Friday May 22, 2009 was the eleventh anual reading celebration in our community. The reading celebration began with a child's vision, a vision...a dream that soon became a reality not only for her...but for thousands of other children and adults! Each year a public school within our small community takes the time to decorate their school based upon a chosen theme. Each of the other schools participate and are given a classroom to decorate based upon the theme of the year. This year the theme was Happily Ever After. Our school decorated a room based on the fairy tale " The Princess and the Pea" it was beautiful! Also each year the gym or cafeteria is decorated and designated author's row. This year was my third year of signing my book, "Kentucky the Mountains I Call Home" on author's row! It is very exciting to meet new authors, make new friends, and visit with old friends. This year the governor and secretary of state paid a visit to each of the authors as well as each of the decorated classrooms. The event was filled with child friendly activities, freebies for all the children, puppet shows, singing, poets, books, great socialization, and a warm Kentucky welcome! Not only is it a great experience for authors, but a grand experience to enhance children's love of reading and writing! A wonderful night in a beautiful fairy tale setting! I am already looking forward to next year when I hope to have two new books on my table, "A Path of Stitches" a children's book and "Faces in the Mountains" a book of poetry about Kentucky people. The news of our reading celebration has quickly spread across Kentucky and many other counties and communities have begun their own reading celebrations. It's wonderful opportunity for unity within our schools and community and it's wonderful to be able to write about positive things in our community and the lives of our children.