By Staff
CASSOPOLIS - All the libraries in Cass County are announcing an entertaining series of programs and events that will center on one book.
The One Book One Community Committee has set into motion this year's project based on the book, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire.
Folk legends and fairy tales, twisted or otherwise, have popular and universal themes and can be found in countries and cultures all over the world. Confessions is one of the most clever and unusual of the more than 1,500 versions of the Cinderella story. Maguire's bestseller retells the story from the ugly stepsister's point of view. Discussions and programs throughout the libraries in Cass County will be lively, interesting and entertaining as the cultural, literary and controversial themes of this book are explored.
The kick-off event of this series will feature storyteller Kathy Yonker at the Cass District Library Main Branch in Cassopolis on Jan. 23, at 7 p.m.
She will include her own special material on the storytelling tradition and is sure to mesmerize her audience with her unique retelling of the Cinderella story. Yonker is a highly regarded and award-winning storyteller and librarian. A complete schedule of events will be available at the kick-off program and at all participating libraries thereafter.
Dowagiac District Library's premiere OBOC event will be the Filmentality showing of the recently re-released Disney version of the film based on the Cinderella theme. The film that made famous: fairy godmothers, magic that would turn a pumpkin into a coach and goodness for goodness sake will be shown at 7 p.m. at Beckwith Theatre.
Call Dowagiac District Library to sign up for this free event. Seating is limited so call early to make reservations: (269) 782-3826.
The One Book One Community series of events and programs will end with a Gala Cinderella Ball March 16, at 5:30 p.m. at Southwestern Michigan College. This finale will be held in the Mathews Library Conference Center and will feature area dancers demonstrating ballroom dancing at its finest. Participants will be invited to join in on the dance floor. A craft project and refreshments will add magic to the evening. This is also a free event.
Younger teens and children will read and discuss Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix. This imaginative book based on the Cinderella theme helps answer the question: what happened to Cinderella after she moved to the palace? Teachers, media specialists and librarians all over Cass County will promote the reading of related titles in their classrooms, media centers and libraries.