Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band Chosen as 2014 Michigan

Reads! Book
Contact: Martin Ackley, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs (517) 241-4395
Agency: Education


September 5, 2014
LANSING TheLibraryofMichigan is pleased to announceAcoustic Rooster and His Barnyard
Band, byauthor Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Tim Bowers(Sleeping Bear Press, 2009)as
thefeatured title forthe 2014 Michigan Reads!OneState, OneChildrens Bookprogram.
TheLibraryofMichigancoordinates theoriginal Michigan Reads! program. The program is devotedto
increasingearlychildhood literacyand pre-readingreadiness.
Programming, events andauthorvisits arescheduled throughout thestatein
September and October2014, with theprogram launch on September8 at the Pleasant View Magnet
School in Lansing to mark InternationalLiteracyDay. You can find full program information and many
early literacy resources at www.michigan.gov/michiganreads.
Readingis fun, enjoyable, and important forchildren,said StateSuperintendent
Mike Flanagan. Having all childrenreading at gradelevel bytheend ofthirdgradeis ourtopgoal and is
thebedrock ofstudent success in school and life.
The Michigan Reads!program is modeled afterthe OneBook, OneCommunity concept and is
designed toemphasizetheimportanceofsharedreadingpractices with babies, toddlers,
preschoolers,andyoung school-agechildren.Thesepractices set
thestagefor fluent reading achievement in childrenas theyenterschool.
In this book, Acoustic Rooster learns about music, teamwork and sportsmanship. After realizing he
can't win the barnyard talent contest as a solo act with such fierce competition, Acoustic, a rooster
with a love for jazz, looks to help from other animals. A quartet with an unbelievable sound is
created, with their ability to work together cleverly captured in this book with rhyming text, references
to key American musicians, and vivid illustrations.
We anticipatethat thisyears Michigan Reads!program will get Michiganresidents of all ages
readingaloud to children, inspiringaloveofreadingin both readersand listeners,said
State Librarian Randy Riley. Acoustic Rooster is a great way to bring children and parents together,
reading and learning.
Author Kwame Alexander is a poet, publisher, and an award-winning producer of literary programs.
He has written for television, the stage, and authored 13 books. He conducts writing/publishing
workshops at schools and conferences throughout the country.
Supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services andin partnership with
theLibraryofMichiganFoundation, the Michigan Reads!program recognizes theimportanceofearly
and familyliteracy skills.Fortheeighthyearin arow, Target continues its generous sponsorship
ofMichigan Reads!, with additionalcontributions from Jackson National Life Insurance and Sleeping
Bear Press. TheLions Club ofMichigan also is partneringwith theLibraryofMichigan to participatein
programs in local communities.
As a result ofTargets support, theLibraryofMichigan will provideahardcover copyofthe book and
programming materials toall public libraries, elementaryschools, Head Start and Great Start
Readiness programsacrossthestate. In addition, Kwame Alexander and Tim Bowers will toura
numberofMichigan libraries and schools. Thesebooks and services
provideafoundation forliteracy,enablingfutureschool success.
The Michigan Reads!program provides librarians, earlychildhood educators,
parents, and caregivers with ideas to helpchildren develop literacyskills through play-
based activities. Since its inception in 2004, theprogram aims to promotethevalue and benefits
ofreadingearlyand often to children, to encouragefamilybondingthrough readingand to
increase awareness and usageofMichigan's libraries as excellent resources forlearning.
Moreinformation aboutMichigan Reads!includingdatesand locationsof authorvisits and
materials forparents, teachersandcaregivers is available at www.michigan.gov/michiganreads.