24 school year. Eligible schools have a minimum of 35% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch and at least 30% scoring below proficient on reading and writing assessments. Programming includes author visits and writing workshops, family literacy events, mini-grants for classroom projects, new books for the classrooms and the school and local public libraries, as well as 10 new books for each child. Deadline: March 1. 

Summer Readers: The Summer Readers program brings Vermont and New Hampshire authors, illustrators, and storytellers to spaces where kids spend time in the summer to get them excited about reading and writing. The events include book giveaways where kids choose two new books each. Applications are due May 31.