NSU welcomes young readers for third annual Green Country Children’s Book Festival
NSU welcomes young readers for third annual Green Country Children’s Book Festival – Oct. 3
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Northeastern State University will host elementary and middle-grade students and educators for a third year at the Green Country Children’s Book Festival on Oct. 3.
The festival, which was first held in 2022, aims to empower middle grade readers to reach their full intellectual potential by offering engaging interactions with diverse authors and expanding a culture of learning, discovery and empathy.
“I am so excited we have been able to hold the Green Country Children’s Book Festival for the past three years,” Sarah Burkhead Whittle, director of the Green Country Children’s Book Festival, said. “The attendance from area schools, the excitement of authors and illustrators, the generous donations from community sponsors and the assistance of our many volunteers has created a fun literary tradition that is the highlight of my year as a librarian.”
Joining this year’s festival are authors Chloe Burgett, Chris Negron and Brenda Maier.
At the festival, students and educators will have the opportunity to hear from the authors and ask questions, fostering enthusiasm for reading.
“Over the past two years, an average of 690 students in third through eighth grades, plus 60 educators from 13 rural schools, have attended the Green Country Children’s Book Festival,” Whittle said. “I hope our event has encouraged students to either continue a love of reading, or discover the power of stories in a fresh, new way. Many teachers have commented on how this event has allowed their students to see beyond what they currently know. It is extremely rewarding to know our Festival is helping expand students’ creativity, foster a love of books and reading, and encourage them to grow their skills as storytellers.”
The festival’s benefits affect more than students and educators who attend. Whittle said for NSU students who volunteer, this experience allows them to observe and interact with hundreds of students, spanning elementary through middle school.
“This event creates an opportunity for pre-service teachers to see firsthand just how curious, eager and excited the children are to be on a field trip to NSU, meet a published author or illustrator, ask them questions and receive one of their books,” Whittle said. “Hopefully, in the future, our NSU students will be alumni who bring their own classes of students to the Green Country Children’s Book Festival.”
This year’s festival is sponsored by generous donations from Lake Region Electric Cooperative, Anna Mae Burkhead (in memory of John Burkhead), the Tahlequah Community Fund, BancFirst, Local Bank, a Rotary Community Action grant and Meigs Jewelry.
As a result of these generous donations, Whittle said each child will leave the event with a free book by one of the featured authors or illustrators.
The Green Country Children’s Book Festival will offer both a morning and afternoon session, 9 to 11 a.m. and Noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024 at the NSU University Center Ballroom.
Registration is now open for teachers interested in attending the event. All registration forms must be completed by Friday, September 20, 2024. To register, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSekM1_TfrlNS0FM8590BTe8HUdVyl9w-uaCFrxVDsn63eHM0g/viewform
To learn more about the festival, visit https://library.nsuok.edu/bookfestival. To donate to the festival, visit www.nsugiving.com/bookfestival.
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