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<p align="right">Contact: Angela Thullen<br>Program Officer, Communications, PPO<br>(312) 280-5286<br><a href="mailto:athullen@ala.org">athullen@ala.org</a><br></p>
<p>NEWS<br>For Immediate Release<br>September 2, 2008 </p>
<h1 align="center">NEH, ALA announce 6th annual “We the People” Bookshelf grant opportunity </h1>
<h2 align="center">Apply through Jan. 30, 2009 for a collection of 17 titles on the theme “Picturing America”</h2>
<p>CHICAGO – The American Library Association’s (ALA) Public Programs
Office is pleased to partner with the National Endowment for the
Humanities (NEH) for the sixth <em>We the People </em>Bookshelf project. Part of the NEH’s <em>We the People</em>
program, the Bookshelf encourages young people to read and understand
great literature while exploring themes in American history.</p>
<p>This year’s theme, “Picturing America,” explores the premise that a
nation’s literature, as well as its visual art, can be a window on its
character, ideals and aspirations. The <em>We the People </em>Bookshelf
on “Picturing America” will be a literary complement to the
NEH’sPicturing AmericaSM program – a free education resource that
provides reproductions of 40 pieces of great American art to schools
and public libraries to help educators teach American history and
culture through our nation’s art (<u><a href="http://picturingamerica.neh.gov/"><u>www.PicturingAmerica.neh.gov</u></a></u>). </p>
<p><strong>Public and school (K-12) libraries are invited to apply online from </strong><strong>Sept. 2, 2008 through Jan. 30, 2009 <strong>at</strong></strong> <u><a href="http://publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf"><u>http://publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf</u></a></u>.
In spring 2009, NEH and ALA will select 4,000 libraries to receive the
17 books for young readers, plus three works in Spanish translation, as
well as bonus materials for readers of all ages. Selected libraries
will be required to use the Bookshelf selections in programs for young
readers in their communities.</p>
<p>The Bookshelf grants are part of the NEH’s <em>We the People</em>
program, which aims to encourage and strengthen the teaching, study and
understanding of American history and culture through libraries,
schools, colleges, universities and cultural institutions. NEH plans
to offer a <em>We the People</em> Bookshelf each year on themes related to ideas and ideals unique to America. Since 2003, NEH and ALA have distributed 9,000 <em>We the People</em> Bookshelves to public and school libraries.</p>
<p>The “Picturing America” Bookshelf will feature the following books,
selected by the NEH in consultation with members of ALA and the
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the
ALA:</p>
<ul><li><span dir="ltr"><strong>Kindergarten to Grade 3:</strong> “Walt
Whitman: Words for America” by Barbara Kerley; “Harvesting Hope: The
Story of Cesar Chavez” by Kathleen Krull; “Cosechando esperenza: La
historia de César Chávaz” by Kathleen Krull (translated by Alma Flor
Ada and F. Isabel Campoy);”The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” by Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow; “Sweet Music in Harlem” by Debbie Taylor</span>
</li><li><strong>Grades 4 to 6:</strong> “The Birchbark House” by
Louise Erdrich; “American Tall Tales” by Mary Pope Osborne; “On the
Wings of Heroes” by Richard Peck; “Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule” by
Harriette Gillem Robinet; “The Captain’s Dog: My Journey with the Lewis
and Clark Tribe” by Roland Smith </li><li><strong>Grades 7 to 8:</strong> “The Life and Death of Crazy Horse” by Russell Freedman; “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving<em>; </em>“La
leyanda de Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving (translated by Manual
Broncano); “Across America on an Emigrant Train” by Jim Murphy; “The
Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain </li><li><strong>Grades 9 to 12:</strong> “Founding Brothers: The
Revolutionary Generation” by Joseph J. Ellis; “Restless Spirit: The
Life and Work of Dorothea Lange” by Elizabeth Partridge; “Travels with
Charley in Search of America” by John Steinbeck; “Viajes Con Charley –
En Busca de América” by John Steinbeck (translated by José Manuel
Alvarez Flórez); “Democracy in America” by Alexis de Tocqueville </li><li><strong>Bonus:</strong> “Our White House: Looking In,
Looking Out” by The National Children’s Book and Literary Alliance;
“1776: The Illustrated Edition” by David McCullough </li></ul>
<p>Established in 1992, the ALA Public Programs Office has an exemplary
track record of developing library programming initiatives, including
the acclaimed reading and discussion series "Let's Talk About It," film
discussion programs on humanities themes, traveling exhibitions, LIVE!
@ your library® and other programs. Recently, it has established the
Cultural Communities Fund, an endowment created to help all types of
libraries across the country bring communities together through
cultural programming (<u><a href="http://www.ala.org/ccf"><u>www.ala.org/ccf</u></a></u>). For more information about the ALA Public Programs Office, visit <u><a href="http://www.ala.org/publicprograms"><u>www.ala.org/publicprograms</u></a></u>. </p>
<p>Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National
Endowment for the Humanities supports learning in history, literature,
philosophy and other areas of the humanities. NEH grants enrich
classroom learning, create and preserve knowledge and bring ideas to
life through public television, radio, new technologies, exhibitions
and programs in libraries, museums and other community places.
Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities
and its grant programs is available at <u><a href="http://www.neh.gov/"><u>www.neh.gov</u></a></u>. </p></body></html>