Penrose Library (PE)

Pikes Peak Library District’s annual Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest engages 4th and 5th grade writers. Poetry creates opportunities for children to explore a variety of topics and emotions through writing. The 2025 contest theme is Poems of Belonging: Home, Community, and Origins. This contest continues Jean Ciavonne’s legacy of connecting children with poetry and writing. 

Questions to ask yourself as you think about your poem: Where are you from? What is home for you? Who are your people? Explore these and other questions in a poem and see what happens!

Questions to ask yourself as you write your poem: Can we see, smell, hear, and taste the imagery in your poem? Have you used rich vocabulary that tells us a story or paints a picture in our minds? Does your poem reflect the theme?

Six winners will each receive a book and a $50 cash prize. The contest is open to all 4th and 5th graders in El Paso County.

Submissions open on Mon., Dec. 2, 2024 and must be postmarked by Sat., March 1, 2025. Winners will be honored during an Awards Ceremony on Sat., April 19, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Penrose Library (20 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903). 

Contest Rules

1. Must be a 4th or 5th grader in El Paso County, Colorado.
2. One entry per student. Teachers are encouraged to review poems before submitting them.  
3. Each poem must be the original work of the contestant.  
4. Poems will be judged on originality, including poem title and adherence to the theme.  
5. Submit one double-spaced copy of the poem on 8 ½ x 11” paper (no handwritten submissions or illustrations will be accepted).  
   On a separate piece of paper, include your name, telephone number, home address, school name and address, and the names of the teacher and principal. Poems will not be returned, so please keep a copy.  
6. Entries must be postmarked by Sat., March 1, 2025. Submission of a poem constitutes full permission to exhibit, use, and publish the poem for any purpose – printed or electronic media – and to publish the name, school, and photographs and/or video of the student without compensation.  
7. Winners will be celebrated at an Awards ceremony where they will be given the opportunity to read their poem to the audience.

Entries may be mailed to: The Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest c/o Christa Funke, Pikes Peak Library District P.O. Box 1579 Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1579 Or email entries, following the guidelines above to: cfunke@ppld.org

Questions? Call Christa Funke at 531-6333, x6331 or email cfunke@ppld.org. 

Congratulations to our 2024 winners!

• Elsie Byrne, 5th Grade, Homeschool - "Overlooked"
• Lilia Gerber, 5th Grade, Gerber Homeschool - “Black and Brown Again”
• Enray Liu, 4th Grade, The Classical Academy Central Elementary - “Melody of Courage”
• Clara Pavri, 5th Grade, Colorado International Language Academy - “Figures on a Crinkled Map”
• Sara Schmidt, 5th Grade, Thomas Maclaren School - “My Lost Heart”
• Sienna Shafer, 5th Grade, Monument Academy - “The Best Dream”

Jean Ciavonne Remembered from PPLD TV on Vimeo.

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is excited to bring you Virtual Author Visits in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. Join us and hear from bestselling authors and thought leaders on a range of topics, from puzzling science to epic fantasy to decluttering your home. Whether you are an avid or occasional reader, there is nothing quite like listening to insightful talks by authors you have read or new ones you are just discovering. You never know what will catch your interest. Attend these events at no cost from the comfort of home. 

In December’s lineup, join us on Wed., Dec. 4 at noon for a dazzling conversation about the Smithsonian National Gem Collection with its emeritus curator Dr. Jeffrey Post. In Post’s book, The Smithsonian National Gem Collection Unearthed: Surprising Stories Behind the Jewels, he brings to life the incredible stories behind this extensive gem collection. The Smithsonian’s Unearthed series explores the scandals, mysteries, and human stories behind the world's greatest gems. Register for the access link.

For the last Virtual Author Visit in December, you’re invited to join us on Wed., Dec. 11 at noon and hear from #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me, Laura Dave. With her trademark combination of soulful suspense and evocative family drama, her new book, The Night We Lost Him, is a riveting page-turner. Register now to learn about this book and so much more! Register for the access link.

Learn more and see upcoming authors on our Virtual Author Visits page or check out past Virtual Author Visits here! 

More Upcoming Virtual Author Visits

• Wed., Jan. 15 at 5 p.m.: The Magic of Found Family: In Conversation with Author TJ Klune
• Thu., Jan. 23 at noon: Notes on Modern Irrationality with Bestselling Author Amanda Montell
• Tue., Jan. 28 at 11 a.m.: An Inside Look at Working with a Literary Agent: A Conversation with Seth Fishman 

Homeschoolers, get ready to tell the world about your favorite book! Prepare a creative book report at home and present it informally to other families in a science fair-style format. What you create to represent your book is up to you. Build a diorama, design a game based on the plot and characters, or make a poster for the movie version. Or you might create a book in a bag project, make a clothes hanger mobile, or draw the story in a comic book format. The possibilities are endless! For homeschool students in grades K – 8. 

Registration opens on Fri., Nov. 8 at 10 a.m. Register here to be a book presenter. Please make sure that each participating student registers separately.

If you aren’t ready to present a book report yourself, drop by to support other homeschoolers by browsing the projects and discover your next favorite book!

When: Fri., Dec. 13 from 1 - 2 p.m.
Where: East Library

Need ideas to help you get started? Take a look at our idea file.