Young Authors Honored at Tucson Festival of Books and Nanini Celebration
Twenty talented young writers from across Southern Arizona were recognized this spring as winners of Altrusa International of Tucson’s Young Authors Contest.
The winning students were honored during the Tucson Festival of Books at the University of Arizona, where their original stories and poems were celebrated before family members, educators, fellow writers, and festival attendees. Their work represented the creativity, imagination, and storytelling skills of students from kindergarten through high school.
This year’s contest produced an impressive 26 winning submissions from 20 students. Several students earned recognition in both poetry and fiction categories, resulting in a record year of outstanding entries and more than $2,000 in awards presented to the young authors.
As part of the Festival experience, elementary students from local schools created colorful welcome posters for visiting authors. Guided by Altrusa volunteers, the students designed artwork that was displayed in the Education Building at the University of Arizona, helping create a warm and inspiring environment for authors and festival guests alike.
Following the Festival, Altrusa hosted a special Young Authors celebration at Nanini Library. Students and their families gathered to receive copies of the published anthology featuring the winning entries. The event provided an opportunity for the young authors to share their accomplishments, celebrate their published work, and enjoy recognition for their creativity and hard work.
For many students, seeing their stories and poems in print is a milestone that builds confidence and encourages a lifelong appreciation for reading and writing. For Altrusa, the contest continues to be one of the organization’s most rewarding literacy programs, helping young people discover the power of their own voices.
Now Accepting Entries for the 2026 Summer Young Authors Contest
Inspired by this year’s winners? The 2026 Young Authors Summer Contest is now open to students in kindergarten through high school throughout Southern Arizona.
Students may submit one original story and one original poem. Summer Contest winners receive recognition and are automatically entered into the next Tucson Festival of Books Young Authors Contest cycle.
The deadline for Summer Contest entries is July 30, 2026.
The entry form is available for download on the Young Authors Contest page. Altrusa encourages parents, teachers, librarians, and community members to share this opportunity with the young writers in their lives.
Every great author starts with a story. We can’t wait to read the next ones.