ProjectRead
If you enjoyed The Big Read: Project Mockingbird ….. you will also like ProjectRead! The Public Libraries of Jefferson County’s fall selection is Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron. The charming story of Dewey Readmore Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer, Iowa.
Library Journal Review
One freezing night in 1988, an eight-week-old kitten was left in the book drop of the Spencer Public Library in Iowa. Head librarian Myron immediately fell in love with him, as did the rest of the library staff, and this is how Dewey Readmore Books became the Spencer library cat. Dewey grew into a handsome feline, making many friends in his 19 years at the library by sitting in many laps and greeting library visitors at the door with an uncanny knack for knowing just who needed his affections—children, the elderly, and those on the fence regarding a library cat. Dewey's fame grew from town to town, then state to state, and, amazingly, worldwide. Some of the most moving parts of this memoir express the intense, special bond that Dewey had with Myron, who survived the loss of her family farm, a breast cancer scare, and an alcoholic husband. This charming and heartwarming story of an extraordinary feline will be welcomed by cat lovers and all librarians who wish they had a library cat. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/08.]—Eva Lautemann, Georgia Perimeter Coll., Clarkston, GA
Libraries will hold book discussions, film series and children’s activities during September and October. Check with your local library for programs.
The Big Read is Coming to the Entire State of Alabama!
About The Big Read - The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of its citizens. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment. To learn more about The Big Read, please visit the www.NEABigRead.org.
The Alabama Statewide Committee selected The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain for the first statewide Big Read because it is a title that everyone has at least heard about, if not read. The book will appeal to all ages and has a small town theme which makes it a perfect match for the Alabama Tourism initiative for the 2010 Year of the Alabama Small Town and Downtown.
Each community’s Big Read includes a kick-off event to launch the program; activities devoted specifically to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (e.g., panel discussions, lectures, public readings); events using the selection as a point of departure (e.g., film screenings, theatrical readings, exhibits); and book discussions in diverse locations aimed at a wide range of audiences. Local communities should contact their local library for programs planned during February – April 2010.