10 to Try Cover

Ten to try: Read Around West Virginia

We converted our usual in-person spring fundraising event Read-A-Palooza to a COVID-safe poster to both raise money and serve the mission. The Read Around West Virginia poster features books set in or written by authors from the Mountain State alongside our 31 sponsors, listed below. A celebration of West Virginia literacy, culture, and art, the poster was hand-drawn by Charleston-based artist Brenda Pinnell of HepCatz Design.

Posters will be shared with enrolled schools and community partners this winter onward. They will be sold in Charleston’s Taylor Books and Lewisburg’s A New Chapter, as well as other potential vendors.

Email stateoffice@readaloudwv.org if you’re interested in offering Read Around WV posters in your business.

This Ten to Try includes a sample of children’s books featured in the poster, and why we think they’re great.

The Star Fisher

by Laurence Yep | Ages 8 and up

Set in Clarksburg in 1927, fifteen-year-old Chinese-American protagonist Joan Lee, shares an emotionally complex story of prejudice and the immigrant experience in Appalachia, weaving a traditional Chinese myth about the half-bird, half-human starfisher throughout.


Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Put Astronauts on the Moon

Written by Helaine Becker, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk | Ages 5 and up

The true story of Katherine Johnson, a Black mathematician and White Sulphur Springs native, and how she went from a curious, gifted student to a prominent contributor to the NASA space race, saving lives and making history with her calculations.


Golden Delicious: A Cinderella Apple Story

Written by Anna Egan Smucker, illustrated by Kathleen Kemly | Ages 4 and up

The true story of how a Clay County farmer – Anderson Mullins – discovers a tree of Golden Delicious apples on his farm and collaborates with the Missouri-based Stark brothers to make them a staple of the apple world.


Mothman Learns the ABCs

Written by Michael Schang, illustrated by Danner Seyffer-Sprague | Ages 0 and up

An ABC book starring West Virginia’s most famous cryptid, Mothman, who travels the Mountain State on a quest for knowledge.


More Than Anything Else

Written by Marie Bradby, illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet | Ages 8 and up

A fictional account of nine-year-old Booker T. Washington living in a West Virginia settlement after emancipation, working in the salt works, and longing to learn to read.


The Boys Start the War

By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor | Ages 8 and up

A prank war between the four Hatford boys and the three Malloy girls is started when the Hatfords attempt to antagonize their unwanted new neighbors into leaving West Virginia and returning to Ohio.


Passing the Music Down

Written by Sarah Sullivan, illustrated by Barry Root | Ages 5 and up

A tale told in lyrical free verse and inspired by the lives of renowned fiddlers Melvin Wine and Jake Krack, this book follows a young boy who learns from an old-time fiddle player, joining a tradition of passing the music down.


Up Molasses Mountain

By Julie Baker | Ages 10 and up

Set in Clay, WV in 1953, two young narrators tell the story of a divided mining town. Elizabeth, whose father and brother are opposed on unionization, and her classmate Clarence, who is shunned for his cleft-palate, face turmoil and heartache together, weaving a narrative of empowering friendship amongst adversity.


The Relatives Came

Written by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Stephen Gammell | Ages 2 and up

In a time when big family get-togethers are much rarer than they used to be, who wouldn’t enjoy this sunny story about a long and boisterous visit from the relatives?


Venola the Vegetarian

By Cheryl Ware | Ages 8 and up

Seventh grader Venola Cutright isn’t afraid of a challenge. In a world where hotdog eating contests are the norm, she decides to become a vegetarian, attempting to convert her family, friends, and the unsmiling cafeteria lady along the way.


Thank you to our sponsors!

The Becker Family

Andy Richardson

William Maxwell Davis

John T. Gibson, DDS, PLLC

Tom Heywood and Melody Simpson

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Thank you for another great Read-A-Palooza!

It’s been a little over a week since Read-A-Palooza 2019: Join Team Read, and we just wanted to take another opportunity to publicly thank those who made it all possible! This year’s event was our most successful yet and we are extremely grateful for the opportunity to bring community members together in support of Read Aloud West Virginia.

Read-A-Palooza is the only fundraising event we host each year and is vital to Read Aloud’s financial sustainability. With the support of our sponsors, donors, and supporters, we were able to meet our Read-A-Palooza fundraising goal this year and ensure that Read Aloud can continue to keep books in the hands and on the minds of West Virginia children!

This year’s event focused on creating excitement for books and reading the same way our society does for sports. In his remarks, our special guest WVU Football Coach Neal Brown beautifully connected the importance of a strong reading foundation to athletic success. With at least three media outlets in attendance and multiple stories written about the event, we’re positive that excitement was generated. We’ve made new friendships, strengthened old ones, inspired new volunteers, and heard multiple times since the event that this was our best Read-A-Palooza to date.

A special thank you to Coach Neal Brown, Coleman Barnes, and West Virginia University; to Tony Caridi, children’s book author and MetroNews sports reporter; to The University of Charleston, UC President Marty Roth, Robert Elmore of the UC Vice President’s office, and Ray Singleton of the UC Department of Education; to David Hager Photography; and to all of sponsors and silent auction donors listed below!

