Eastern Washington University President Mary Cullinan was among a number of celebrity readers who recently took part in a National Read a Book Day event at the Spokane County Interstate Fair.
President Cullinan chose to read Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type, by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin. The book, intended for kids in preschool to age 3, is a quirky tale of cows who find an old typewriter. They begin typing and, in a letter, request that the farmer provide them with electric blankets:
Dear Farmer Brown,
The barn is very cold at night. We’d like some electric blankets.
Sincerely,
The Cows
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type, by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
Spoiler alert: After an outcry that eventually involves the entire barnyard, the farmer accedes to their demands. “The book demonstrates the power of persistence,” says Cullinan, “and of the written word!”
The Spokesman-Review organized the Spokane-region’s participation in the annual event. Organizers made it easier for children to read along by putting the pages of the books on big screens behind the celebrity readers.
The Spokane County Interstate Fair runs through Sunday, Sept. 15.
