FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 26, 2007

CONTACT: Katie McElwain / Marketing Coordinator

(802) 447-1571 Fax (802) 442-8305

Vermont Reads Kick-Off Event at the Bennington Museum

As a child did you ever read a book that so inspired you, you couldn’t put it down? The kind of book you read cover to cover, and then started over again, or stayed up all night just to read one more chapter. Every child and adult should know the excitement of picking up a good book and getting lost in the characters’ lives, of using their imagination, and of being inspired to learn more. Vermont Reads is a Vermont Humanities Council Program that brings people and communities together to read and discuss a book that is specially selected each year. The 2007 Vermont Reads book selection is “Counting on Grace” by Elizabeth Winthrop. The kick-off event to celebrate “Counting on Grace” will be held on Saturday, May 19 at the Bennington Museum beginning at 1:00 p.m.

“Counting on Grace” is of particular importance to the Bennington community for several reasons. The author, Elizabeth Winthrop, was inspired to write the book after becoming enchanted by a Lewis Hine photo of a young mill girl she saw at the Bennington Museum. The 1910 photo depicts a small girl in front of a spinning machine in a North Pownal cotton mill. The story inspired by this photo is told from the perspective of Grace Forcier, a 12 year-old mill girl from southern Vermont. It evokes French-Canadian culture and life in the textile mills in the southern Vermont area at the beginning of the 20^th century. As a child laborer, Grace comes in contact with real-life Lewis Hine, the famous photographer and child labor reformer. What ensues is a chain of unexpected events.

Vermont Reads Day at the Bennington Museum will be a wonderful day filled with activities inspired by the book. Planned with the Bennington Free Library and Vermont Humanities Council, the day will be full of events for readers of all ages. Each family who attends will receive a free copy of “Counting on Grace” and have a chance to meet with the author for a book-signing. Come enjoy French-Canadian music by the Flying Garbanzos. Meet the author and hear her slide show and book talk. Listen to a dramatic reading from the book by Elizabeth Winthrop and actor Willy Jones from Oldcastle Theatre. There will be many hands-on activities and learning stations, including a child labor law exhibit. Kids can go on a gallery hunt and participate in crafts. Join us for a celebration of fine literature and local history. Admission to the program and the Bennington Museum is free for participants.

The Vermont Humanities Council, Bennington Free Library, Bennington Museum, Pownal Historical Society, The Greater Bennington Tell Me a Story Project, and Friends of the Bennington Free Library all collaborated on this kick-off event. The Vermont Humanities Council corporate underwriter for the 2007 Vermont Reads program is NRG Systems. Vermont Reads is presented in partnership with Vermont Public Radio.

The Bennington Museum is located at 75 Main St. (Route 9) one mile west of the intersection of Routes 7 and 9 in downtown Bennington, Vermont. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Wednesdays. For more information, visit the website at www.benningtonmuseum.org or call 802-447-1571.