Amelia Island Book Festival
Press Release
Contact:
RM Fenn
Email: [email protected]
October 12, 2016 3:30 p.m.
Educators Find a Swarm of Outstanding Authors to Choose From for the Authors in Schools Program
More than 30 educators, along with School Board chairperson Donna Martin, Vice chair Kathy Burns and Board members Gail Cook and Jamie Deonas gathered September 14 at Florida State College at Jacksonville Nassau Center in Yulee for the Amelia Island Book Festival’s (AIBF) annual Educator Thank You Event. The gathering provides a chance for media specialists and teachers to review the Authors in Schools submissions for the 2017 Festival.
“Our intent is to honor and thank all of the educators for all they do throughout the year,” said Marie Fenn, AIBF president.
School Board Chairperson Donna Martin said, “The Amelia Island Book Festival’s commitment to the Nassau County Public schools and tradition of providing books and the opportunity to meet authors to our students is appreciated. What a fantastic way to get our kids excited about books, reading and writing!”
Each year, The Amelia Island Book Festival solicits applications and books from prospective author presenters. This year, there were more than 50 book submissions from authors throughout the USA. The books are scrutinized by the media specialists, reading coaches and other teachers to determine age appropriateness and applicability to the curriculum requirements.
“First I always look for an author who will be of interest to both my girl and boy students. Getting the attention of high school students is a little more challenging to begin with and I try to make author visits fun and exciting to all the students. Students need an author that comes across with energy and interesting ideas, whether that be in their tone, advice about writing, or the topics they choose to write about. I want my students to be engaged with the author and to feel inspired on some level during this memorable experience of meeting an actual published author! FBHS is so grateful to the Festival for bringing these noted authors to our schools and gifting their books to our students. It’s an important learning experience for our students and events like this do impact them”, said Evelyn French, media specialist at Fernandina Beach High School.
As a result of the Festival’s efforts, authors will descend upon every public school in Nassau County on Feb. 17, 2017. The Amelia Island Book Festival raises money throughout the year to purchase the books of the presenting authors for the students. This year the fourth graders in Callahan, Hilliard, Bryceville, Yulee and Fernandina will meet and get to hear a presentation by an author everyone knows, R.L. Stine; and each student will receive one of his books.
“Last year the Festival purchased 6,000 books for the students in our public schools. This year we will need to raise significantly more money as several schools are requesting more than one author for different grades at their schools,” said Lauree Hemke Authors in School Team Leader. “Our goal is to accommodate our teachers and purchase as many as 8,000 books this year.”
Everyone is urged to become a Book Buddy. A donation of $10 help buy a book for a student, and $400 will buy books for an entire classroom. The Festival’s events are not only fundraisers for purchasing books they are a celebration of the written word and highlight the importance of reading. “Our goal is to encourage lifelong learning and all of our activities and events are targeted toward that goal,” says Fenn.
Editor’s Note: AIBF is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible and a portion of every ticketed event is tax deductible. Visit www.ameliaislandbookfestival.org to become a Book Buddy, buy tickets and get more details. For questions, email [email protected] or call 904.624.1665.
Amelia Island Book Festival seeks to open up the world through books.
Our mission is to promote life-long learning and an appreciation for books by providing quality events featuring local area and world-renowned authors.