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"As a parent, I know the difference
reading with your children can make on both their mental and
emotional development," Mrs. Blagojevich said. "I started this
program to encourage parents to read with their children, and I hope
our recommended reading list helps parents find books that the whole
family can enjoy."
This
month's selection is a winner of the prestigious Newbery Medal. The
publisher, Candlewick Press, posted the following description of the
book on the company's website:
 Welcome
to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with
music, stories and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a
rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world
filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted
serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three
characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down
into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle and,
ultimately, into each other's lives. And what happens then? As Kate
DiCamillo would say: Reader, it is your destiny to find out.
From the master storyteller who
brought us "Because of Winn-Dixie" comes another classic, a fairy
tale full of quirky, unforgettable characters, featuring 24 stunning
black-and-white illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering, in an elegant
design that pays tribute to the best in classic children's books and
bookmaking traditions.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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As first lady, Patti Blagojevich has
worked tirelessly to promote initiatives that help Illinois families
bring up happy, healthy and successful children. In addition to her
work with children's literacy, she served on the Department of
Children and Family Services Task Force, where she helped create a
blueprint to reform the agency. She also worked to promote the
Prevention Development Resource Project, a partnership between DCFS
and Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, which links parents with agencies
that offer services to those who are affected by substance abuse and
domestic violence or are in need of other family support services.
Most recently, the first lady was honored by ORBIS International for
spearheading the Illinois Pediatric Vision Awareness Initiative, the
first state-sponsored campaign in the United States to specifically
target amblyopia, or lazy eye, in children.
Mrs. Blagojevich announced the
Children's Reading Club at a downtown Borders, where she read a
selection from "The Tale of Despereaux" to local children.
[News release from the
governor's office] |
