Literacy festival encourages kids to read

IOWA CITY -- Hundreds of kids kicked off Children's Literacy Weekend in Iowa City with One Book Two Book: A Celebration of Children's Literature in the City of Literature on Friday night, Jan. 13, that continued Saturday with small group reading for kids and families with renowned authors.

"Our theory is that as long as they're reading, it's good,” Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature Executive Director Jeanette Pilak said. The City of Literature organization is the weekend program's host.

Area youths submitted 600 stories in a storytelling contest and a handful read their work. "We're taking the student authors of tomorrow and showing them how they can create books and how they can share their thoughts with the world,” Pilak said.

Saturday, nine Iowa authors read books to kids in small groups.

"It's about the aftermath and the healing process a community goes through after a horrible event like that,” author Kathryn Erskine said. "I love to see kids reading a lot because that's what makes people become writers.”

The festival ends on Sunday, Jan. 15. One event planned is the Reading on the Rails excursion, when children ride on the Hawkeye Express train while listening to their favorite tales.  The schedule for that:

Round Trip Ticket Options, $10 per passenger, children 2 and under free - lap seating

• Loop A - Depart North Liberty at 12:00pm Arrive at UI Main

  Library at 12:45pm

  Depart UI Main Library at 1:00pm Arrive in North Liberty

  at 1:45pm

• Loop B - Depart UI Main Library at 1:00pm Arrive in North

  Liberty at 1:45pm

  Depart North Liberty at 2:00pm Arrive at UI Main Library at

  2:45pm

• Loop C - Depart North Liberty at 2:00pm Arrive at UI Main

  Library at 2:45pm

  Depart UI Main Library at 3:00pm Arrive in North Liberty at

  3:45pm

• Loop D - Depart UI Main Library at 3:00pm Arrive in North

  Liberty at 3:45pm

  Depart North Liberty at 4:00pm Arrive at UI Main Library at

  4:45pm

• Loop E - Depart North Liberty at 4:00pm Arrive at UI Main

  Library at 4:45pm

  Depart UI Main Library at 5:00pm Arrive in North Liberty at

  5:45pm

• A Three Hour Tour A - Depart North Liberty at 12:00pm

  Arrive at UI Main Libraryat 12:45pm

  Depart UI Main Library at 3:00pm Arrive

  in North Liberty at 3:45pm

• A Three Hour Tour B - Depart UI Main Library at 1:00pm

  Arrive in North Liberty at 1:45pm

  Depart North Liberty at 4:00pm Arrive at UI

  Main Library at 4:45pm

• A Three Hour Tour C - Depart North Liberty at 2:00pm Arrive

  at UI Main Library at 2:45pm

  Depart UI Main Library at 5:00pm Arrive in North

  Liberty at 5:45pm

• Spend the Day in Iowa City Depart North Liberty at 12:00pm

  Arrive at UI Main Libray at 12:45pm

  Depart UI Main Library at 5:00pm Arrive

  in North Liberty at 5:45pm

There's more information.

Click here.