Photo by Miranda Pederson/Daily News Kyda West (left) reads a book to granddaughter Alexandria West, 3, both of Bowling Green, today at the Southern Kentucky Book Fest children’s day at Sloan Convention Center. “We bought the books and we had to read them immediately,” West said. “She plays veterinarian with all her stuffed animals at home, so we had to buy this book.” The book they are reading is Vicky the Vet by Felicity Brooks.
Published 12:00 am Friday, April 15, 2005
Children’s day
Annual literary event begins today at the Sloan Convention Center
By Alyssa Harvey, aharvey@bgdailynews.com — 270-783-3257
Friday, April 15, 2005
Grace Anne Wethington stood at a table, traced her hand on a piece of paper and paused to decide how to finish her masterpiece.
OK, there you go, said the 2-year-olds mother, Jennifer Wethington of Bowling Green. What color next? Green?
Wethington and Grace Anne were participating in the Make and Do Room of arts and crafts after this mornings kickoff of the Southern Kentucky Book Fest at the Sloan Convention Center.
Today, the event will feature Childrens Day with authors and activities geared toward youngsters. The Book Fest will continue with activities for children and adults from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Were delighted with the turnout and participation of so many schools, said Jayne Pelaski, chairwoman of the Book Fest Management Committee and assistant to the dean of Western Kentucky University libraries for community outreach. Were also thrilled with the more than 700 entries from the Never Judge a Book by it Movie writing contest.
Organizers announced the winners contest. First-place winners received a $50 Barnes & Noble gift certificate and second-place winners received a $25 Barnes & Noble gift certificate. Winners in Division I for grades 3-5 were Jessica Johnson (first) of Richardsville Elementary School and William H. Merritt III (second) of Potter-Gray Elementary School. Winners in Division II for grades 6-8 were Rebecca Wheeler (first) of Drakes Creek Middle School and Julie Hansbrough (second) of DCMS. Winners in Division III for grades 9-12 were Will Milliken (first) of Bowling Green High School and Vicky Siegrist (second) of BGHS.
Im very proud of him, Marcia Merritt of Bowling Green said of her son, William, 8, as she hugged him and his sister, Candice, 10, after the ceremony. They love to read, and thats the key to success.
William also known as Tre wrote about Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Ive read most of them, he said of the popular childrens books.
Candice has read all of them. She is working toward becoming an honors reader one of the higher ratings of readers at Potter-Gray.
You have to read 18 books, write three essays and read to younger students, she said. I need to read about 25 more minutes to younger students and read a few more books and write some of my essays.
In the ballroom, former Jefferson County Judge-Executive Rebecca Jackson sat at a table and talked to passersby about her childrens book, Mackenzie and the Baby Robin, which tells the story of a baby robin separated from its mother. The story is loosely based on something that happened to Jackson a few years ago.
I was doing my Bible study and noticed a baby robin lost in my garden. It looked like it was calling for its mother, she said. I thought that is what we must look like to God when we go our own way.
After being encouraged to make the story into a book, she called her cousin, Richard Thompson, and asked him to illustrate the book. Jackson decided to add her granddaughter, Mackenzie, to the story. Jackson and Thompson have been going into schools and reading and discussing the books with students.
Its been fun doing the signings, Thompson said. They may be more fun than doing the book.
Theyre planning to do another book together, possibly including Jacksons second granddaughter.
This is really a gift from God, she said of the book. Its a gift that God put in my little garden.
Mary Beth Carlisle of Bowling Green said she was happy that the book fest existed. She brought her 3-year-old daughter, Maddie, to meet the authors and to do the crafts.
I think its such a privilege to have something of such a large scale in Bowling Green, she said. This exposes them to the format of reading in so many different ways.
Wethington agreed.
I wanted to show Grace Anne the importance of reading, she said. We had one of the authors sign her book. Hopefully this will be a good memory for her.
For a complete schedule and authors listing go to www.sokybookfest.org.
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