Proud finalists and their families and teachers filled the resplendent Old Judiciary Room at the State Capitol

Peter Esposito, General Manager of Weekly Reader Corporation in Stamford, spoke about his company’s co-sponsorship of the contest

Guest author Richard Michelson, owner of R. Michelson Galleries in Northampton and Amherst, Massachusetts, delighted the audience by reading from his book, Too Young for Yiddish

Connecticut Center for the Book Advisory Council Chairperson Billie Levy presented the certificates and awards to the finalists and winners after congratulating them from the podium

The winners posed for group shots in the halls of the State Capitol: (left to right) Caitlin Roy, Matt Jorgensen, Asdis Thordardottir, Arielle Jaffe, Larry Spada, and Michael Fusco

Left to right:  Matt Jorgensen, Billie Levy, Michael Fusco, Caitlin Roy, Richard Michelson, Asdis Thordardottir, Peter Esposito, Arielle Jaffe, and Larry Spada