Make Plans Now
to Join the NCBLA for
Our Children's Literary Lights
Readers Theater Presentation
at the National Book Festival in D.C.
RIF Luminaries
Our Children's Literary Lights
Readers Theater Presentation
at the National Book Festival in D.C.
RIF Luminaries
Lynda Johnson Robb and Carol Rasco
to Join Former National Ambassadors
for Young People's Literature
to Join Former National Ambassadors
for Young People's Literature
Katherine Paterson and Jon Scieszka
and Award-Winning Authors
Susan Cooper and Grace Lin
 |
| Former Ambassadors for Young People's Literature Jon Scieszka and Katherine Paterson Photo (c) Library of Congress, Read.gov |
The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress invite you and your family to join us Sunday, September 22 on the mall in Washington, D.C. for an original Readers Theater presentation featuring former National Ambassadors for Young People's Literature--Katherine Paterson and Jon Scieszka--as well as award-winning authors Susan Cooper and Grace Lin. Joining Paterson, Scieszka, Cooper, and Lin on stage and participating in the reading will be literacy champions and special guests Carol Rasco, President and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), and Lynda Johnson Robb, a former Chairman of RIF. NCBLA President and Executive Director Mary Brigid Barrett will also be participating.
 |
| Authors and illustrators perform a dramatic reading at the 2011 National Book Festival. Left to right: Patricia McKissack, Fredrick McKissack, Susan Cooper, Gregory Maguire, Mary Brigid Barrett, Katherine Paterson, Jack Gantos, Chris Van Dusen, and Calef Brown (at easel). |
The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance has been captivating audiences of all ages with author presentations at the National Book Festival for years. This year's presentation will feature a Readers Theater script (a dramatic presentation of a written work similar to a radio play) written by Katherine Paterson and Susan Cooper. Included will be excerpts from Paterson's story collection A Stubborn Sweetness and Other Stories for Christmas, Cooper's time-travel novel King of Shadows, Scieszka's picture book Cowboy and Octopus, and Lin's fantasy novel Starry River of the Sky.
About the Literary Lights Readers Theater Cast
Katherine Paterson is a former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, an honor co-sponsored by the Library of Congress Center for the Book and the Children’s Book Council. Her international fame rests not only on her widely acclaimed novels but also on her efforts to promote literacy in the United States and abroad. A two-time winner of the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award, she has received many other accolades for her body of work, including the Astrid Lindgren Award for Lifetime Achievement. She is also a vice president of the board of directors of the NCBLA. Her new book is Giving Thanks (Chronicle Books), featuring Pamela Dalton’s exquisite cut-paper illustrations. Learn more about Paterson and her books on her website.
Jon Scieszka was the first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, a program sponsored by the Library of Congress Center for the Book and the Children’s Book Council. His zany, somewhat subversive sense of humor is evident in such best-sellers as The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales and The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs. He also has a book series and website that encourages boys to read more called Guys Read. Scieszka’s new book is Guys Read: Other Worlds (HarperCollins). Learn more about Sieszka and his books on his website.
Susan Cooper is the author of the classic five-book series The Dark Is Rising, which won a Newbery Medal, a Newbery Honor Award and two Carnegie Honor Awards. Cooper has also received the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association for a “significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature.” Born in England, Cooper was a reporter and feature writer for the London Sunday Times before coming to live in the United States. Her writing includes books for children and adults, a Broadway play, films and Emmy-nominated screenplays. Ghost Hawk (Margaret K. McElderry/Simon & Schuster) is her latest novel. She is a member of the board of directors of the NCBLA. Learn more about Cooper and her books on her website. 
In 2010 Grace Lin won a Newbery Honor for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, an Asian-inspired fantasy that some people compare to The Wizard of Oz. Many of Lin’s books feature members of her family. “My mother and I were star characters in my first book,” says Lin. That book was “The Ugly Vegetables.” In addition to writing her books, Lin also illustrates them. She is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. Her new book is Ling & Ting Share a Birthday (Little, Brown). Learn more about Lin on her website.
Regarding her most important accomplishments, literacy advocate Lynda Johnson Robb has this to say, “I am the mother of three almost perfect children. I am still married to Chuck after 46 years. For more than 40 years I worked to get books into the hands of children who did not have books of their own. I have received many awards but none as important as those.” Robb is a member of the NCBLA's Advisory Board.
Carol H. Rasco is President and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental, the largest children’s literacy nonprofit in the United States. Throughout her life, Carol has been a devoted advocate for children, youth, and families, as a professional and as a volunteer. Prior to joining RIF in 2001, Carol was the executive director for government relations at the College Board. From 1997 through 2000, Carol served as the senior adviser to U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, and as director of the America Reads Challenge. Previously, Carol worked in the White House as domestic policy adviser to the president and directed the Domestic Policy Council. You can enjoy her expertise, insight, and good humor at Twitter: @CHRasco and Tumblr: chrquietly.tumblr.com.
About the National Book Festival
The 13th annual National Book Festival will be held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22. The NCBLA's Readers Theater presentation is scheduled for Sunday, September 22nd. The National Book Festival is free and open to the public.
Each year the National Book Festival features authors, poets, and illustrators in several pavilions. This year two pavilions are dedicated to authors and illustrators who write and illustrate books for children and teens. The festival is a family friendly event, providing an opportunity for readers of all ages to meet and hear firsthand from their favorite authors and illustrators, get books signed, hear special entertainment, and have photos taken with storybook characters. Learn more at the official website: loc.gov/bookfest
About Us
The National Children’s
Book and Literacy Alliance (the NCBLA) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit
organization founded by award-winning young people’s authors and illustrators.
Acting as an independent creative agent or in partnership with interested
parties, the NCBLA develops original projects, programs, and educational
outreach that advocate for and educate about literacy, literature, libraries,
the arts, and humanities. We believe that literacy is
essential to the development of responsible citizens in a democracy. And we
believe that citizens, both young and old, must have equal access to
stimulating books and information sources that invite them to dream and give
them the tools to achieve their dreams. As writers and illustrators, teachers
and mentors, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles—as citizens and
neighbors—our ultimate question is always how can we best serve all of our
nation’s children? Keep up with NCBLA news and events on our website (thencbla.org),
our blog (thencbla.blogspot.com), and our Facebook page.
The Center for the Book
in the Library of Congress was established by public law in 1977 to promote
books, reading, literacy and libraries, as well as the scholarly study of
books. Since its founding, the Center has established affiliate centers in the
50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Center's
mission is carried out internationally through its overseas affiliates. More
than 80 organizations are Center for the Book reading promotion partners both
in the United States and abroad.
Center for the Book
programs include the Books & Beyond author series, in
which writers from across the country come to the Library to discuss their work
and their use of the Library's extraordinary resources. The National Book
Festival authors program is also a Center for the Book project. The Center also
places special emphasis on young readers through reading and writing contests,
the Read.gov
website, and the Young Readers Center in the Thomas Jefferson Building on
Capitol Hill.
Reading
Is Fundamental (RIF) delivers free books and literacy resources to children and
families in underserved communities in the United States. By giving children
the opportunity to own a book, RIF inspires them to become lifelong readers and
achieve their full potential. As the nation's largest children's literacy
nonprofit, RIF has placed 410 million books in the hands of more than 39
million children since it was established in 1966. Learn more and help RIF
provide books to kids who need them most, visit RIF.org.
