Published: 5/4/2021 6:56:53 PM
HATFIELD — On the porch at Jane Yolen’s Hatfield home Monday afternoon, several elementary school students presented the children’s book author with an oversized card signed by the entire school, a large paper flower made in art class and cut flowers, an appreciation for her annual review of their writing submissions.
For Yolen, the long-running contest, in which she evaluates the students’ works of fiction and nonfiction, storybooks and poems, is about finding writing that moves her or makes her laugh, and perhaps identifying someone who will become a professional writer.
“It’s actually fun every year to see what you all do,” Yolen said to those who dropped by, lamenting that she couldn’t find a way to do the contest in 2020 due to the pandemic. “It’s wonderful for me to look at your work. It’s just a joyful time.”