Lacey Loves to Read – Building A Community Of Book Lovers, With Help Of New York Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Holm

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By Natasha Ashenhurst

Lacey Loves To Read has selected author Jennifer Holm. She will be featured at a community event on February 28 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm.

Ten years ago the City of Lacey, North Thurston Public Schools, and the Lacey Timberland Regional Library teamed up to answer the question, what would happen if everyone in Lacey read the same author at the same time?

Their quest was find extraordinary books written by a notable author and then encourage everyone to read the book. The committee launched Lacey Loves to Read, and 10 years later the program continues to be a success with the help of numerous community partnerships.

Modeled after The Seattle Public Library’s one book – one community, the committee wanted to a program oriented for children. “We wanted to do it, but for kids. Our idea was to get adults and children reading a book together, and then give the community a chance to meet the author at the end of the month,” said Courtney Schrieve of North Thurston Public Schools, and one of the founding committee members.

In past years authors have included Gary Soto, Jane Yolen, Walter Dean Myers, Naomi Shihab Nye, Pat Mora, Sy Montgomery, and Joseph Bruchac.

“Each year, the committee receives author recommendations from teachers and librarians. When we surveyed our experts last year, Jennifer Holm was the number one pick. She is well respected in the literary world and she engages the kids,” said Schrieve.

Jennifer’s writing credits are substantial. She is a New York Times bestselling children’s author and has received three Newbery Honors for her novels Our Only May Amelia, Penny from Heaven, and Turtle in Paradise. Her most recent work, the Babymouse series, is a collaboration with her brother Matthew Holm. Jennifer wrote the books, and her brother illustrated this graphic novel series.

“I grew up as the only girl in a house with four boys in 70s and 80s.  I read what my brothers were reading, which was comic books. Unfortunately, there were rarely great girls in those comics. I could not identify with the female characters,” she said in a telephone interview. So, she set out to write a great graphic novel with a strong female character– The Babymouse series.

“Comics are a great tool for literacy. They keep reluctant readers hooked and they can finish a book in very little time, and that builds confidence,” she said.

Jennifer was a voracious reader as a child. “I was that strange kid at the amusement park reading while waiting in line to ride on the roller coaster,” she said. Her nose was always in a good book.

From an early age, she had ambitions of becoming a writer. “After I graduated from college, I moved to New York City and worked in advertising.  I also started working on my first novel. It took over three years to write and then another year to get an agent, but I had to write the story,” she said.

“My first book, Our Only May Amelia is the story of a girl who grew up on a farm, an only girl with seven brothers. It explores my Finnish heritage and takes place in Washington State in the late 1800s,” she said.

Penny from Heaven is taken from her mother’s Italian American heritage and explores life in New Jersey in the 1950s.

She is currently working on a book that includes paramecium and amoebas. “They are completely neglected in literature,” she said with a laugh.

Jennifer will continue to write for children. “I am solidly in the kid’s sphere,” she said.

She loves to read children’s literature as well, especially graphic novels. Right now she is reading the Lunch Lady series by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. “It is hilarious and awesome. Smiles by Raina Telgemeier is another great one for the tween set. It is about a girl who has a lot of dental disasters,” she said.

Her son loves to read graphic novels too. “He is getting into some of the older series, like Hagar the Horrible. I loved that when I was a kid,” she said. Her daughter, age five, loves Little Bear and enjoys listening to the audio version of Ramona and Beezus.

Jennifer does her best to encourage reading at home. “We try and read every night with our kids. We also leave baskets of books in every room around the house, even the bathroom. I think that the more books that you have in the house the better,” she said.

Jennifer loves to see communities like Lacey involved in promoting reading. “When kids read well they do better in school, they are more confident and are more successful,” she said.

Lacey Loves to Read Events

The program kicked off February 1 and there are events throughout the month, which will culminate in the Author Reception on February 28. Events include:

The Lacey Loves to Read book mark contest:  Each year the book mark contest brings an art focus to the program. Out of 1,000 entries, 6 to 24 winners will have their artwork duplicated into a book mark that promotes the events.

February 10 from 1:30 – 3:00 PM Lacey Loves Our Only May Amelia. Located in the Garden Room at Panorama City (1751 Circle Lane SE). This is a book discussion for all ages led by Friends of Lacey Timberland Library, Library Staff, and the Lacey Historical Museum.

Teen Graphic Novel Contest: Teens ages 12-18 are invited to submit their original graphic novel entries by February 23 at Lacey Timberland Library for the chance to win great prizes and see their work in print! Entry forms and contest guidelines can be found at the library or on the website.

February 28 from 7:00 – 9:00 PM: Community Author Reception at Lacey Community Center featuring Jennifer L. Holm. Refreshments, door prizes, book sales and signings.

For more information about the author, click here.

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