THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO AS MAYOR—Include dressing silly to promote the town’s newest festival, Reading Rocks in Rockford. Mayor Chi Chi Rogers reads with Rockford Rotary president Ramona Hinton. As part of Hinton’s presidency, she came up with this new festival to promote literacy in an active, hands-on way.
Rockford is a town of many talents and a town of many exciting summmer events. This Saturday, August 29, Rockford Rotary combines the two in the newest annual event: Reading Rocks in Rockford.
Reading will be anything but a sedate, solitary pursuit this weekend with active and hands-on activities with a reading theme.
Rockford Rotary has long partnered with Rockford Schools and schools in other countries to promote literacy, international goodwill and even fill hungry bellies. Each Tuesday children in a Dominican Republic School eat breakfast because Rockford Rotary pays for it.
Now, right at home, experience literacy in a variety of venues.
Have breakfast with authors in Krause Memorial Library Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. for just $4. At 9:45 a.m. dress up as your favorite storybook character and enjoy a side walk parade which starts at Rockford City Hall.
Events take place throughout the day all over downtown. More than a dozen authors will visit town and will read and sign books. Signs around town will direct festival attendees to the different events. An outdoor lunch adventure will take place from 11:30 a.m. at Garden Club Park. Bring a lunch or purchase lunch downtown and enjoy Jeff Schatzer and his new book Professor Tuesday’s Awesome Adventure.
All ages will enjoy this chance to celebrate the joy of reading, to meet Rockford athletes, school officials, authors and Rotarians as they read out loud.
Activities begin with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and continue to 3 p.m. Don’t miss this first-time new festival with a literary theme.
1. Jeff Schatzer – main stage
2. Carl Behrend – main stage
3. Sow Hope-One Hen – main stage
4. Nancy Edwards
5. Jean Alicia Elster ( wants to come to Author breakfast)
6. Renee Hand
7. Alan St. Jean
8. Karen Bell-Brege – possibly present as well
9. Kim Cory -
10. Roland Hansen
11. Kenn Vidro
12. Shirley Neitzel
13. Judith Wade
14. Janet Heller
15. Wendy Gager/and an author friend
16. MaryAnn Lesert
Robin Schmidt to display books at Frenz Restaurant
Information about authors:
Judith Wade, Author Eagle, MI email: rileypress@yahoo.com Judith’s website: rileypress.hypermart.net
Books:
Mermaid Dreams (Riley Press, 2005)
The Mermaid’s Gift (Riley Press, 2004)
The Secret of Mermaid Island (Riley Press, 2003)
Kim Delmar Cory, Author Holt, MI email: kcory@lcc.edu Kim’s website: www.kdelmarcory.com
Books [titles are Michigan-based historical novels for grades 4-6]
Home to Mackinac (Mackinac State Historic Parks, May 2006), Michigan based YA Historical Fiction
Charlie Boy (Royal Fireworks Press, 1999)
Lilly’s Way (Royal Fireworks Press, 1998)
Renee Hand, Author Byron, MI e-mail: thecryptocapersseries@gmail.com
Renee’s websites: www.reneeahand.com and http://thecryptocapersseries.blogspot.com
Books (The Crypto-Capers Series):
Book 3: The Legend of the Golden Monkey (North Star Press, fall 2009)
Book 2: The Case of Red Rock Canyon (North Star Press, 2009)
Book 1: The Case of the Missing Sock (North Star Press, 2008)
Jean Alicia Elster, Author Detroit, MI email: author@jeanaliciaelster.com
Jean’s website: www.jeanaliciaelster.com
Books:
Who’s Jim Hines? (Wayne State University Press, 2008), a middle grade novel
I’ll Do the Right Thing (Judson Press, 2003), a picture story book, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell
I’ll Fly My Own Plane (Judson Press, 2002), a picture story book, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell
I Have a Dream, Too! (Judson Press, 2002), a picture story book, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell
