Many Faces of the American Revolution Event

The Fort Cooper Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will honor President Washington's Birthday with a wide variety of fun-filled activities at the Lakes Region Library on Monday, February 21, 2011 from 2 - 4 pm.

The Sons of the American Revolution, in period costumes, will present the colors.

DAR and SAR members will perform skits about the Patriots who fought with both pen and musket to win our Independence and form our new nation.

This event is an active and fun way for everyone to learn about the American flag, colonial music, clothing, toys, a day in the life of a farm family and Patriot Ancestors.

Because there is no school in celebration of Presidents Day, presenters encourage adult attendees to bring youngsters in their family or neighborhoods. Handouts will be included, and students will receive a certificate for participation, which they can present to their teachers.

For more information phone 352-726-2357

Laurie Halse Anderson's CHAINS

If an entire nation could seek its freedom, why not a girl?

Promised freedom upon the death of her owner, Isabel, a 13 year old slave, becomes the property of the Lockton's of New York City, a couple who have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Isabel and her sister. Will Isabel find the strength to spy on her owners to help the Patriot cause?

CHAINS was chosen for the 2009 YALSA Best Books for Young Adults list. In its sequel, FORGE, the drama shifts from CHAINS’ domestic town houses to graphically described bloody battlefields.

African American Read-In features When Marian Sang

Please join us at Citrus County's 4th Annual celebration of African American Read-In Day at the CF Conference and Learning Center in Lecanto on Sunday, February 13th at 2 pm.

Short readings from a wide assortment of African American writers will be presented along with a musical interlude featuring a narration of Pam Munoz Ryan's When Marian Sang accompanied by a community choir.

When Marian Sang

When Marian Sang, written by Pam Munoz Ryan and illustrated by Brian Selznick is a beautiful picture book introduction to the life of Marian Anderson, extraordinary singer and the first African American to perform with the Metropolitan Opera. She is best known for her historic concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, which drew an integrated crowd of 75,000 people in pre-Civil Rights America.

Click here to learn more about the author and illustrator and to view a recording of the author reading an excerpt from the book.

Citrus County Libraries have copies of the hardcover book available for checkout at J 782. 1092 RYA. A book with accompanying audio CD offering a narrated version of the book with excerpts from original recordings made by Marian Anderson is also available at J CD 782. 1092 RYA.

Native American Craft Workshop

In celebration of National American Indian Heritage Month the Lakes Region Library offered a craft workshop on Saturday, November 13, 2010, presented by members of the Red Eagle Lodge. Families came to enjoy traditional Native American stories, view authentic artifacts and try their hand at traditional crafts and Thanksgiving projects.

To see photos from the event click here.

American Indian Heritage Month

With so many Native American stories set in the past, it's great to have a children's book like Eagle Song about an Iroquois boy who lives in a city in the present. Danny Bigtree doesn't like living in Brooklyn: the other kids in his fourth grade class tease him about being different and he can't seem to fit in. The author interweaves this modern day realistic story with traditional tales Danny's father shares with him of his people's history and heroes, stories that give Danny the courage to stand up to schoolyard bullies and make friends with his classmates.

Joseph Bruchac is the prolific author of poetry, short stories and novels that reflect his Abenaki Indian heritage and Native American traditions. For more information about him and Eagle Song see Scholastic's Book Wizard.

The Killer Angels

July 1863. The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia is invading the North. General Robert E. Lee has made this massive move with seventy thousand men in a determined effort to draw out the Union Army of the Potomac and mortally wound it. His right hand is General James Longstreet, loyal to Lee but against his plan. Opposing them is an unknown factor: General George Meade, who has taken command of the Army only two days before what will be perhaps the crucial battle of the Civil War.

In The Killer Angels, Michael Shaara recreates the Battle of Gettysburg, reconstructing the actions of the generals and their men over the three days of the battle.

Michael Shaara was a novelist, short story writer, and educator. He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1928, earned a B.S. from Rutgers University and did graduate work at Columbia University and the University of Vermont. He spent two years in the service, worked as a policeman and a sailor, and became associate professor at Florida State University in 1961. He had many short stories published in magazines at the beginning of his writing career but it was a simple family vacation to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1966 that gave him the inspiration for his greatest achievement, the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Killer Angels, originally published in 1974. Shaara died of a heart attack in 1988. Today there is a Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction, established by his son Jeffrey Shaara, awarded annually.

The novel is also available in Spanish translation, Aneles Asesinos.

The Killer Angels is the basis for the motion picture, Gettysburg, starring Tom Berenger, Jeff Daniels, & Martin Sheen.