by Denise Gary
Photographs © Denise Gary
Kids and Books and Theater and Imagination! Kids Need to Read was honored to partner with Mesa Arts Center during the 2013–2014 school year, supporting their Literacy through the Arts residency program at Lowell Elementary School in Mesa, Arizona. Kids Need to Read provided books in support of the program, which encouraged literacy through targeted school workshops and exceptional theater performances.
Kids Need to Read provided young reader editions of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll, for the third and fourth grade students attending a Salzburg Marionettes production of the story at Mesa Arts Center, as well as Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass classic novels for the teachers to continue sharing Alice’s adventures afterward. The production was spectacular, of course. After the show, a little girl recognized me from speaking on stage, and exclaimed, “I LOVED IT!” while jumping up and down, and said she could not wait to read the book. It was a moment I cherished!
Copies of the book Frindle, by Andrew Clements, were given to each of the fifth and sixth grade students to keep as part of the program.
I was invited to participate in the program at the school with Ashley Hare, Mesa Arts Center’s Arts Education Outreach Associate.
Ashley enthusiastically engaged the children with a fun, interactive program. She was so skilled with the children!
I had a chance to talk to the students about reading and thinking “outside the box.” After reading the books, the students attended a performance of Frindle at Mesa Arts Center.
Copies of Opuestos, by Cynthia Weill, Martín Santiago, and Quirino Santiago, were presented to each of the kindergarten through second grade students to keep and treasure.
Copies of Dream Carver, by Diana Cohn and Amy Cordova, were provided to the teachers and assistants to read aloud in the classrooms.
Once again, I was invited to participate in the program at the school, this time with Andy Waldron, Mesa Arts Center’s LitArts Program Coordinator.
It was so much fun to watch the kids laughing and interacting with Andy. He was terrific!
After reading Dream Carver and Opuestos, the students attended a performance of Dream Carver at Mesa Arts Center.
Many thanks to Mandy Buscas, Ashley Hare, Andy Waldron, and Laura Wilde for allowing Kids Need to Read to be a part of their wonderful program! Literacy and the arts are clearly a winning combination!
Photo Gallery: Literacy through the Arts with Mesa Arts Center
