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The Reading Tub, Inc. is pleased to announce its Author Showcase for the Winter Quarter, 2008. The current slate of featured guests – Frances Gilbert, Tara Risom, Patrick Mader, and Amber Kingston – have embraced pre-readers in the adventures they create for children.
"It is always a wonderful experience putting together the interviews. The behind-the-scenes stories for the authors and their books are just as wonderful as the books themselves," says Terry Doherty, president of The Reading Tub, Inc. "With so much emphasis today on getting kids to read, sometimes we lose sight of how important it is just to share a story. That's such a big part of literacy for preschoolers and kids in elementary school. These folks know that and have used their talents to bring great storytelling to the fore."
The Reading Tub, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity promoting literacy for children. The organization's goal is to eliminate illiteracy by showing families how important – and easy – it is to read with kids at home.
This Winter 2008 Featured Author slate launches the program's fourth year. The Author Showcase is an interview program to introduce parents, teachers, librarians, and the general public to new authors and new books that they probably don't know about. "There are more than 20,000 books for kids produced each year. Not all of them will be invited to the Today Show, but that doesn't mean they don't have great books!" says Terry Doherty, Executive Director. "What is particularly great about this group is that they are pushing children's books in new directions. They are each entrepreneurs in their own right, and because they are using traditional and emerging media, they can reach audiences of all ages and levels of comfort with technology."
Frances Gilbert has played with words and sounds for as long as she can remember. During World War II, as a young child, it was the stories the adults told her that got them through nights in bomb shelters. Her stories are fare lighter fare, with adventures and characters children connect with instantly.
Amber Kingston may be a new author, but she has shown herself to be a pro at it. A fifth grade writing project sparked an interest in writing that has not stopped. She sees stories in the every-day, and her first book Laura and the Leprechauns is a fictionalized account of a St. Patrick's Day she spent with her cousin Laura.
Patrick Mader's stories fill a nostalgic hole in our hearts. His children's picture books are set in America's heartland and, though modern, speak to a time when life seemed so much simpler. These are books the family can share and enjoy together, just like we would do if Mayberry, USA still existed!
When Tara Risom wanted to start her own daycare center, she knew that books would be a big part of her curriculum. But there wasn't anything out there that had the unique, fun elements that she was looking for. So Tara created the Itty Bitty Bookworm, with toddler and preschool curriculums that expose kids to classic stories and bring them to life through personalized, self-directed activities.
To learn more about the Author Showcase, visit the Reading Tub® Website. Once there you can learn more about all of the authors and literacy advocates, read reviews of their books, and read our interviews.
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terry[.]thereadingtub.com 
