COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (March 18, 2005) – It was an educational opportunity that was done by the book.

A group of Middle Tennessee businesses, through Tennessee Tech University’s Council of the International Reading Association, recently purchased 205 copies of children’s books by Pat Brisson for Putnam County elementary schools.

The project provided participating classrooms with a set of 25 copies of one of Brisson’s books, Wanda’s Roses, Benny’s Pennies, or The Summer My Father Was Ten, and each school’s library received a complete set of all three titles.

Algood second grade students were among those who received books, and after reading their copies of Wanda’s Roses — in which the main character helps transform an ugly thorn bush into a beautiful rosebush, which she then plants to help beautify an empty lot in her neighborhood — the students brought the book’s lesson to life by turning a piece of clay into a beautiful work of art.

Brisson will be one of three authors featured at this year’s children literature conference at TTU, set to begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 9, in the Roaden University Center. Other featured authors include Tracy Barrett and Maggi Vaughn.

Businesses that supported the project include Mamma Rosa’s Italian Restaurant, The Technology Store, First National Bank, Lady Marpelet’s Tea Room, Sleep Medicine of Middle Tennessee, Advanced Neurosciences Institute, Pool and Spa Depot and several private donors.

All children and parents are invited to attend the conference, where they will have an opportunity to meet Brisson and the other featured authors and gain a greater understanding of their messages.

A family presentation, set for 10 a.m. in RUC Room 342 is free. The cost to attend the entire conference is $25.

For more information, call Connie Nichols at 931/372-3791.

--Tracey LeFevre
This information posted 18 March 2005