Six years ago One Book Habersham – Together We Read (OBH) was introduced to the community with a book by award-winning Decatur, Georgia author Carmen Agra Deedy. The book, Martina the Beautiful Cockroach, was enjoyed by children and adults across Habersham County.
Over the next four years, OBH became a tradition with all in the county encouraged to read the same picture book. The idea has been to build community through reading together and it has been estimated that readership has increased each year with as many as 6,000 people reading last year’s selection, A Stone for Sascha.
On Monday, February 10 at the Habersham County Board of Education meeting, it was announced that Agra Deedy is returning this year with a new book titled 14 Cows for America.
Director of Northeast Georgia Library System and OBH committee member, Delana Knight made the announcement to the Board of Education members and audience.
“Maya Angelou said, ‘Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.’ One Book Habersham embraces that sentiment and expands it to include all members of our community, young and old,” Knight said. “Any book that helps the citizens of Habersham County to form a habit of reading is good for all of us. As we enter the sixth year of One Book Habersham, it appears that reading one book together as a community has become a habit in Habersham County!”
Life in Motion: A day to remember
There will be 550 copies of 14 Cows for America distributed among Habersham schools, businesses, medical offices and restaurants for the next three months.
OBH will culminate with Agra Deedy speaking with all kindergarten through 5th grade students in Habersham County Schools about her inspiration for telling this story on April 14 and 15. She also will present at the Georgia Young Author’s ceremony and will conclude her visit with a free community event held at Wilbanks Middle School on April 15.
OBH is sponsored by Habersham County Schools, the Piedmont School of Education, Habersham County Libraries and Volunteers for Literacy.
For more information go to onebookhabersham.org or email [email protected]. To learn more about the book, check out these websites:National Book Award 2009 address – Carmen Agra Deedy and Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah and Carmen Agra Deedy – Story behind the book
Check out Carmen Agra Deedy’s TED Talks here
