“Reading Appalachia: Voices from Children’s Literature” explores the body of work

Calhoun-Gordon County Library is pleased to announce the opening of “Reading Appalachia: Voices from Children’s Literature.” The exhibit opens to the public on July 27, 2016 and runs through Oct. 23, 2016 at CalhounGordon County Library. The library is located at 100 N. Park Avenue in Calhoun, Georgia. This groundbreaking exhibition of Appalachian children’s literature explores books published since the late 1800s. Organized by the Knox County Public Library and the East Tennessee Historical Society in Knoxville, Tenn., and based on research by Jamie Osborn, manager of the Halls Branch, Knox County Public Library, “Reading Appalachia” aims to show a more complete picture of the region’s literary heritage and how this literature tells the story of childhood in Appalachia.

Sporting life-size characters from some of the books, the exhibit is designed to create the sensation of walking through the pages of a storybook. Children can stand eye-to-eye with characters from “Journey Cake Ho,” “A Mountain Rose,” “When Otter Tricked the Rabbit,” “When I Was Young” and others. Books are available to touch, read, and explore. The exhibit includes hands on activities that bring the subject to life for kids of all ages. Children are encouraged to try on masks of storybook characters and find themselves in a story. They are also invited to create their own story of childhood set in Appalachia.

Attendees can view original films and hear the voice of old time storyteller Ray Hicks, along with some of their favorite authors and illustrators. Each panel includes an interpretation of the text from a child’s perspective.

An exhibit of Appalachian children’s literature at this scale has never been produced; this exhibition is designed to travel to other libraries and locations in and around Appalachia. “Reading Appalachia: Voices from Children’s Literature” is made possible through the generous support of Clayton Homes, the Jane L. Pettway Foundation, Friends of the Knox County Public Library and the University of Tennessee’s Center for Children and Young Adult Literature. Why Appalachian children’s books? Few things capture our hearts and senses more vividly than children’s books. They ignite imagination and help bring structure and understanding to developing minds. Their stories linger and guide us into adulthood; they help define us.

Perhaps more than any other region, Appalachia has captured the nation’s imagination. It is a land where the blue smoke of the mountains, the self-sufficiency of life in a holler, and the singsong of an enthralling storyteller come together in a near mythic culture.

Appalachia is a land about which stories are told. By examining seminal titles published over the decades since the late 1800s, we hope to show the fuller picture of our region’s literary heritage and how this literature tells the story of childhood in Appalachia.

There will also be activities scheduled throughout the exhibit’s display period for all ages. For more information contact the library at 706-624-1456 or visit our Facebook page (Calhoun Gordon County Library) or webpage (www.ngrl.org). The library will be closed to the public on July 25 and 26 to set up the exhibit. The book drop will be open and staff will be checking books in during our closure. Renewing of books and placing of holds is available online.

Calhoun-Gordon County Library is part of the Northwest Regional Library System, which serves Gordon, Murray and Whitfield Counties.