Just Call Me Joe Joe (Judson Press, 2001), a picture story book, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell
Shirley Neitzel, Author Grand Rapids, MI email: shirleyneitzel@charter.net
Shirley’s website: www.shirleyneitzel.com
Books [all titles are picture books illustrated by Nancy Winslow Parker unless otherwise noted]
Who Will I Be? A Halloween Rebus Story (Greenwillow, August 2005)
This Is the Ark That Noah Built (Augsburg, May 2004)
Liberty and Justice for All (River Road, 2002), illustrated by Carolyn Stich
Our Class Took a Trip to the Zoo (Greenwillow, 2002)
I’m Not Feeling Well Today (Greenwillow, Spring 2001)
I’m Taking a Trip on My Train (Greenwillow, 1999, ISBN 0688158331)
The House I’ll Build for the Wrens (Greenwillow, 1997, ISBN 0688149731)
We’re Making Breakfast for Mother (Greenwillow, 1997, ISBN 0688145752)
The Bag I’m Taking to Grandma’s (Greenwillow, 1995, ISBN 0688158404)
The Dress I’ll Wear to the Party (Greenwillow, 1995, ISBN 0688142613 )
The Jacket I Wear in the Snow (Greenwillow, 1989, ISBN 0688045871)
From the Land of the White Birch (River Road, 1997, ISBN 093868244X), a storybook of Ojibwa legends illustrated by Daniel Powers
Kenn Vidro 2115 Plymouth Ave., SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 Email: kvidro@rockfordschools.org
Square Pears I, II, III
Tongue Twisters
Pear Pair
Roland Hansen, Author Fenton, MI
Roland’s website: http://www.childrensbooksbyrolandhansen.com/
Books
Email: rlndhansen@yahoo.com
[picture books; all illustrated by Brittany Janay Jackson]
Tim the Cat (English, Spanish, and Arabic editions, GP Publishing, 2007)
Jingle Jangles Smith (GP Publishing, 2008)
Timmy’s Trouble Tale (GP Publishing, 2009, Spanish edition forthcoming)
Life on Happy Pond (GP Publishing, 2009)
Nancy Edwards, Author Port Huron, MI email: nancy_leigh@hotmail.com
Books
Mom for Mayor (Cricket Books, Feb 06), a MG novel
Glenna’s Seeds (Child and Family Press, 2000, ISBN 0878687882), a picture book
Alan St. Jean, Author Battle Creek, MI e-mail: author@alanstjean.com
Alan’s website: www.alanstjean.com
Books
Spooky Mooky, Volume II of the Daydreams Collection (Oren Village, Summer 2008) illustrated by Libby Carruth Krock, picture book
Big Fella, Volume I of the Daydreams Collection (Oren Village, Summer 2008) illustrated by Krock, picture book
Aidan of Oren, Valley of the Dragons (Oren Village, Fall 2007) illustrated by Judith Friedman Nagel, chapter book
Aidan of Oren, The Elf Princess (Oren Village, Spring 2006) illustrated by Nagel, chapter book
Aidan of Oren, The Journey Begins (Moo Press, Spring 2004) illustrated by Nagel, chapter book
Alyssa and the Spider, Volume III of the Daydreams Collection (Oren Village, Summer 2009) illustrated by Libby Carruth Krock, picture book
The Chronicles of Oren (Oren Village, Summer 2010) – Middle/High School Thriller
Karen Bell-Brege, Author Brighton, MI email: mickmorrisinfo@yahoo.com
Karen’s website: www.mickmorris.com
Mick Morris Myth Solver # 4 The Grudge of the Gremlins! (Team B Creative, 2007), illustrated by Darrin Brege
Mick Morris Myth Solver #3 Champ…A Wave of Terror! (Team B Creative, 2006), illustrated by Darrin Brege
Mick Morris Myth Solver #2 Bigfoot…Big Trouble! (Team B Creative, 2006), illustrated by Darrin Brege
Mick Morris Myth Solver #1 All Isn’t Well in Roswell (Team B Creative, 2005), a middle grade novel, illustrated by Darrin Brege
The Chill Art Sketchbook-How to Draw 12 of Your Favorite Chillers Creatures (Audiocraft Publishing, 2005), non-fiction, co-author and illustrator Darrin Brege
Janet Ruth Heller, Author Portage, MI email: janet.heller@wmich.edu
Books
How the Moon Regained her Shape (Sylvan Dell, Feb 2006), a picture book, illustrated by Ben Hodson
Maryann Lesert 524 Plum Wayland, MI 49348
Books
The Best TenMinute Plays of 2007
The Art of the One Act
Published in Voices of Alzheimers
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