February, 2009, Page Two

Sharon Draper Author Event
Sharon Draper Workshop
What We are Reading Now

Students Meet Award-winning Author Sharon Draper During Open Book Author Event

Award-winning Author Sharon Draper Leads Students in
“Let This Circle Not Be Broken” Blessing, December 13th

Open Book kids got a chance to meet, perform excerpts from Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs: Shadows of Caesar's Creek and Romiette & Julio, and get their books signed

More than 100 African American inner city students, aged 9 – 14, got a chance to meet critically-acclaimed children’s book author Sharon Draper as part of Chicago’s unique Open Book Program during an talk-show style Student/Author Event on Saturday, December 13, at Gregory Elemetary, 3715 W. Polk St., in Chicago.The Open Book Participants prepared performance pieces and interview questions based on the best-selling books Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs: Shadows of Caesar's Creek and Romiette & Julio. Open Book is a program of the Institute of Positive Living.

During the event, Draper led the entire audience including Open Book students, their teachers, and their parents in an African “Let This Circle Not Be Broken” blessing. Participants held hands as they recited the blessing. Draper also told the students that the election of Barack Obama as president means, “there is no reason to even say I can’t do that anymore.”

Open Book students are from Armstrong Elementary School, Copernicus Elementary, Gregory Elementary, Henderson Elementary, Mayo Elementary School, Nicholson Elementary, Open Book/Lawless Gardens, Reed Elementary, Penn Elementary, University of Chicago-Donoghue, White Career Academy, and Williams Multiplex.

The Open Book Program focuses on stimulating interest in reading quality, culturally relevant children's literature through a variety of activities including literary circles, drama, and Internet experiences. During each program segment, participants do an in-depth study of one or two books. Authors and author/illustrators have included Sandra Belton, Ashley Bryan, Debbi Chocolate, Sharon Flake, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Nikki Grimes, Harriette Gillem Robinet, Charles R. Smith, Jr., Glennette Tilley Turner, Darwin MacBeth Walton, Walter Dean Myers, and Camille Yarbrough.

“Author interaction is a key ingredient in the success of the Open Book Program,” states founder Marrice Coverson, president of the Institute for Positive Living and executive director of Open Book. “The talk-show format gives students the opportunity to interact with one another and to experience the books through the dramatic productions that each school has prepared.” For information on the Student/Author event or the Open Book Program, contact Marrice Coverson at 924-9802. Information about Open Book including examples of student work can be obtained on the World Wide Web at www.openbookprogram.org.

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Teachers, artists and parents in Institute from Positive Living’s Open Book Program are pictured with author/teacher Sharon Draper after attending a hands-on workshop filled with teaching tips on December 12, 2008. Sharon Draper is a National Teacher of the Year, a five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Literary Award, and a New York Times bestselling author.

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Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs:
Stars and Sparks on Stage
by Sharon Draper

&

Stop It Now Or REGRET It Later
by Catharine Ingram

Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs: Stars and Sparks on Stage

Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs: Stars and Sparks on Stage by Sharon Draper is being read by younger Open Book students.

Sharon M. Draper is a professional educator as well as an accomplished writer. She has been honored as the National Teacher of the Year, is a five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Literary Award, and is a New York Times bestselling author. Her literary recognition
began when, as a challenge from one of her students, she entered and won first prize in a literary contest, for which she was awarded $5000 and the publication of her short story, "One Small Torch." She has published numerous poems, articles, and short stories in a variety of literary journals. She is the published author of several books including the ones being read now by our Open Book participants.

Book Description: It's time for the annual school talent show, and Ziggy and his friends are excited about trying out for the competition. Singing and dancing and lots of surprises guarantee that this evening will be unforgettable. But who is the new girl who seemingly has no home? And what secret talents and abilities does she hide? The Black Dinosaurs learn about the value of the arts in school, as well as an important lesson about the Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. This sixth adventure of the four friends lets them perform on stage, in costume, and the magic materializes.

Stop It Now Or REGRET It Later
Stop It Now Or REGRET It Later, a novel by Catharine Ingram, is being read by older students in the Open Book Program. This novel was written to create dialogue about parenting. Of all professions, parenting gets the least amount of training. Society looks at parenting as a job that requires minimum skills. Nothing, however, could be farther from the truth. Parenting includes more than buying clothes, fixing meals and giving allowances, but also includes nurturing, teaching, and disciplining. Surveys reveal that discipline, one of the key elements in shaping a child's character is often MISSING in their life.

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