Library Friends holds Children's Book Festival

The Friends of Axe Library at Pittsburg State University will hold its first annual Children's Book Festival from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, in the east lobby of the Weede Physical Education Building. The festival will be held in conjunction with the Young Author's Conference on the same day.

Many authors have donated representative samples of their work to be sold. Most are signed and many are decorated with a small drawing or a note. Several picture books in the collection will appeal to youngsters. Those titles include "Sea Giants of Dinosaur Time" and "North American Wolves." Others, such as "Ties that Bind, Ties that Break," which involves a young woman from 1920s China who rejects her family's demand to bind her feet, will appeal to middle school and high school readers.

Authors from abroad have also contributed, such as the renowned British author, Michael Bond, creator of Paddington Bear. Bond autographed his copy of "A Bear Called Paddington" with tiny paw prints. In the non-fiction category, books such as "Count on Us: American Women in the Military" will be for sale. Another non-fiction tale is "Dog of Discovery," which tells the uplifting and heartbreaking story of Seaman, Meriwether Lewis’ Newfoundland dog, who accompanied the Lewis and Clark expedition. Seaman risked his life many times chasing bears and buffalo away and assisting with the hunting.

Since its creation in 1988, the Friends of Axe Library group has planned and supported many projects for library improvement, including purchases of furniture, films and books. The group has also sponsored numerous lectures, an art exhibition and the publication of a campus guidebook.

For more information about Axe Library or the Friends of Axe Library, please visit the PSU Web site at www.pittstate.edu and click on the library link or call the library at 620-235-4880.

---Pitt State---