The Big Read Blog (Archive)

Ray Bradbury

Reading Big in the Classroom

November 9, 2012
A stack of books. Photo by Jamie McCrary The mission of the Big Read is not only to get people reading, but to educate. We want readers to think about, question, and examine what they’re reading! I believe that a good book opens the mind, teaching readers new cultures, ideas, and ways of thinking...

Ray Bradbury---In His Own Words

October 19, 2011
By Adam Kampe Book cover used with permission of Del Rey/The Random House Ballantine Publishing Group Did you know that Ray Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451 in nine days? Don't believe me? Alright, but I have no reason to fib. Hear Ray tell the story in under 20 seconds. [audio: http://bigreadblog...

Congratulations to Our Big Read Grantees

July 7, 2011
Washington, DC "Read" by flickr user markhillary The 2011-2012 Big Read grantees were announced this morning , which means it's time to start gearing up for our sixth season of the program. As always, we look forward to seeing how our 76 grant recipients will use creative new ways to engage their...

Imitating Steinbeck

June 6, 2011
Washington, DC Caricature of John Steinbeck by John Sherffius for The Big Read. John Steinbeck has touched millions of readers with The Grapes of Wrath , his epic, sprawling novel of rural life in the Great Depression. But his prose has touched writers as well, in some cases providing inspiration...

Read Between the Lines: A Q&A with Moline Public Library

October 22, 2010
Moline, Illinois You can't miss The Big Read at Moline Public Library! Photo courtesy of Moline Public Library One of the original Big Read book selections, Fahrenheit 451 continues to be a popular choice for communities around the country. Lisa Williams, Adult Services Coordinator for Moline...

What Page Are You On?

May 24, 2010
Washington, DC During one of the very first Big Reads on Fahrenheit 451 , Ray Bradbury himself "beamed in" to join a (filled-to-the-rafters) book discussion. Photo courtesy of the Florida Center for the Literary Arts/Florida Center for the Book Big Read Today in the TimesOnline , award-winning...

A Report from the Field: Congratulations to WUMB!

April 5, 2010
Washington, DC Congratulations to three-time Big Read grantee, University of Massachusetts Boston?s public radio station WUMB, the recipient of a My Source Education Innovation Award from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. WUMB was recognized for its work encouraging Boston residents to get...

ROADSHOW AND TELL

October 6, 2009
October 6 , 2009 Washington, DC Quinn McDonald is an Arizona artist-writer taking part in West Valley Arts Council's Big Read of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Several local artists were invited by the council to create altered books reflecting the novel's themes for display in local library...

WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON?

September 9, 2009
Sam Weller poses with his biography on Ray Bradbury during a visit to San Antonio Public Library's Big Read of Fahrenheit 451 this past February . Here's my not-so-secret literary crush Ray Bradbury on why we should read novels (from an interview with the NEA). Because we are trying to solve the...

WHY READ?

August 31, 2009
August 31 , 2009 Washington, DC Louisville Free Public Library Foundation was one of 72 organizations that helped take The Big Read nationwide in 2007. Louisvillians read, discussed, and celebrated Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God . (Photo courtesy Louisville Free Public Library...

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