Preface
This manual is created for the 2002 Texas Reading Club, a program of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The theme, "Read Across Texas!" invites children to explore the history, geography, and culture of Texas through the portal of books and their local libraries.
In the 2002 manual, Texas children's librarians have written individual chapters in their areas of interest and expertise. Some of the most talented and enthusiastic children's librarians in Texas contributed a vast array of suggestions for wonderful age-appropriate programs. Please read about these authors in the section of this manual entitled, "About the Authors."
There are many exciting elements in the 2002 Texas Reading Club Manual, including:
- Sheet music for a theme song by Willy Welch that will be used every year and will appear on his upcoming CD.
- A chapter featuring the puppet plays, stories, and reader's theater scripts.
- A bilingual chapter with programs for children of various ages.
- A suggestion in the Young Adults chapter for a separate young adult reading club based on the theme, "Travel Quest!"
If you explore this manual thoroughly, you will delight in the contributions of the authors will find many exciting ideas for planning and hosting an enjoyable and successful 2002 Texas Reading Club.
I would like to express my gratitude to Belinda Boon for countless hours of proof-reading, to Shawn Clements for the beautiful formatting, to Myra Arredondo for proof-reading the bilingual chapter, to the authors for contributing outstanding and original ideas, to Elizabeth McMahon for illustrating the crafts, to James Warhola for his delightful clip art, and especially to the many children's librarians who host this program year after year.
Christine McNew
Youth Services Consultant
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
September, 2001