Thursday, March 27, 2008

Read-A-Palooza Event

This morning, I had the priviledge of attending the first (and hopefully annual) Read-A-Palooza event at Thompson Middle School in Newport. Lisa Olaynack, a fantastic 6th grade teacher at Thompson, organized this event to celebrate young adult book readers and authors. She invited representatives from Reading is Fundamental (who provided free books to all 160 sixth graders in attendance) and librarians from the Redwood Library and the Newport Public Library. (I went representing the Children's Department as did our YA Librarian, Kathy Fitzgerald). I had the chance to talk about the Book Buddies Book Club and specifically our Book Buddies Blog which is not restricted to book club members, but is open to anyone interested in books and reading. (I encourage people to post comments and write book reviews!) Author Ann Hood was also there to discuss her new young adult novel, How I Saved My Father's Life (And Ruined Everything Else). She also signed books and took questions from the students. It is always such a thrill when an author agrees to meet with young people and talk with them about their work and Ann Hood was fantastic!

It was a wonderful event and I am so grateful that Lisa asked me to participate. I'm already looking forward to next year. In the meantime I will be enjoying my copy of How I Saved My Father's Life....

1 comment:

Mrs. O said...

Cathy,
Thnak you for coming to our first annual Read-A-Palooza. Thanks for sharing your blog and book buddies with us.

Ann is not only a great author, but a dynamic speaker as well. She was eager to meet her new young adult readers. She accepted our invitation to come back to initiate a mother daughter book club with How I Saved My Father.

I'm looking forward to reading more comments on Ann's book on your blog.

Mrs. O