Deedy

Breslin

Award-winning author Carmen Agra Deedy and Oscar-nominated actor Abigail Breslin have been named national spokespeople for the 2008 School Library Media Month, celebrated in April. School Library Media Month is sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and celebrated by school library media centers around the country.

"I love librarians," Deedy said, "I visit hundreds of schools every year, and I can see the difference in those schools that are wise to the value of library media specialists. I look forward to working with AASL to spread the good word about school libraries."

Deedy has been writing and telling stories for almost 20 years. One of her most beloved books, "The Library Dragon," tells the story of an overprotective school librarian with a fiery technique. Her latest book, "Martina the Beautiful Cockroach," was named a 2008 Pura Belpré Honor book and has been recognized as a notable book by the National Council for the Social Studies and the Children's Book Council. The book was simultaneously released in English and Spanish versions. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has called Deedy "an introspective storyteller with a keen insight into the workings of a child's mind."

Deedy's other books have won the Bologna Ragazzi Award for Children's Non-Fiction and The Christopher Award and have been honored by the Jane Addams Peace Prize, the International Reading Association, the American Booksellers Association and the Children's Book Council. Her previous books include: "The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark," "Agatha's Feather Bed: Not Just Another Wild Goose Story" and "The Last Dance." Deedy continues to share her stories with children and adults at festivals, schools, conferences, theaters and museums around the world.

"We are so pleased to be working with Carmen and Peachtree Publishers this year," said AASL President Sara Kelly Johns. "Anyone who has read her books knows she has a great love of reading and libraries, and we are thrilled to have her energy and her voice join ours in celebrating the contributions of school libraries around the country."

Breslin, nominated for an Academy Award for her role in "Little Miss Sunshine," stars in the soon-to-be-released "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl." AASL has collaborated with Picturehouse, HBOFilms and American Girl to produce a poster featuring Breslin that celebrates School Library Media Month. The poster, which includes information about the Great Depression and a host of activities developed by the AASL School Library Media Month Task Force, will be distributed for free to AASL members working in middle and elementary schools.

"Abigail and American Girl are a great fit for AASL and school libraries," said AASL president Sara Kelly Johns. "School librarians working with young students can attest to the popularity of the American Girl series of books, and we appreciate history coming alive for our students. We are so pleased to have such a talented young woman as one of our national spokespeople for School Library Media Month."

The 11-year-old Breslin began her career making commercials when she was three, but got her big break playing Mel Gibson's daughter in "Signs" (2002). She co-starred with Kate Hudson in "Raising Helen" (2004), and is also starring with Jodie Foster in "Nims Island," which is coming to theatres on April 4th. Breslin also stars in her own READ poster, now available through the ALA Store.

"Go to your school library. It's a great place to find information for school reports or to just sit and be able to read quietly," Breslin said.

School Library Media Month, begun in 1985, is celebrated in conjunction with National Library Week (April 13-19). This year's theme for both events is "Join the Circle of Knowledge @ your library." For more information, please visit www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslissues/aasladvocacy/schoollibrary.cfm.

History of School Library Media Month

The following is excerpted and adapted from "AASL Celebrates First National School Library Media Month," which appeared in the Spring 1985 issue of School Library Media Quarterly (p. 83-84).

The AASL efforts for a national School Library Media Month were spearheaded by Lucille Thomas, chair of the School Library Media Month Committee. Thomas was appointed by President Judy King in 1983.

Thomas and her committee gather ideas from previous state and local celebrations for school libraries, and compiled a fifty-two-page handbook for the first national observance. In April 1985, members of the committee were Edna Bayliss, Elsie Brainard, Winona Jones, Elizabeth Kenneson, Elinor McCloskey, and Virginia Moore.

The theme of the first national observance of School Library Media Month was "Where Learning Never Ends: The School Library Media Center."

AASL officials, local and national dignitaries got the month off to a rousing start on April 1, 1985 with a ceremony on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.) delivered the keynote address. Moynihan told the school librarians in the audience, "I want to thank you for what you do. I hope you know how important your work is. You change lives for the better. You touch people while they can still be touched."

Listen to Carmen Agra Deedy's School Library Media Month Public Service Announcements