Promoting Literacy — The fifth annual Seuss-a-Thon will take place this coming Saturday, March 5, at Park Road Books (4139 Park Road) from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. During this event, participants will read Dr. Seuss books aloud to children in a marathon fashion for four continuous hours. Children will also have opportunities to do Dr. Seuss-related craft projects.
In organizing the Seuss-a-Thons, I am trying to promote literacy in the Charlotte community. For me, literacy involves much more than teaching children how to read and write. A literate person, in my opinion, not only has the ability to read and write but also has an appreciation of the written word. By facilitating the sharing of Dr. Seuss books with children, I hope, in some small way, to help children develop an appreciation for stories and to encourage them to play with words. I hope to see you there.
English Major Day — This year’s English Major Day will take place on March 22 (Tuesday) in Fretwell 290B. This annual event will feature three workshops. The first workshop is titled “The English Major as Preparation for a 21st-Century Career,” and it will run from 11:00 to 12:15. The second workshop is titled “Publishing a Book,” and it will run from 12:30 to 1:45. The third workshop is on “Preparing for Graduate School,” and it will run from 2:00 to 3:15. Please encourage your students to participate in this event. My thanks go to Kirk Melnikoff and the members of the Undergraduate Committee for organizing this event.
Kudos— As you know, I like to use my Monday Missives to share news about recent accomplishments by members of our department. Here is the latest news:
Paula Connolly’s Slavery in American Children’s Literature, 1790-2010 just received a very positive review. The review appeared in American Literature (87.2) 2015.
Bonnie Shishko, one of our part-time faculty members, recently published a book review of Dickens and the Imagined Child. The review appeared in the Children’s Literature Association Quarterly.
Quirky Quiz Question — A new Dr. Seuss book was just published last year. Does anybody know the title of this new picture book?
Last week’s answer: Truman Capote
Harper Lee based some of the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird on real people. The character of Dill is based on her childhood friend who went on to become a famous author. Does anybody know the name of the real person upon whom the character of Dill is based?