Announcement: Our White House Kids' Inauguration Celebration Kit

I thought that some of you would be interested in this press release, which I received from Mary Brigid Barrett, President and Executive Director of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance.

The Our White House Kids Inauguration Celebration Kit! is available now online 

Plan your own "Our White House Kids Inauguration Celebration" and combine great learning with great fun! The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance has created a free online presidential inauguration activity guide for parents, teachers, librarians, and community leaders so that young people all across the country can participate in this exciting historic event. Use the upcoming inauguration of our new President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joseph Biden as a springboard to celebrate all of our presidents, as well as our nation's rich history!

In this kit you will find information concerning:

• an interview with professional speech writer Thomas LaFauci 
• the oath of office 
• the inaugural ceremony 
• inaugural parades  
• the White House transition of presidents 

Activity projects and discussion question topics include:

• creating your own kids inaugural ball
• writing inaugural poetry
• creating parade floats
• designing a new oval office, and more!

Some of the ideas and activities we suggest spring directly from the content and illustrations in the NCBLA's new book, Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, which you can find at your local library or bookstore-but many of the suggested ideas and activities can be used independently of the book.

Take a look at the kit and share what you learn with the young people in your life! The Our White House Kids Inauguration Celebration Kit is available online. 

The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance
The NCBLA is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization founded by award-winning young people's authors and illustrators. Acting as an independent creative agent or in partnership with interested parties, the NCBLA develops original projects, programs, and educational outreach that advocate for and educate about literacy, literature, libraries, and the arts.

We believe that literacy is essential to the development of responsible citizens in a democracy. And we believe that citizens, both young and old, must have equal access to stimulating books and information sources that invite them to dream and give them the tools to achieve their dreams. As writers and illustrators, teachers and mentors, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles-as citizens and neighbors-our ultimate question is always how can we best serve all of our nation's children? For more information about the NCBLA go to: www.thencbla.org.

For more about Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, see this excellent feature at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.