![Dr. Billington introduces the students to the America's Library Web site, as Mrs. Bush, Grant Hill and Lisa Leslie listen during the Sept. 7 event.](images/literacy.jpg)
Dr. Billington introduces the students to the America's Library Web site, as Mrs. Bush, Grant Hill and Lisa Leslie listen during the Sept. 7 event. - Jim Higgins
By GUY LAMOLINARA
On Friday morning, Sept. 7, the Library's Great Hall became a temporary reading room as events surrounding the National Book Festival began with a Back-to-School hour with Dr. Billington, first lady Laura Bush and basketball stars Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks and Grant Hill of the Orlando Magic.
At 8:15, about 20 fourth-graders from the Abingdon School in Arlington, Va., sat on a rug on the floor as Dr. Billington showed them "how our newest Web site, americaslibrary.gov, can … spark your interest in new topics and new books."
He then led them on a journey to "Meet Amazing Americans," in particular, Abraham Lincoln. Dr. Billington showed them an image of the contents of the 16th president's pockets on the night of his assassination on April 14, 1865, and asked them to speculate as to why the only money Lincoln had in his wallet was a $5 Confederate note.
Then the Librarian asked the kids to "Jump Back in Time" to Nov. 19, 1863, the day Lincoln delivered "the most famous speech in our nation's history—the Gettysburg Address."
After playing a selection from the "Jammin' Jukebox," Dr. Billington played one of the site's new games, "Play Ball." The "pitcher" blew a giant bubble, wound up and threw a fastball that asks the question, "On opening day of the 1916 Major League Baseball season, who threw the first ball?" The kids knew the answer: "Woodrow Wilson," they shouted out.
"That's right!" said Dr. Billington. "You've scored a single."
He then told them about the game's origins as an activity called "rounders" in England, and noted that the Web site's reading list of "Good Books About Baseball" would lead them to "dig deeper" into what they had learned.
The Librarian concluded by urging the students to use the site to "have fun with history and learn more about our country."
He then turned the program over to Mrs. Bush, who was seated to his left. Referring to her as a "book lover," he reminded the audience that Mrs. Bush had started the Texas Book Festival "and will tomorrow open the first ever National Book Festival."
Mrs. Bush read from Richard Peck's A Year Down Yonder, a book about "an exciting summer a young teenager spends at her grandmother's house."
The children listened intently as Mrs. Bush told of the adventures of Mary Alice and the year she spent in a small town away from her native Chicago. The book won the 2001 Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
Then Ms. Leslie and Mr. Hill read from The Journal of Joshua Loper: A Black Cowboy, by Walter Dean Myers. The book is the story of a boy who joins a cattle drive. He faces the difficulties of controlling a stampede as well as dealing with the racial prejudice of his trail boss.
Copies of the books, signed by Mrs. Bush and Ms. Leslie and Mr. Hill, were given to each student, as well as a backpack full of school supplies provided by AT&T, one of the Book Festival's charter sponsors.
Mrs. Bush told the students how important it is to go to college, "and the best way to get there is to read a lot of books."
Dr. Billington concluded by sending them off with what he hoped would be "a renewed appreciation of books and learning and the potential of the Internet to lead you to ever-greater achievement."