Something for the Kids

What: African-American Read-In
When: Saturday, February 2, 2-4pm
Where: Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Cost: FREE

I have had a lifelong love affair with books and reading. I read for entertainment. I read to learn. I read for information. I read to relax and I read to escape, but mostly, I read for the sheer pleasure of it.

My parents read me bedtime stories as I was growing up and my mother took me to the library often; but the one thing that had the greatest impact on my love of reading was the book mobile that visited my elementary school. Each year the book mobile would come to my school with a treasure trove of age-appropriate books, bookmarks, pens, pencils, stickers, and notepads for sale. I wish you could have seen the excitement that it caused! We all raced to the cafeteria during our lunch breaks, money in hand, ready for the hunt to begin. My money was always limited so I had to be careful to choose wisely. I must select just the right book, the right bookmark, the right stickers, and the right pen.

The book mobile taught me that books are something to be valued, something to get excited about. Take your kids to the African-American Read-In and share that excitement with them.

From DallasNews.com:
"Read, Believe, Achieve!" is the theme of the Dallas County Community College District's 2008 African American Read-In, a celebration of children's literature by African-American authors. After a welcome from Lyndale the Literary Lion, families attending the free event can check out staged readings, performances, art and poetry. This year's special guest is author and artist Ashley Bryan, who just won a 2008 Coretta Scott King Book Award for his illustrations in Let It Shine. Mr. Bryan will read from his books and talk about the fun of reading. Also scheduled during the day is the unveiling of the 2008 Black Heritage postage stamp honoring writer Charles W. Chesnutt. Free T-shirts, canvas bags and books will be handed out to audience members.

For more info: http://www.readin.dcccd.edu/