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SANDWICH READS TOGETHER Launches 2009 Community-Wide Reading Program

SANDWICH, MA (January 6, 2009) – Sandwich Reads Together (SRT), a community-wide reading program, is pleased to announce the launch of its 2009 program, focused on the power of books and story-telling to connect people across cultures and religions, and throughout time. Presentations by 12 authors and illustrators over the course of the eight-week program will be rounded out by discussions and activities for all age groups.

All events have been designed around the idea that “diverse cultures influence and enrich one another,” the theme of the main reading selection for the 2009 program, People of the Book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks. Inspired by a true story, People of the Book traces the journey of a rare illuminated Hebrew manuscript, a Haggadah, from its creation in 15th-century Spain during the Inquisition, to modern times and its near-destruction in Sarajevo during the bitter Bosnian civil war in the mid-1990s. Brooks will headline SRT’s 2009 program with a presentation and book signing on January 31 at Sandwich High School.

Caldecott Award-winning author and illustrator Allen Say also will appear in Sandwich, and will discuss his newest children’s book, Erika-San, at the high school on February 28. Author and illustrator of the Caldecott Medal-winning Grandfather’s Journey and illustrator of the Horn Book award-winning The Boy of the Three-Year Nap, Say focuses his work on his experiences in both his native Japan and in the United States.
Other authors appearing as part of SRT’s 2009 public program include children’s and young adult book expert Anita Silvey; Nicholas Basbanes, well-known for writing about books, bibliophiles, and various aspects of book culture; Mitali Perkins, an Indian-American author of books for girls whose blog states that it’s a “safe place to think, chat, and read about life between cultures;” and Stephen Prothero, a professor in the Department of Religion at Boston University.

In addition, SRT has scheduled author visits for all students in grades K-12 in the Sandwich public schools. These authors and illustrators include Alice Hoffman, who will speak to Sandwich High School students about her book, Incantation; Elizabeth Wellburn and Deryk Houston, speaking to seventh and eight graders about their book on the cellist of Sarajevo, Echoes From the Square; Yin and Chris Soentpiet, speaking to third and fourth graders about their work, Brothers; and Norah Dooley, telling stories to the first and second graders based on her book, Everybody Cooks Rice. Each of these authors and illustrators also will hold a public book signing event. The Kiwanis Club of Sandwich: Levreault Trust grant funds have made these school author visits possible.

A full calendar of SRT events and descriptions of each author and illustrator visit can be found at www.sandwichreadstogether.org.

The Sandwich Board of Selectmen, at their January 8, 2009 meeting will read a proclamation declaring Wednesday, January 22, “Drop Everything and Read!” (DEAR) Day. Residents across town are encouraged to stop whatever they’re doing and read for enjoyment for 20 minutes on DEAR Day. According to Lauren Robinson, SRT co-chair and reference librarian at the Sandwich Public Library, “We’re asking every resident of Sandwich to drop what they’re doing and pick up a good read on January 22.” Residents are encouraged to photograph themselves or their family members with their books, magazines or other reading materials. Photos can be dropped off for display at the library or emailed to: info@sandwichreadstogether.org. Photos may be posted on the SRT website.

Robinson adds, “We’re very pleased to offer our third community-wide reading program to the town of Sandwich. Our SRT programming options are greatly expanded this year because we received federal grant funds through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. We’ll offer residents book discussion groups, lectures and book signings, dance presentations, puppet shows, book-making workshops, and more,” she says. “We’ve tried to provide something for everyone to enhance their reading experience.”

Vicky Uminowicz, SRT co-chair and manager of Titcomb’s Bookshop, notes, “This year we’ve even brought local restaurants into the mix. Both the Bee-Hive Tavern and the Dan’l Webster will offer special menu selections during the two-month program.” Dishes from countries represented in both People of the Book and Erika-San, including Japan, Morocco, Spain, Italy and Austria, will be featured on the two establishments’ menus.

In addition to support from the IMLS and the Kiwanis Club of Sandwich, SRT 2009 programs are made possible through funding and support from the Sandwich Public Library, the Sandwich Public Schools, Titcomb’s Bookshop, and the Friends of the Sandwich Public Library.

Sandwich Reads Together is an organization that seeks to promote the joys of reading and literary discussions for all ages. SRT is a collaborative effort of the Sandwich Public Library, the Sandwich Public Schools, Titcomb’s Bookshop, and other community organizations. SRT organizes town-wide reading programs designed to encourage residents to read the same books at the same time, creating closer ties throughout the community by the shared literary experience. SRT offers a variety of events related to literacy and reading on an ongoing basis. Its primary goal is to encourage people to find the time to read for enjoyment and enrichment.
Hundreds of cities and towns across the country have participated in “One Book, One Community” events since 1998, when “If All Seattle Read the Same Book” was launched to promote reading and strengthen civic togetherness. Sandwich’s first community-wide reading event took place in 2005 when residents read Nathaniel Philbrick’s In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex. In 2007, residents read Alice Hoffman’s Blackbird House and Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper.

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