ONEBOOKAZ 2004
Contact: Malavika Muralidharan
Phone: 602-926-3601
E-mail: mala@lib.az.us
Web:
www.onebookorg.com
Book discussions, dramatic productions and an
exciting finale at the Phoenix Zoo are just a few ways that Arizonans
can participate in this year’s ONEBOOKAZ. The organizers hope
all Arizonans take time in April to read either Life of Pi by
Yann Martel, the adult selection, or The Warm Place, by
Nancy Farmer, the children’s selection. “ONEBOOKAZ is an enriching experience for
the participants and a wonderful opportunity to bring the community
together through a shared reading experience.” said
Malavika Muralidharan from the Arizona State Library Archives and
Public Records. “Some books you read make you want to talk
to someone about it, discuss and share ideas – this is one
such. Life of Pi has the power to help readers see unity
in diversity as it deals with Hindu, Muslim, and Christian beliefs,
and survival. Readers across the state, from backgrounds and different
age groups, should find it equally interesting,” she said.
The kick-off for the ONEBOOKAZ event is April
3, at the Arizona Book Festival at the Carnegie Center in Phoenix.
Farmer will read from her book and answer questions (10am), and students
from the Phoenix Theatre Academy will present a dramatic production
of The Warm Place (12:30pm). Author Yann Martel
will tour Tucson, (April 8, 5:30pm) Phoenix (April 9, 4:30pm) and
Prescott (April 10, 1:30pm) giving talks, signing books and answering
questions about his book. Libraries, bookstores, community colleges
and school campuses and Toys‘R’Us stores across Arizona
are planning activities. (See the attached list for more details)
A committee made up of area librarians and educators selects the
titles for ONEBOOKAZ in the summer. Suggestions
from the public, librarians, bookstore folks and teachers, along
with the evaluation from the last ONEBOOKAZ, all
weigh into the decision. During the first two years, 20,000 people
read and discussed the adult selection and 5,000 children read or
participated in a program related event. Participants said the program
helped them revive books groups, brought together new groups of people,
and encouraged multigenerational activities.
The Booker prize-winning Life
of Pi’s protagonist
is 16-year-old, son of a zoo-keeper, who is adrift in a lifeboat
with a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, a zebra, an orangutan
and a hyena. The fascinating novel takes us through what Pi had to
endure being marooned at sea solely dependent on his encyclopedic
knowledge of animal behavior and survival instincts.
Animals with uncanny names, and characters with tenacity, also
show up in The Warm Place. Told from
the animals' point of view, The Warm Place is the story
of Ruva, a young giraffe who is captured and sent to a zoo. With
the help a chameleon, a rat, a little boy, and all the magical powers
of the animal world, Ruva is able to return to “the warm place” that
is home . Underlying humor makes this book a good read even for
older readers and adults.
The grand finale is set for April 24 (9am-5pm) at the Phoenix Zoo,
and will feature live Indian and African Music, Orienteering Club
excursions and survival guidance, readings at animal enclosures and
art opportunities for children.
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Signature
Events
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ONE BOOK ONE MONTH ONE GOAL
Religion 101
Series
Thursday, April 8, 15, 22 and 29 7:00-8:30 pm
City of Mesa Library
64 E. 1st St., Mesa
Sixteen-year-old Pi considers himself to be Hindu, Muslim and Christian and
practices all three with joyful abandon. Learn about the world's religions in
this series presented by Tom Shoemaker, a religion professor at Mesa
Community College. For ages 16 years and older.
Saguaro Room, Main Library.
April 8 - Eastern Religions, April 15 - Judaism, April 22 - Islam, April 29 -
Christianity.
Contact: Kellie Gillespie, 480-644-2736
Pi, the Animals,
and Richard Parker
Sunday, April 18, 3:00 pm
Tempe Public Library
3500 S. Rural Rd., Tempe, AZ 85282
Join Mike Foley from the Phoenix Zoo, who will speak about how a zebra, an
orangutan, a hyena, and the teenaged son of a zookeeper might interact with a
450-pound Royal Bengal tiger in real life. This One Book Arizona
program is made possible by the Friends of the Tempe Public Library
and by the Phoenix Zoo. The program is free.
Contact: call 480-350-5511 to register
Community Colleges
Reading-Relay
Wednesday, April 21
Time and details
of the program - to be announced
Contact: Cindy Ortega, Phoenix College 602-285-7768
Grand Finale at
the Zoo
Saturday, April 24, all day – details to follow
The Phoenix Zoo
455 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Exciting all day events for all ages
Contact: Diane Nevill, 623-930-3554
dnevill@ci.glendale.az.us
Saturday, April
24
Heritage Park Zoo
1403 Heritage Park Road (off Willow Creek Road), Prescott
Free admission all day with OneBookAZ pin
Contact: Ann Boles, 928-771-3191
Ann.boles@co.yavapai.az.us
KAET Books &
Co Channel 8 program
Tuesday, April 27, 7:30 pm and Sunday May 2, 3pm
Yann Martel's interview with Ron Carlson
Live book discussion on Sonoran Living
Friday, April 30
To join in on our live discussion on April 30th, give us a call at 602-685-3008 or e-mail us! http://www.sonoranliving.com/index.asp.
ONEBOOKAZ GRAND FINALE
SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2004
The ONE BOOK AZ month-long festival will
be culminated with a large celebration at the Phoenix Zoo on
Saturday, April 24, 2004 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors will enjoy a
full schedule of engaging and interactive presentations featuring the two
book selections for the festival, Life of Pi and The Warm Place.
Admission will be
discounted to $5 for all ages, valid only for guests who wear the Toys R
Us or One Book AZ pin. Pins are available at Toys R Us stores, Barnes
and Noble bookstores and your local library. Offer valid only on April 24, 2004.
Schedule of Grand Finale
activities to include:
All day: “Children's Art Corner” featuring
dozens of spaces for drawing and painting. Kids will wear artist's smocks and
are encouraged to create their own masterpiece!
10 a.m. to Noon
and 1 p.m. to 3 pm.:
The Greater
Phoenix Orienteering Club will host excursions from the Main Plaza. Guests
will learn basic tenants of survival, the orienteering process and effective
use of compasses and maps.
10:30 to 11 a.m.:
Guests can visit
the perfect backdrop of the Zoo's dramatic Savannah exhibit for a moderated
roundtable children's discussion of the elements of Nancy Farmer's The
Warm Place . Q and A is invited as well.
10:30 to 11:30
a.m. and 1:30 to 3 p.m.:
Live world music
in celebration of Africa, hosted by world music expert, Jeff Jones.
11 a.m. to 12:30
p.m. and 1:30 to 3 p.m.:
The India
Association of Phoenix will welcome visitors to the Savannah to hear stirring
and authentic Indian music.
Noon to 12:45
p.m.:
Guests are
invited to what promises to be a lively moderated round table, hosted at the
Zoo's Sumatran tiger exhibit and featuring the book, Life of Pi. Zoo
experts will lead the discussion of Yan Martel's award winning book. Q and A
will be invited as well.
2:00 to 2:45
p.m.:
The Phoenix Theater's original production of "The Warm Place" celebrates this family story enchanting young and the young at heart in the amphitheater of the Enchanged Forest.
For more information on all ONEBOOKAZ events, the
books and more
call 602.926.3601 or Contact
602.914.4321 for Zoo information.
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