This isn't my usual children's column this week, instead it's an assignment to cover the recent Poetry Contest. (Stay around, though, something for kids will be coming up!) This was the seventh year Memorial Library held its Coffeehouse Poetry Contest. Many changes took place. For starters, the Coronado Museum hosted the event this year. Director JoAnne Mansell graciously extended an invitation to 'come to their place', so that was what we did.

This year, also, readers of other languages were sought to share poems. George Roldan, owner of the local McDonalds establishments read a poem in Spanish.

The biggest change taking place this year was that our venerable Master of Ceremonies Connie Yoxall was unable to attend. But we all pitched in and carried forward without her.

Our wonderful judges, Marsha Wright, Rachel Coleman, and Bill McGlothing made thoughtful selections in all three categories-children, young adults, and adults.

Of those winners, many were able to be present to share their compositions.

In the Children's category, winners were Garrett Poulton for the poem "Firefighting". Frances Dominguez for "Myself", and Vany Diaz for her poem entitled "Twinkies".

Young Adult winners included Lauren Sumner for "Ten-Point Buck", Elizabeth Maxwell for "Red Beast", and Chandler Kirkhart for "Silver".

Adult honors went to "No Time for Poems" and "September" both by Tina Bridenstine, and "Audrey's Aura" by Virginia Grant.

The poetry contest would not be possible without the contributions of our local poets. Many poems were submitted in all three of the categories. As one judge told attendees, this made their job more of a challenge. That judge also told those assembled that the poets were brave to put their work out before judges and then to share their poems that evening. Ninety plus coffee house guests enjoyed the poetry offerings, gourmet coffees, and delicious cookies. A good time was had by all.

Now for a bit of information for children. The William Allen White vote recently drew to a close and the winners have been announced. In case you missed it, the winner in the 6 th through 8 th grade division was Airball: My Life in Briefs by L. D. Harkraker. Taking honors on the 3 rd through 5 th grade list was A Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin. Typically young people are asked during Children's Book Week in the fall to review some of the wonderful books nominated for this award. Those reviews are then published in the newspaper.

This year, Children's Book Week has been changed to May and will continue in May henceforth. The list of nominees for the William Allen White award 2008-2009 are now available and something new will be done this year. Young people who have read those books are being asked if they will review them. These reviews will appear in the newspaper once a month through April of 2009. One book from the 3rd-5 th grade list and one book from the 6th-8th grade list will be reviewed each month. Since some of the books are relatively new to our collection, no one has had a chance to read them yet. If a young person is interested in reading one of these books and reviewing it, please call the children's department, and the details will be worked out.

One more reminder-if you or a young person you are close to is having problems getting homework done or needs some answers in order to be prepared for final exams, by all means check out Homework Kansas . This is a free service offered by the state of Kansas and provides live tutors on line in the subjects of math, science, social studies, and English. The service is available for students in fourth grade through college introductory courses. It is open seven days a week from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. Spanish language services are also available. How do you access this wonderful service? Go online to www.lmlibrary.org . At the bottom of the home page is a blue box that reads "Homework Kansas ". Click on that box, and it takes you right into the site. You will select your grade level and the subject you need help in. Tutors have at their disposal white boards for working interactive problems with students. As parents, you no longer need to be uncertain or puzzled about your child's homework. Seek expert advice with Homework Kansas .

Don't forget.sign up for Catch the Reading Bug Summer Reading Program for kids and Metamorphosis Summer Reading Program for teens begins Tuesday, May 27. See you at Memorial Library!