I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that I love book clubs. For me, it is an ideal reason to come together and a perfect lead into conversations about our experiences, about our knowledge, and about our connections. In collectively reading and discussing a common story, we inevitably reveal and share our individual stories.
I’ve belonged to several book clubs over the years but have reigned my memberships in to only two; the club I’ve been in the longest (8 years) and the one I’ve been in the shortest (2 weeks) amount of time. Until today. One Book | One Minnesota, a book club for every Minnesotan to join, read the same book, and then come together virtually to discuss and share, launched today. And, yes, I am definitely joining in.
The first statewide book will be Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. (You can find information, including a program overview on the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library website.) So, I went into ebooks Minnesota this afternoon to access a free digital copy of Winn-Dixie. Yes, yes,...I do have my own hard copy of the book but I just think it’s so cool that DiCamillo and this whole MN book community created an accessible way for as many people as possible to access the same book at the same time, and I want to see how it works. I don’t know what this statewide book club is going to look like yet but I’m so excited to find out and I want to be a part of it!
Due to the COVID19 virus, we are “sheltering in place” right now and on one hand, I am saddened as so many incredible events are being forced to cancel. On the other hand, I am continuously amazed at the ingenuity and generosity exhibited in new events being created and made available. Last night my phone buzzed with a calendar reminder for the 2020 Kerlan Award Ceremony and Reception on the University of Minnesota campus. The Kerlan Award is given, every year, to an author, illustrator, editor, publisher, or educator to honor their contribution to the world of Children's Literature. This year the award honors Jon Scieszka, author of several books including The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. I was registered to attend. And I knew the event had been postponed. But I had forgotten to delete the event from my calendar and that phone buzz reminder was like a little knife in my heart.
You know how some people go ga-ga when they see a celebrity? That’s me when I see a childrens’ book creator...in person...in real life! I know I’ve told this story before but,...the first opportunity I was able to attend the Kerlan Awards was in 2014 when the award honored both Russell Freedman and Linda Sue Park. Both Park and Freedman had played instrumental parts in the development of my own children's love of literature and I was thrilled to attend. At that time, the awards were accompanied by an impressive dinner followed by coffee and dessert. So, I arrived early and found my table and then...and then...at the table next me I saw Kate DiCamillo, just sitting there chatting. She was, at the time, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and I was star struck. At home, we loved reading Kate’s books and, from everything I’d read about her, I thought she was an enchanting person. I continue to follow her on social media and enjoy her stories of connecting with readers of all ages. My point is...I couldn’t be more pleased that it is a Kate DiCamillo book that will start off this new book club.