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LONGMONT, Colo. – The 2006 U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate, Jack Prelutsky, is coming to Longmont, and the Longmont Library is celebrating with gusto! Prelutsky will be performing many of his poems to the accompaniment of the Longmont Symphony Orchestra (LSO) in a special family concert, “Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant,” at the Vance Brand Auditorium on Saturday, January 27. In advance of his arrival, the Library has teamed with the LSO to honor Prelutsky and spread the word of his exciting visit through two library events.
From 10 am to 5 pm, Friday, December 1 through Sunday, December 10, Prelutsky fans can purchase his books at the Children’s and Teens Desk in the Library, and the first 50 who do will receive two free tickets to the January 27 Prelutsky and LSO performance. All proceeds from this Book Sale and Concert Tickets Fundraiser will benefit the Friends of the Longmont Library, who provide funding year-round for library programs and services, including the “Authors We Love” book talk series and the Children’s Summer Reading Program.
Those more artistically inclined can participate in the Jack Prelutsky Art Challenge, running from Monday, December 4 through Saturday, January 6. The Library and the LSO are challenging school-aged children to create collages or other pieces of original artwork inspired by Prelutsky’s whimsical poems and the artwork in his books. The first 25 artists submitting their artwork at the Children’s and Teens Desk will receive two free tickets to the Prelutsky and LSO performance. Children 11 and under receive free admission to the concert performance, but the tickets can be used for accompanying adults or siblings. All submitted pieces will be displayed either in their original form or digitally in the Library and at the Vance Brand Auditorium. Artwork must be submitted with an entry form, and the entry form and complete rules for the art challenge can be downloaded and printed from the Library’s Children’s Programs webpage or picked up at the Children’s and Teens Desk in the Library. The art challenge is being conducted in partnership with the LSO and the St. Vrain Valley School District.
Jack Prelutsky is an American poet and has published over 70 books of poetry throughout his career. He is beloved by students and teachers alike, and in 2006, the Poetry Foundation selected him as the Children’s Poet Laureate. While he is best known for his humorous and imaginative verse, music is deeply entwined with his poetry, and these days Prelutsky is more likely to appear on a concert stage than in a bookstore. Prelutsky’s love of children, poetry, and music is evident in all he does, and the Longmont Library and Longmont Symphony Orchestra are thrilled to welcome him to our community.
