More stinky cheese!

The New York Times has reported that the author of "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales" has been named the first national ambassador for young people's literature, a post that was compared to a children's book version of the Library of Congress' poet laureate program.

Jon Sciezka, 53, will "evangelize the need for reading" during talks with parents, teachers and children.

He is a former schoolteacher and frustrated adult novelist. But he said he discovered his real audience of young people sitting right in front of him in his classrooms.

"There's a huge population of kids who would be or can be readers, but just choose not to," he said. "... Parents and booksellers and teachers are dying for some help."

TBPAC patrons may be familiar with "The Stinky Cheese Man" since it was offered as a theaterical presentation in April of 2006 as part of our Kid Time Series, productions aimed at those aged 5-11. We also provide a series for those 3-5 called the Wee Folk Series.

Still scheduled this year for Kid Time: "The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favourites" on April 6 and "Addy: An American Girl Story" on April 9.

For the Wee Folk Series: "Silly Stuff," Jan. 20; "Harry the Dirty Dog," April 5; and "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie," April 26.

It's very cool that this new position has been created. The love of reading is a very inexpensive and rewarding trait.

As a famous psychologist once said: "We shouldn't teach great books; we should teach a love of reading." -- MichaelK