The Big Read January 30 – February 11, 2012
“Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.” – Mark Twain
Get on board The Big Read 2012 and join in the fun! There’s singing, dancing, art, storytelling, book discussing and readings – all designed to delight, intrigue, enlighten and incite exploration.
Libraries, schools, businesses and nonprofits across seven islands in Hancock County have come together for a monthlong extravaganza of fun to bring The Adventures of Tom Sawyer to life for an estimated 1,500 readers of all ages.
The Big Read is sure to inspire an excitement for reading and build community. Join us. Click on the links below for a full calendar of events:
Events January 12 – 18, 2012
Events January 19 – 28, 2012
Events January 30 – February 11, 2012
January 17, 2012 KICKOFF
The Reach Performing Arts Center
Deer Isle- Stonington Elementary School
Students and community members were treated to an exciting introduction to Mark Twain and his book “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by special guests, Huckleberry Finn and Dr. Barbara Snedecor from Elmira College.
Marvin Merritt played the role of Huckleberry Finn as part of The Big Read Kickoff. Huck jumped out of the pages of Robert Bruleigh’s book “The Adventures of Mark Twain” to introduce his friend Sam Clemens. The video clip is an excerpt from that performance.
Marvin is an 8th Grader and has been in numerous theatrical productions at the Reach and the Stonington Opera House. He has been chosen to play Mike TV in the Cabin Fever production of “Willy Wonka” in March.
Dr. Barbara Snedecor continued the story about the life of Mark Twain focusing on his love of rivers, steamboats and Quarry Farm where he wrote “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” Her presentation included slides of Sam Clemens early life, the Mississippi River and Quarry Farm the summer home of the Clemens family located in Elmira, New York.
Dr. Barbara Snedecor directs the Elmira College Center for Mark Twain Studies. She has taught composition and literature at various colleges and universities and has published two novels and a variety of essays. Her focus in Twain studies is autobiography, biography, and domesticity. She is currently completing a book entitled Gravity: Selections from the Letters of Olivia Langdon Clemens.
From Top to Bottom: Dr. Barbara Snedecor; Quarry Farm; Steamboat on exhibit at the Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School; "Fabulous Fences and Wise Words" Exhibition at the Bass Harbor Memorial Library
Jesup Memorial Library goes all out for The Big Read
PE teachers from MDI and Deer Isle gather at the Trenton Elementary School to learn mid-1800s games to teach to grades 3-4-5 as part of The Big Read.
Big things are on the horizon thanks to The Big Read. Scores of free events will be offered now through Saturday, Feb. 11 including theater performances, films, art exhibits, public readings and lectures, music concerts, storytelling, game nights, book discussions, workshops and crafting sessions, and even logrolling classes at venues on Mount Desert Island, Deer Isle/Stonington, Swans Island, Islesford, Frenchboro and Isle au Haut. Oh, and there’s reading, too.
The whole shebang is geared around “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” Mark Twain. “I think the beauty of this program is that you don’t necessarily have to be a reader,” said Candy Emlen, director of the Southwest Harbor Library. “You can participate in all the different programs that are offered and don’t even have to read the book and you’ll still get something out of it.” But organizers are hoping people of all ages will read the book, either on their own or as part of a group.
– an excerpt from Melinda Rice’s article in the MD Islander on 1/5/12
With the advent of the Holiday Season approaching we thought this might be of interest to readers…
Letter from Santa Claus, as written by Mark Twain, to his daughter, Susie Clements:
“My dear Susie Clemens:
I have received and read all the letters which you and your little sister have written me by the hand of your mother and your nurses; I have also read those which you little people have written me with your own hands—for although you do not use any characters that are in grown peoples’ alphabet, you used the characters that all children in all lands on earth and in the twinkling stars use; and as all my subjects in the moon are children and use no character but that, you will easily understand that I can read your and your baby sister’s jagged and fantastic marks without any trouble at all. But I had trouble with those letters which you dictated through your mother and the nurses, for I am a foreigner and cannot read English writing well. You will find that I made no mistakes about the things which you and the baby ordered in your own letters—I went down the chimney at midnight when you were both asleep and delivered them all myself—and kissed both of you, too, because you are good children, well-trained, nice-mannered, and about the most obedient little people I ever saw…”
To read the entire letter please visit our Resources section for Educators.
BIG READ update: Islands in Hancock County are a buzz as planning for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Big Read continues. Small group meetings were held around the island to discuss programs and partnerships as libraries, schools and nonprofit organizations join forces to design this year’s Big Read. Island libraries play a key role in the Big Read. Not only will they distribute books to participating readers, but they will host book discussion and develop book-related exhibits and programs. Check out the video and see what the librarians say about the Big Read.
Ayah, Mainers love a good story and Mark Twain is one of the best storytellers ever! That’s why The Adventures of Tom Sawyer seemed like a good choice for a Big Read. Our Big Read will begin on January 12, 2012 with two kick-off events, one on MDI and the other on Deer Isle, and ends with an exciting finale on February 11, 2012. Mark your calendars!
With the Northeast Harbor Library as IRW’s lead library partner, our goal is to attract 1500 readers to the project. Like Call of the Wild Big Read, our grant includes all the villages on Mount Desert Island, Great and Little Cranberry Isles, Long Island, Swan’s island, Deer Isle – Stonington and Isle au Haut. We seek to engage readers of all ages in the month-long Big Read by bringing The Adventures of Tom Sawyer to life through a series of programs and activities. A copy of the book will be free to participants and a variety of book-related discussions, lectures, exhibits, activities and events offered in partnership with community libraries, schools and nonprofit organizations.
Our Big Read grant from National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest is for $9,000.00, which Island Readers & Writers must match through supporting grants and private contributions. Follow the Big Read blog.
Suggested Resources: For biographical material, activities and discussion guides, visit:
The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum
Mark Twain Study at Elmira College
IRW’s Book Talk for lots more resources!
The Big Read Steering Committee for the project consists of the following:
Jan Coates, IRW – project chair
Anna Carr, Northeast Harbor Library – book discussions, lectures and exhibits
Raney Bench, Abbe Museum – Native Americans; school programs, exhibits
Susan Guilford, DISES – program coordinator Deer Isle- Stonington, Isle au Haut
Dianne Waters, Trenton School Principal – school relations
Lisa Murray, Southwest Harbor Public Library – data management
Mel Rice, Mount Desert Islander – media relations and publications
Big Read program themes include:
- 1830’s School Days
- Childhood
- River life: commerce, culture – the Mississippi vs. Penobscot and Union Rivers
- Bias in literature
- Native American tribes of 1830’s – New England vs. the Plains region
- The art of storytelling
- Twain the writer
- Life and times of Mark Twain
- Film, musical and theatrical adaptations of the story
- Small town life
- Much more…
The Steering Committee looks forward to working with community libraries, schools and nonprofit organizations to develop a meaningful and memorable Big Read experience for all.
Our Big Read email is: bigread2012@islandreadersandwriters.org or info@islandreadersandwriters.org.
