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Obamas Put Global Spotlight on Dedham Author
Obamas Choose Dedham Author/Illustrator Peter H. Reynolds' Book THE WORD COLLECTOR for a Live, Global Read Aloud
DEDHAM, MA - Dedham resident Peter H. Reynolds was recently surprised to learn that former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were teaming up to do a live reading of Reynolds’ storybook The Word Collector about a boy named Jerome who collects his favorite words.
Only days before the reading, Reynolds received a request from the Obamas - through his publisher Scholastic - to read the book live on social media. “Of course, I didn’t hesitate for an instant to agree, but I had no idea that the reading event would happen so quickly.”
Thursday May 14th, the Obamas hosted an installment of the Chicago Public Library's online series "Live From the Library," a daily story time for children. The reading was recorded and is still accessible on the Chicago Public Library’s Facebook page, and the Obama Foundation’s YouTube Channel. Adding to the honors, both Michelle and Barack tweeted out about the reading to their 132 million followers on Twitter. Their video reading has now been viewed over 10 million times on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and reported on by major media outlets around the globe.
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Published by Scholastic’s Orchard Books, The Word Collector book is a story about a little boy named Jerome, who loves to collect words just as other children collect stamps, shells or rocks. The book celebrates the transformational power of words for all ages. Reynolds was glowing over the reading, “This book is incredibly important to me as part of my mission to get young people to understand the transformative power of words, so to have this unbelievable spotlight on this story is truly a gift.”
Peter H. Reynolds is a New York Times best-selling author & illustrator. Published in over 25 languages, Peter's books The Dot, Ish, The North Star, Going Places, and Say Something, among many others, inspire children and “grown up children” with his messages about authentic learning, creativity, bravery, empathy, and courageous self-expression.
Peter also illustrated the best selling I am Yoga, I am Peace, I am Human, and The Water Princess with Susan Verde, as well as, the Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald. Peter lives in Dedham, MA. where he founded The Blue Bunny, a family-owned and operated children’s book, toy, & creativity store, which is set to reopen sometime in June after temporarily closing due to the COVID19 crisis. Signed, personalized copies of Reynolds' The Word Collector can be ordered through The Blue Bunny's online shop: www.TheDotCentral.com.
