Creator of ‘Arthur' to appear at reading event

BOWLING GREEN, O.—Marc Brown, creator of the popular “Arthur” series of children's books, will be the featured guest at the second annual Literacy in the Park celebration presented by the Martha Gesling Weber Reading Center at Bowling Green State University.

The celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday (March 31) in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. The event is free and open to all.

To promote family literacy, the program will offer a variety of activities in a park-like setting, including children's theatre, hands-on projects and story time for readers of all ages. Brown will speak from 11 a.m. until noon. He will autograph books between 10 and 11 a.m. and again from 12:30-2 p.m.

Shortly after the doors open at 10 a.m. there will be a performance by the Dancing Librarian Carts, and at 10:55 a.m., the unveiling of a new U.S. postal stamp. A children's theatre performance by the Treehouse Troupe is scheduled at 2 p.m.

Lunchtime refreshments will be provided.

In addition, Nanna's Bookstore will offer Brown's publications and other books for children at the event.

Brown has written more than 20 “Arthur” books. What began as a simple family nighttime story ritual has grown into a full-time profession for the author and illustrator of children's books.

Since his training at the Cleveland Art Institute, Brown has created more than 100 picture books for children. Before becoming a best-selling author, he worked stints as a truck driver, soda jerk, actor, chicken farmer, television art director, short-order cook and college professor.

Reservations to attend are not required but would be appreciated.  Contact the Martha Gesling Weber Reading Center at 419-372-7323 or literacypk@bgsu.edu for more information.

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(Posted March 23, 2007)