Weyauwega celebrates joy of reading
This city of about 2,000 is among the U.S. communities that will give out a case of free books on World Book Night.
"They're giving me a case of books. I can give them away in any way I want," said Carrie Gruman-Trinkner.
She is the choral instructor at Weyauwega-Fremont High School and was one of thousands of people who applied to be a book giver.
"I had to write an essay about why I should be the book giver, and my community and I won," said Gruman-Trinkner, who is also an author herself.
The United States' first ever World Book Night is on Monday, April 23.
World Book Night U.S. is a non-profit organization that is supported by American book publishers, the American Booksellers Association, Barnes & Noble, the American Library Association, the Association of American Publishers and Ingram Book Distributors.
The idea is to celebrate books and reading.
Gruman-Trinker said this idea began in Europe.
The reason why April 23 was chosen for World Book Night is to honor William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes.
Cervantes died on April 22, 1616, and Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616. April 23 is also the anniversary of Shakespeare's birthday.
Gruman-Trinkner learned about World Book Night as she was scrolling through her news feed.
"I like Maya Angelou," she said. "She said, 'World Book Night coming.'"
Gruman-Trinkner said the organizers used social media to get the word out about it.
"You could apply for 30 different books to give away," she said. "I applied for Hunger Games, but it was in demand. I applied as me, as an author."
Ironically, the case of books that Gruman-Trinkner is receiving is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou's 1969 autobiography about her early years.
"I have read it," Gruman-Trinker said. "It's heartbreaking, beautiful."
In addition to copies of that book, she also plans to give out other books on World Book Night.
"When I found out I would be a book giver, I decided to get my writing group involved," she said.
That writing group is the Weyauwega Word Weavers. It is made up of middle school and high school students in the district.
The students recently held a used book sale. The profits will help pay for treats on World Book Night.
Gruman-Trinkner has been collecting books - many of them brand new - that will also be given away on World Book Night.
"We will have at least 75 books," she said. "I'm hoping for 100 books to give away that night."
In Weyauwega, World Book Night will begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 23.
The activities will take place in the high school auditorium, beginning with a read-in for the first 30 minutes.
"People can bring bean bag chairs, sleeping bags and flop anywhere," Gruman-Trinkner said. "We will have a couple of corners with people reading out loud."
At 7 p.m., the movie "The Pagemaster" will be shown.
The 1994 film stars Macaulay Culkin as a boy who slips in a library and is knocked unconscious. The books come to life, and he goes on an adventure with them, Gruman-Trinkner said.
After the movie, the books will be given away.
"I hope to find people who are reluctant readers and have them come to this night and get a book of their own," she said. "If someone knows someone who is not a reader, whether an adult or a teen, bring them along. It will be a fun night."
It is a free night, with no cost for anything, Gruman-Trinkner said.
A limited number of communities will give away books on April 23, and she is excited to be one of the book givers.
"My family has always read. My family is a family of educators," she said. "I grew up reading and reading to my children. My kids are crazy about books."
"They're giving me a case of books. I can give them away in any way I want," said Carrie Gruman-Trinkner.
She is the choral instructor at Weyauwega-Fremont High School and was one of thousands of people who applied to be a book giver.
"I had to write an essay about why I should be the book giver, and my community and I won," said Gruman-Trinkner, who is also an author herself.
The United States' first ever World Book Night is on Monday, April 23.
World Book Night U.S. is a non-profit organization that is supported by American book publishers, the American Booksellers Association, Barnes & Noble, the American Library Association, the Association of American Publishers and Ingram Book Distributors.
The idea is to celebrate books and reading.
Gruman-Trinker said this idea began in Europe.
The reason why April 23 was chosen for World Book Night is to honor William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes.
Cervantes died on April 22, 1616, and Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616. April 23 is also the anniversary of Shakespeare's birthday.
Gruman-Trinkner learned about World Book Night as she was scrolling through her news feed.
"I like Maya Angelou," she said. "She said, 'World Book Night coming.'"
Gruman-Trinkner said the organizers used social media to get the word out about it.
"You could apply for 30 different books to give away," she said. "I applied for Hunger Games, but it was in demand. I applied as me, as an author."
Ironically, the case of books that Gruman-Trinkner is receiving is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou's 1969 autobiography about her early years.
"I have read it," Gruman-Trinker said. "It's heartbreaking, beautiful."
In addition to copies of that book, she also plans to give out other books on World Book Night.
"When I found out I would be a book giver, I decided to get my writing group involved," she said.
That writing group is the Weyauwega Word Weavers. It is made up of middle school and high school students in the district.
The students recently held a used book sale. The profits will help pay for treats on World Book Night.
Gruman-Trinkner has been collecting books - many of them brand new - that will also be given away on World Book Night.
"We will have at least 75 books," she said. "I'm hoping for 100 books to give away that night."
In Weyauwega, World Book Night will begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 23.
The activities will take place in the high school auditorium, beginning with a read-in for the first 30 minutes.
"People can bring bean bag chairs, sleeping bags and flop anywhere," Gruman-Trinkner said. "We will have a couple of corners with people reading out loud."
At 7 p.m., the movie "The Pagemaster" will be shown.
The 1994 film stars Macaulay Culkin as a boy who slips in a library and is knocked unconscious. The books come to life, and he goes on an adventure with them, Gruman-Trinkner said.
After the movie, the books will be given away.
"I hope to find people who are reluctant readers and have them come to this night and get a book of their own," she said. "If someone knows someone who is not a reader, whether an adult or a teen, bring them along. It will be a fun night."
It is a free night, with no cost for anything, Gruman-Trinkner said.
A limited number of communities will give away books on April 23, and she is excited to be one of the book givers.
"My family has always read. My family is a family of educators," she said. "I grew up reading and reading to my children. My kids are crazy about books."
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