BookSmart Announces 2025 Gift of Reading Essay Contest Winners

Annual literacy program distributes thousands of books to local students.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 2:31pm

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BookSmart Community Advantage has announced the winners of its 2025 Gift of Reading Essay Contest, an annual event that launches the organization's Gift of Reading program aimed at promoting literacy and access to books for local students. Students were asked to reflect on books that shaped their thinking, sparked emotion or helped them feel understood, with winners selected across multiple grade levels.

Why it matters

The essay contest serves as the kickoff to BookSmart's annual Gift of Reading program, which has operated for more than 20 years with the goal of helping students build home libraries and develop lifelong reading habits. The program is supported through community partnerships and donations, highlighting the importance of literacy initiatives in the local community.

The details

According to organizers, this year's submissions reflected strong creativity and emotional insight, with students writing about empathy, imagination and the impact reading has had on their lives. Winners were selected across second, third, fourth/fifth, middle, and high school grade levels, with each receiving a BookSmart gift certificate and a certificate of accomplishment.

  • The 2025 Gift of Reading Essay Contest was held in 2025.

The players

BookSmart Community Advantage

A local organization that promotes literacy and access to books for students through its annual Gift of Reading program.

Rotary Club of Morgan Hill

A community organization that supports the Gift of Reading program through donations and partnerships.

American Association of University Women of Morgan Hill

A local chapter of a national organization that supports the Gift of Reading program through donations and partnerships.

Morgan Hill Community Foundation

A local foundation that supports the Gift of Reading program through donations and partnerships.

Friends of the Morgan Hill Library

A local organization that supports the Gift of Reading program through donations and partnerships.

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What’s next

Winning essays and recommended book lists will be posted at booksmartcommunityadvantage.org, and additional information about the Gift of Reading program is available at BookSmart's physical location.

The takeaway

The BookSmart essay contest and Gift of Reading program demonstrate the importance of community-driven literacy initiatives that provide access to books and foster a love of reading among local students.