Signature Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

William Maxwell Davis

The Becker Family

Bronze Sponsors

Chris & Amy Panzarella

Friends of Read-A-Palooza

Juli Hatcher Mock – JH Records

Silent Auction Donors

Andrew Adkins

Base Camp Printing

Berry Hills Country Club

Bob & Tina Pepper

Bricks & Barrels

Budget Tapes & Records

Canaan Valley Resort

Capon Springs & Farms

Carnegie Hall

Cathedral Café/Southside Junction Tap House

Chef Paul Smith

Dick’s Sporting Goods

Embassy Suites

Erica Baumgrass

Fayette County Chamber of Commerce/Official Bridge Day

Read Aloud WV of Fayette County

Gallery B Studio

Gat Creek

Greenbrier Valley Theatre

Hawks Nest State Park

Jacke Venus

Jeff Fetty Designs

Kinship Goods

LaFayette Flats Lodging

Lucia Bishop

Mardi Gras Casino

Marshall University

Melissa Doty

Mountain Art Glass

Mountain Heritage Books

Noah’s Restaurant & Lounge

Pettit Jewelry

Pies & Pints-Fayetteville

River Expeditions Rafting & Kayaking

Ruth Ranson

Sara Busse

Secret Sandwich Society

Stephen & Jennie Fitzkee

The Blennerhassett Hotel

The Stache Ice Cream Shoppe

The Station Restaurant

Tony Caridi

Viki Heagy Books

West Virginia Book Company

Wisteria Gifts

Wisteria Gifts

WV Power

Yoga Power

Read-A-Palooza fundraiser most successful to date

By Sara Busse

It was a red carpet night as Read Aloud West Virginia hosted Read-A-Palooza on March 19, 2018, at Paterno’s at the Park in Charleston. The annual event was attended by 220 friends of Read Aloud who enjoyed the event’s theme, “Books to the Big Screen”—a celebration of children’s books that have been adapted into movies.

The purpose of Read-A-Palooza is to raise vital funds for Read Aloud’s programs, as well as to raise awareness of the work Read Aloud does in 30 counties and 210 schools in West Virginia.

As they say in the movie biz, “The award goes to…” our two Signature Sponsors, BrickStreet Insurance and the Elliot Family Foundation, and to Paterno’s for giving us the perfect setting for the popular fundraiser. Many others helped make the event possible, as listed below.

Artwork, excursions, and other exciting items were part of a silent auction that raised funds to help spread the Read Aloud message throughout West Virginia. Many people contributed silent auction items, including gifts from our Berkeley, Boone, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Kanawha, Mingo, Morgan, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Roane and Wood county Read Aloud chapters. We received auction items from friends in California, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina and Virginia, as well. Monetary donations were received from Berkeley, Jackson, Jefferson,  Kanawha, Marion, Monongalia, Nicholas, Preston, Randolph, Wood and Upshur counties as well as from Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina and West Virginia.

Thanks to all of our friends who contributed auction items and to those who purchased items! Another thanks goes to the Read-A-Palooza committee, led by Hayley Woodrum, who put in countless hours to make the  evening a success.

Even though the event was held in Charleston, the movie-themed evening was a state-wide affair, enjoyed by Read Aloud supporters from Boone, Cabell, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Logan, Mingo, Pocahontas, Putnam, Raleigh and Randolph counties.

Read Aloud is deeply indebted to Read-A-Palooza’s sponsors, silent auction and monetary donors and everyone who helped make the event a success. We hope you will join us next year!

Sara Busse is a long-time Charleston resident and community volunteer.

Special thanks to our Read-A-Palooza 2018 Sponsors!

Signature Sponsors: BrickStreet Insurance and The Elliot Family Foundation

Platinum Sponsor: Johnstone & Gabhart

Gold Sponsors: Moses Auto Group, TransCanada Corporation, United Bank

Silver Sponsors: Appalachian Power, Summit Community Bank

Bronze Sponsors: Advanced Eye Care, Assured Partners of WV, LLC, BB&T Wealth, Charleston Pediatric Dentistry

Read Aloud West Virginia Board member, Denise Davenport, surveys guests on their favorite book-to-movie pair as they enter Read-A-Palooza 2018. (Photo credit to Rafael Barker)

 

RAP GRAPHIC with sponsors

Lights! Camera! Read Aloud!

Join us for “Books to the Big Screen: Read-A-Palooza 2018!” Read Aloud West Virginia will go to the cinema to celebrate children’s books that have been adapted into movies, and we hope to see you on the red carpet!

The annual fund/friendraiser will be held Monday, March 19, 2018, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the popular Paterno’s At The Park restaurant in Charleston. In addition to the delicious food and great company, we will have a silent auction filled with wonderful items including artwork, excursions and more—and all of the proceeds will help continue the good works of Read Aloud across the state.

Tickets are $35 each in advance and $40 after March 9, and there are many sponsorship levels available for supporters, as well. Buy tickets online now or call the Read Aloud office at 304-345-5212 for questions or to purchase tickets or sponsorships.