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March 2, 2007
First Lady Applauds Efforts of Young Readers Festival
Presidents Lecture & Performance Series joins forces with the College of Education and Texas Tech University Press to promote literacy.
Written by John Davis
The audience watches during the festival's presentation.
To open the spring season for the Presidential Lecture & Performance Series, nine authors, illustrators and editors plus students and faculty gave presentations on reading, literacy and books for young and adolescent readers.
Engaging Young Readers: A Festival of Authors and Ideas ran Feb. 16-17 in varying locations across campus. It was presented with the Language & Literacy Program Area in the College of Education and the Texas Tech University Press.
“This was actually the third year for the Language & Literacy Program Area in the College of Education to host a Literature Festival,” says Kathryn Button, associate chairwoman of curriculum and instruction in the College of Education. “Our main goal was to offer our students a rare chance to talk with celebrated authors and, this year, a major editor of children’s books. Devoting two days to celebrating and enjoying literature is extremely important in our student's future as educators.”
Guest lecturers included author and illustrator, Marla Frazee, the Michael Printz honor author, Terry Trueman, and Allyn Johnston, editor-in-chief of Harcourt’s Children’s Books.
Marla Frazee, author and illustrator, spoke at the festival.
Also featured were Texas Tech University Press authors Melodie A. Cuate, Carlos Nicolás Flores, Sheila Wood Foard, Jo Harper, Dewey Johnson and Lucy Fischer-West.
Though unable to attend the event, the First Lady Laura Bush sent accolades to the organizers for their efforts to promote literacy, Button says.
“Laura Bush sent a letter to us, in which she said, ‘I send my special admiration to each teacher present and each of the speakers and panelists for your role in helping engage young readers in a lifetime of loving books and reading,’” Button says.
“We could not agree more in her sentiments. Teachers are life-long learners. Two special days set aside for embracing literature helps our students and teachers continue their learning in this critical area.”
Related
Read the letter from Laura Bush to Jon Whitmore here.
Read the letter from Laura Bush regarding the event here.
The Presidential Lecture & Performance Series.
Upcoming events include a visit from Phi Beta Kappa's John Churchill, a performance by the
Santa Fe Opera and an appearance by Chris Gardner, author of "The Pursuit of
Happyness."
Learn more.
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