Published: September 06, 2008 06:27 pm      

Read-a-thon inspires kids to love books

Event also raises money for foundation

DANVILLE — Readers of all ages came together Saturday at the Danville Public Library to celebrate their love of books.

Adults read aloud to children, who returned the favor by reading aloud to the adults. Some parents sat with their children and listened together. Some children read to two of the library’s specially trained Shetland sheepdogs, who listened attentively.

The first Read-a-Thon, sponsored by the Danville Public Library Foundation, was created as a fundraiser. According to foundation Director Vickie Hicks, only 40 percent of the library’s new books are paid for by city taxes; the foundation and private donors pay for the rest.

Donations were collected by several of those who read as part of the event, and other groups made donations without providing readers. But the goals of the event were modified as the planning continued.

Library Director Barb Nolan said, “We decided it would be a good way to jumpstart reading early in the school year, when some kids hadn’t been reading over the summer.

“We also wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to demonstrate a new database we have from the International Children’s Digital Library,” Nolan said. “These bilingual books show that although how people dress, the food they eat, how they live may be different from one another, we all share the same feelings.” (http://www.children’slibrary.org.)

Maria Sermersheim, nutrition education director for the University of Illinois Extension, Vermilion branch, read a children’s book called “My Very Own Room” to a group of children. Instead of the traditional method of turning the book to show the audience each illustration, the pages were projected on a large screen so listeners could follow along.

Sermersheim asked the group of children how many of them knew Spanish, her native language and the other language besides English that the author used in the book. “Do you watch ‘Dora the Explorer?’” she asked them.

After a few nodded their heads, she began to read the universal story of a 9-year-old who yearns for privacy in a house that’s bursting at the seams with family and guests. First she’d read in Spanish, and then she’d read the same page in English.

“Are you guys understanding the Spanish part?” she asked the kids. When they shook their heads “no,” she asked them, “How does that feel?”

It was a good lesson in empathy for those who might never experience being immersed in a new language like many immigrant children are.

Another group of children learned about another type of book when Sandi Randall read a pop-up book by artist Robert Sabuda.

“This book is from my own collection of children’s books,” Randall said. “I read these to my grandchildren.”

As she turned each page and the paper cut-outs of American landmarks took 3-D shape, the children’s jaws dropped. Even those who visit the library regularly and read often were enchanted with the unique way of illustrating the classic song “America the Beautiful.”

Tarina Henderson stopped by the library so her two school-aged children could check out books. Her 6-year-old son Michael Lyons can read now, she said. Both he and his 5-year-old sister Mariah were awed by the pop-up book.

“We’ve just started coming here,” Henderson said. “It’s all something new for us.”

Another group of children gathered around Rickey Williams Jr. as he read aloud “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.”

“I remember this poem,” Williams, executive director of the Danville Boys & Girls Club, said. “I had to memorize parts of it.”

Two club members, fifth-grade twins Tatianna and Brianna Buchanan, listened intently as Williams read aloud. Each of them took a turn reading, as well.

“They’re both members of our book club,” Williams said, referring to his organization. “They pick a book, take a few weeks to read it and discuss it as they go along.”

Tatianna said, “When everyone reads it and we talk about it, it makes it easier to understand.”

The money raised during the Read-a-Thon will help bring new books to these readers and many more.