An Evening with the Tuskegee Airmen

Wow, it's been awhile since we posted. Books to Bridge members, along with Northwest Literacy Coalition members have delivered more than 400 Lit Kits to all schools, public libraries and colleges in 7 Northwest Indiana counties. Whew!

Books to Bridge partners are conducting book discussions, showing films, and planning programs. Check our website, www.books2bridge.org and see the Calendar of Events for a program near you.

Speaking of the calendar, mark YOUR calendar for a special free program Tuesday, October 18! "An Evening with the Tuskegee Airmen" is from 5 to 7 p.m. at Indiana University Northwest, 3400 Broadway, Gary (Bergland Auditorium in Savannah Hall). As you recall, our 2011 selection, "Hart's War," is a story about a murder trial inside a German POW camp, in which the fictional defendant is a Tuskegee Airman. Learn about these real-life aviators, hear their stories, and meet a few of them in person at this event, inspired by John Katzenbach's novel.

Many thanks to our program partners: Gary Literacy Coalition, Methodist Hospitals and IUN's Offices of Diversity Programming, Student Life and Multicultural Affairs. And, of course, to the Tuskegee Airmen! We hope to see you Tuesday. The program is free and open to the public. Bring your friends!

Schools and libraries, get ready for Lit-Kits

Members of the Northwest Indiana Literacy Coalition and its partners, along with members of Books to Bridge the Region, will again deliver "Lit-Kits" to schools and libraries throughout Lake, Porter, Jasper, LaPorte, Newton, Starke & Pulaski counties. The Lit-Kits will contain red noses, bookmarks, and one or more of this year's Books to Bridge titles. Look for it near the end of August/beginning of September.

NWILC celebrates Time Out for Reading on Fri., Sept. 30 from 10 to 10:15 a.m. Read either silently or aloud, by yourself or in a group.

Books to Bridge getting set for Fall 2011

June already! We will again partner with the Northwest Indiana Literacy Coalition and other literacy groups to bring Lit Kits to all schools, public libraries and colleges in seven Northwest Indiana counties.

We're also putting the finishing touches on our reading guide. Uh, maybe we should mention what books were chosen...

Adult: Hart's War by John Katzenbach - In a German POW camp, Tommy Hart, a law student-turned-navigator, is ordered to defend a Tuskegee Airman charged with murder.

Young Adult: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne - Young Bruno, whose father is a German officer, befriends a young Jewish boy.

Children's: Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming (who was born in Michigan City!); illustrated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen - After World War II, Katje's town in Holland is assisted by aid boxes from America.

Programs galore around Books to Bridge titles

Local libraries have been conducting programs based on Books to Bridge the Region 2010 titles for children and middle readers. For instance, Lake County Public Library's Munster Branch conducts a program Wed., Oct. 13 around I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child. From 4 to 5 p.m., those in kindergarten to sixth grade will hear the story, discuss their favorite foods, and make "edible dirt." On Oct. 25, the library's Cedar Lake Branch plans a program called "Gross Grub." (Uh, yum?)

Meanwhile, the middle reader book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, is featured as well. Jasper County Public Library's Rensselaer Public Library is sponsoring a Cartoon Drawing Contest, while on Oct. 19, Lake County Public Library's St. John Branch encourages teens to Create Your Own Cartoon Drawing. On Oct. 18, Valparaiso Public Library shows a film, while the Hammond Public Library plans a tween program. Why all the excitement? The Ugly Truth, the fifth book in this popular series, comes out on Nov. 9. Greg Heffley even has his own balloon in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Several area libraries have book discussions planned around the adult title, Bowling Across America: 50 States in Rented Shoes by Mike Walsh. Students and faculty at Ivy Tech locations can participate in discussions at each campus. Bowling historian, Steve Cooper, presents programs at several local libraries, while Whiting Public Library offers Wii Bowling for Seniors each Tuesday afternoon.

A complete schedule of events is on the Books to Bridge the Region website, www.books2bridge.org

Steve Cooper presents "Bowling Memories"

Have you read the 2010 Books to Bridge the Region adult selection? Mike Walsh's "Bowling Across America: 50 States in Rented Shoes" brought back memories of watching our old Phillips black-and-white TV, when bowling was shown quite often. The announcer spoke in hushed tones, sort of like announcers do in golf. The ball whoosed down the lane... strike! I remember going to the local bowling alleys with my family; grabbing the 8 lb. "star ball" (so named because of the yellow star painted on it — a clue that it was lightweight); putting on the dorky rental shoes; marking the score with a little pencil.

You may have those memories too. Go back to an earlier time with local bandleader and bowling historian Steve Cooper, as he presents "Bowling Memories" at six area libraries as part of Books to Bridge the Region 2010. His video program features rare clips from the heyday of bowling. You'll see the greatest trick shot artists of all time, and witness impossible spares made on live TV and the dramatic endings of several perfect games. You’ll meet many famous bowling legends and view early automatic pinsetter inventions. Jerry Lewis, David Letterman, Buddy Hackett, Ozzie and Harriett and others find the comedy in the game. You'll also see some old time Chicago bowling alleys and a current alley in Milwaukee called Holler House with the oldest lanes in America.

Steve presents his free Bowling Memories program at these libraries:
Sat., Oct. 9 at 2 p.m., Lowell Public Library
Wed., Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m., Lake County Public Library (Central Library)
Thurs., Oct. 21 at 7 p.m., Hammond Public Library
Wed., Oct. 27 at 6 p.m., Whiting Public Library
Thurs., Oct. 28 at 7 p.m., Wheatfield Public Library
Tues., Nov. 16 at 7 p.m., Portage Public Library

Looking forward to Mike Walsh visiting the Region in November!

Books to Bridge the Region 2010 coming soon

Well, it's been awhile! We've been busy reading, selecting, preparing... and it's almost here.
This year's books are:
Children's: I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child. Charlie tries to get his little sister, Lola, a finicky eater, to try new foods by using her imagination.
Middle Reader: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. Well, duh. It's just one of the most popular series ever! Check out our Books to Bridge event calendar at www.books2bridge.org for programs at local libraries.
Adult: Bowling Across America: 50 States in Rented Shoes, by Mike Walsh. Walsh's father always wanted to play handball in all 50 states. When Mike's father died, Mike, a Chicago ad executive, decides to honor his father... but handball wasn't an option. So Mike quits his job and heads off to bowl in all 50 states.

Catch Books to Bridge on Sept. 15 at Literacy Palooza at the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Hammond. This may be the only Business After Hours-type event at which you'll see Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and Abe Lincoln. Intriguing!

Check out the Calendar of Events on the Books to Bridge website. A ton of new events have been added. Save the date for October 22, when author Mike Leonard visits Purdue University Calumet and LaPorte County Public Library!