Making Connections at the Seuss-a-Thon — The Seventh Annual Seuss-a-Thon will take place this coming Saturday, March 3, at Park Road Books from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This community event is co-sponsored by the English Department and Park Road Books, Charlotte’s only full-service, independent bookstore. As such, it represents a cultural connection between our department and the larger Charlotte community. However, there are many other ways in which the Seuss-a-Thon serves as a connecting point.
The Seuss-a-Thon brings children and adults together to share stories, celebrate word play, and collaborate on creative projects. By reading Dr. Seuss stories aloud to children, the adult participants in the Seuss-a-Thon forge connections with the children who are listening to the stories. We often think of reading as a solitary activity, but during the Suess-a-Thon reading is a shared experience.
Although the Seuss-a-Thon is organized by the English Department, it involves the participation of people who are not associated with the English Department but who feel connected to the work of our department. Among this year’s participants are members of UNC Charlotte’s College of Education, including Ellen McIntyre, the Dean of the of the College of Education. The event includes participants from the Charlotte Teachers Institute and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. State Senator Jeff Jackson, a strong advocate for early childhood education programs, plans to participate. Many people from the Charlotte community, including authors, teachers, and parents of young children, will be participating.
A number of our students are also contributing to this year’s Seuss-a-Thon. The members of the Children’s Literature Graduate Organization and Sigma Tau Delta are taking charge of the arts-and-crafts table. These students will be at the Seuss-a-Thon for the entire four hours, helping children create Dr. Seuss-related art projects.
In a way, the Seuss-a-Thon is functioning as a sort of cultural catalyst. It is bringing together people who appreciate imaginative stories, and in the process, it is creating a time and place for people to make their own connections with stories and with each other.
Kudos — As you know, I like to use my Monday Missives to share news about recent accomplishments by members of the English Department. Here is the latest news:
Nadia Clifton, a recent graduate of our M.A, program, published a book review of Young Adult Literature, Libraries, and Conservative Activism in the most recent issue of the Children’s Literature Association Quarterly.
Boyd Davis is the lead author of two recently published two articles. One is titled “What We Can Learn from Mismatched and Unexpected Responses to Questions in Interviews with People Who Have TBI,” which appeared in the Journal of Interactional Communication Disorders. The other is titled “Narrative and Ageing: Exploring the Range of Narrative Types in Dementia Conversation,” which appeared in the European Journal of English Studies: http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/i58ZM235YXmYixqnrtH3/full
Cara DeLoach, a recent graduate of our M.A program, published a book review of American Girls and Global Responsibility: A New Relation to the World during the Early Cold Warin the most recent issue of the Children’s Literature Association Quarterly.
Upcoming Events and Deadlines — Here is information about an upcoming event:
Quirky Quiz Question — Dr. Seuss is one of Theodor Seuss Giesel’s pen names, but it is not his only pen name. He often used another pan name for the beginner books that he wrote but did not illustrate. What pen name did he use for these books?
Last week’s answer: Scott Gartlan
The English Department supports the Charlotte Teachers Institute by offering seminars and participating in other CTI events. As a result, the English Department is in frequent contact with CTI’s Executive Director. What is this person’s name?
