I believe that the library is the heart of a school, although I admit that it’s possible I could be prejudiced. It thrills this storyteller to go into a school which has a library overflowing with books. Those libraries are often teeming with students eager to read. I usually perform my storytelling in those libraries, and they have to shut it down for the day. I know it’s a good library when students look at the librarian dumbfounded and say, “You mean we can’t check out books today?”
Often those libraries are the showcase for the artwork that the students create. Last week, I had the good fortune to tell stories at Bernard A. Harris Junior High School in San Antonio. The first thing I saw when I walked into the library was this:
“Dream.” I like that kind of inspiration. Libraries like this one inspire those dreams in our children. If they are lucky, they will never have to “check in” those dreams.
The library was decorated with magnificent paintings by the students. As I “Ooooooh”ed and “Ahhhhh”ed over the artwork, the librarian introduced me to a young woman named Christin Engelberth. Her artwork was not featured in the library that week, but she pulled out a drawing from her sketchbook to show me. I fell to my knees and kowtowed to her muttering, “I am not worthy.” It was magnificent! She had drawn the face of a young woman with very expressive eyes. That artwork belonged in a museum!
Christin told me that a piece of her artwork is a finalist in the Doodle 4 Google contest. Have y’all heard about that? Students from across the nation drew Google logos to submit. If Christin wins, she gets a $15,000 scholarship AND her school gets a $10,000 award to improve the computer lab. Both of them deserve that award, and I greatly admire Google for offering such opportunities for students.
Tomorrow is the final date of judging! Take half a minute this Sunday morning to follow that link above. Click on “Grades 4-6″ across the top of the page, then click on “Region 8.” A soon as you see her name, “Christin Engelberth,” click the “Vote for this doodle” button. It won’t take long; in fact it took you longer to read this paragraph than it would take to help this girl achieve a dream.
There were some other fine artists at her school, and I thought I’d share the beauty of their work. In the library, my camera didn’t take excellent pictures of all of the artwork (I’m blaming it on the camera and not the photographer). This is not the first time that I have seen artwork in school that I wished I could buy, and I’m betting it won’t be the last.
These children create artwork because they have big imaginations. Those imaginations are built when children get opportunities to be exposed to ideas through books. If you have a child in your life, please check out the library at their school and make certain that you support any effort that librarian makes to fill that library with books to give those children dreams.
Pretty amazing, huh? I think I’m going to go check the numbers on my lottery ticket. If I won last night, I’d love to give each of these artists a $10,000 scholarship! Since I probably didn’t win, I hope they will just accept my praise. At least they have a wonderful library to help inspire their dreams. Won’t you go help Christin achieve hers?
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Vote cast and I also called on a few others to hit the ballot box. She is talented. Looked at some of the others while there and voted in the other regions.
Jamies last blog post..Progress Report
Voted and will retweet, as soon as I figure out how to do that! *lol*
LuAnns last blog post..Mr. Snugglebutt – The Mighty Hunter
Visited the Google site and voted. Thanks for calling our attention to that really great and very important contest.
Libraries -books – to me, probably the most important things one can have, next to bread and water. My mantra has always been, if you can read, you can take a cheap but wonderful trip around the world and never leave the warmth, safety and comfort of your own home. It was one of the few things my ex-husband agreed upon and was also what we both tried to instill in all three of our children. When they were in school, I worried that I had failed in getting them hepped up on reading but now, as adults, I see that they heard what I had told them and took it to heart as both my daughters are very “into” books and my son is finally realizing how great a good book is too! (Only took them about 20 years or so for that to register with them, but better late than never, huh?)
Great post, Shelley. Peace.
Jeni Hill Ertmers last blog post..A New Song
You find the most amazing talent in your travels. I have voted and I agree that Christin is a remarkable talent. That whole contest produced a lot of great wishes.
Carol G.s last blog post..My Former Neck of the Woods ~ part deux
She’s got my vote! I voted for one in each of the other grade groups as well, what a terrific contest – so much talent and such a worthwhile prize!
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Wow! The artwork is amazing!!! It’s Monday morning and I hope it’s not too late to vote. I’m going to head over there right now and check.
Jessica The Rock Chicks last blog post..It’s Raining On Prom Night
Christin won!
See
http://www.google.com/doodle4google/
Its good to know that Google are giving back to the people with their Doodle for google competition and prize money which before now I didn’t know about so thank you for sharing that with me.
By the way the artwork is of a very high standard.
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