The Ark City USD 470 Early Literacy Initiative is hosting children’s author, Brenda Maier, in Cowley County June 21-22.
According to a news release from the school district, Maier is the author of popular children’s books entitled The Little Red Fort, The Little Blue Bridge, and most recently, Peeping Beauty. Her stories are considered “fractured fairy tales”, which means that Maier takes a classic children’s story and adds a twist, changes characters, and modernizes the story.
The main character in two of her stories is a Hispanic, female heroine, still unique amongst children’s book perspectives.
Maier’s book Little Red Fort will be on display at two county storywalks in June for residents would to view her work. A pop up storywalk at the Health and Safety Fair in Paris Park on June 4 will be available for viewing between 9 a.m. to noon. The book will also be on display at the Island Park storywalk through June.
Maier will be visiting Ark City on Tuesday, June 21, at 10 a.m. in the Wright Room at Cowley College. Maier will visit Winfield Public Library on Wednesday, June 22, at 1 p.m.
Both events are open to the public.
While in town, Maier will also present to USD 470 PreK-4th grade summer learning classes, as well as ACRC IYQ Camp participants. Free copies of Maier’s children’s books will be available at some locations until supplies run out.
“I am excited about this enriching experience for children and their families,” said USD 470 Early Literacy Coordinator Lindsay Wilke. “Ms. Maier’s presentations are full of creativity and help to foster a love of reading in young children. It can be quite a powerful experience for a child to meet an author in person and hear about the process of writing a book. I know that it will be inspiring to many.”
To learn more about literacy development, visit www.usd470.com/earlyliteracy.
Information about summer reading and enrichment opportunities can be found on the local library websites and social media pages, visit www.acpl.org and www.wpl.org. Health and Safety Fair details for 2022 can be found at https://www.facebook.com/cowleycountyhealth. For more information about the Kansas Health Foundation, a philanthropy dedicated to improving the health of all Kansans that funds the Early Literacy Initiative, visit www.kansashealth.org.
