‘More books, please!'

Hudson Valley — The Ramapo Catskill Library System has announced its endorsement and celebration of the 87th Annual Observance of National Children’s Book Week, Nov. 13-19. The libraries in the area are dedicated to spreading the word about this year’s theme - “More Books Please!” - which conveys the excitement and energy that children’s literature provides. National Children’s Book Week is a time-honored tradition. Each November, Children’s Book Week is celebrated nationally in schools, libraries, bookstores, clubs and private homes. Librarians, teachers, parents, booksellers, artists, authors and publishers are all involved, each devoting a great deal of time and energy to making Book Week an exciting period of discovery for children. In 1919, Frederic G. Melcher, the visionary editor of Publisher’s Weekly and then secretary of the American Booksellers Association, created a plan with the Association in conjunction with the American Library Association to establish and organize the celebration of a Book Week in November. “Our local libraries provide a wonderful environment and resource for facilitating and encouraging reading,” explained Randall Enos, Youth Services Consultant for the Ramapo Catskill Library System. The need for National Children’s Book Week is as essential today as it was in 1919, while the focus remains the realization of Frederic Melcher’s crucial goal: “Book Week brings us together to talk about books and reading and, out of our knowledge and love of books, to put the cause of children’s reading squarely before the whole community and, community by community, across the whole nation. For a great nation is a reading nation.” A celebration of the written word, Children’s Book Week introduces young people to new authors and ideas in schools, libraries, homes and bookstores. This year, join the party and share the joy of reading. More books, please!