After months of planning and collaboration and some consternation, this NEA grant-funded project kicked off.  It started great!  Book group with display at the Council Bluffs (IA) Public Library was fun -- reitred minister, another librarian, a couple history buffs, some dog fanatics, and rounded out with some people who came because they enjoy reading. 

Then on Saturday, April 19, the 'official' kick-off event was at the Western Historic Trails Center.  The trails this place depicts all head west, so it was fun being contrary by celebrating a trail that went east across Iowa:  the route of Kelly's Industrial Army in 1894.  Since Jack London and his novel, The Call of the Wild, was the major focus I had events centered around the Klondike.  Dave Maron baked camp bread, the DNR's Michelle demonstrated dutch oven cooking  and her co-worker, Butch, made rope. (Oh, kids liked that -- twirling and lassoing!), storyteller Stu Lynn recited Klondike poems (The Cremation of Sam McGee, for one).  The BIG hit of this The Big Read day was the Montana Mountain Mushers, 3 dogs and their handlers.  Lela and Harry Schlitz have been taking their dogs to schools, clubs, wherever to promote literacy, dog safety, the history of dog sledding and much more.  They got to combine all their messages for this event.  They are GREAT and it wasn't only the kids that stayed around to pet and talk and learn about the dogs (two of whom retired from the Denali National Park dogsled teams).

To save gas money --and to insert a mini-vacation-- I stayed over rather then driving back to Des Moines. Besides, it was great fun playing with Mic and Jenn, two friends in Omaha. I enjoyed seeing their new place and even helping out with yardwork. (Though mainly Mic and I watched Jenn trim the bushes while we drank coffee!)

Walnut IA came next and was a much slower day - but still worth it with time to talk to the 14 people who wondered through the display or stayed for a book discussion.  A school board member, a retired special ed teacher, a new library board member, an Optimist Club volunteer, and a substitute teacher were among those who came by that Monday. 

I was looking forward to working with the classes at Adair-Casey Elementary, but one can't always control the Call of the Wild! A lightening storm disabled the school well, so they had to cancel classes when there was no water.  I did stop into the first grade classroom for 5 minutes, interacting with them about reading, showing them the stuffed animal wolf, and checking with the teacher about re-scheduling. 

Next stop was a book discussion group at the First Unitarian Church in Des Moines.  They had me as part of their kick-off for Great Books Discussions.  So, it was another win-win collaboration. Great group of readers and --phew!--can they ever talk about a book!  I'm coming back for more of their discussions on other selections.

Kid energy was at the forefront again when I went to Beaver Creek Elementary School for their PTO event.  The Big Read tie-in was talking about Buck's journey.  In the Teacher's Guide for London's book that NEA printed, it had a great activity for lesson 2; so I used that to coincide with the PTO's theme of travel and maps!  Kids got involved in the story we told together about goldminers and I had a handout for them.

It was a great first week.  Lots of press, radio promos, and a couple TV mentions. Hundreds of people, overall.  And hopefully it all ends up with more people chosing to read literature.

Shalom!

Spending a lot of physical and mental time on The Big Read.  We are part of this nation-wide effort to bring reading back into the mainstream of American culture -- not just reading blogs or posts or websites or 'zine or hordes of other interesting and connective information tissue.  This reading focus is on literature!

SO -- yesterday and this morning was organizing time, prepping for the literature read. Had a blizzard of notes and reference slips that mirrored the blizzard look outdoor ON MY DESK! Used my arm as a 'snow shovel' and scooped the whole pack into a couple folders. This morning I reviewed, tossed, slotted, and did my records management thing.  Feel much better - and got the TO DO list started for Monday morning.

Now the weekend is for family, friends, and fun. Have a comfort food meal simmering --pot roast with celery, onion & taters.  My mother-out-law is going with Becca to the public television station to watch a quilting show/demonstration, so we're going to eat our main meal together at noon. Diana is coming over to join us and then she & I go to Another State of Mind to shop for a birthday present.

Tomorrow is church and then a planning meeting (really a gathering of friends) for the Women's Cultural Collective. Then that late afternoon I'll swing over to see daughter Lilly and my grandbaby Angelina! 

I LOVE the growing sunlight, the energy of the still approaching spring. This is my personal "call of the wild!"