Posted by Angie on Wednesday, Aug 10, 2016
This spring I joined the Early Literacy Task Force which is part of the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce. This weekend we are excited to host a free family Not a Box Building Party! The next event will be on Saturday, August 13 at Wetherby Park in Iowa City from 3-5pm.
This is a free, all-ages event. The party will begin with a reading of “Not a Box” by Antionette Portis, a story about imagination and creativity in which a young rabbit’s imagination frees him from the constraints that he has just-a-box, but rather that it can be anything he wants it to be. The children (and adults) will then have an opportunity to let their imaginations run free and construct whatever they can imagine. There will be vast amounts of cardboard boxes and tape available as well as volunteers to assist and supervise. Snacks will be provided and at the end of the event at least 85 families will receive their own copy of “Not a Box” to take home with them. All children will have an opportunity to choose a free book to take home.
Participating organizations include 4Cs Community Coordinated Child Care, Antelope Lending Library, Iowa Children’s Museum, Iowa City Public Library, Johnson County Empowerment/ECIA, Strive For Success, Iowa City Community School District, NCS Pearson, United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties, Westergaard, LLC, and Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce along with generous donations of materials from General Mills.
Visit the Early Literacy Task Force Facebook event at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/147830068974566/
We hope to see you there!
About the Author
Angie is the Children's Services Coordinator at the Iowa City Public Library. You can find her in the Ellen Buchanan Children's Room or occasionally on the Bookmobile.
This book is getting rave reviews and was easy to see why. Hey, Kiddo is the graphic memoir of author-illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Raised by his colorful grandparents, who adopted him because his mother was an incarcerated heroin addict, Krosoczka didn't know his father's name until he saw his birth certificate when registering for a school ski trip. Hey, Kiddo traces Krosoczka's search for his father, his difficult interactions with his mother, his day-to-day life with his grandparents, and his path to becoming an artist. The artwork does, as intended, look like a memory or dream sequence and adds to the intensity of the book. It is a very honest description of his life growing up and at times can be very dark. Knowing the books he now writes and illustrates for children, it is amazing to see him overcome his upbringing to be the success he is today, it proves to be a very powerful message for everyone to take away. -Angie