‘Choose kind’ with Naperville READS’ ‘Wonder’
By Susan Greenwood www.naperville-lib.org January 9, 2013 5:20PM
“Wondering” about Naperville READS – Patrick Edwards, Ryan Wall and Quentin Palluau, members of CAN (Community Access Naperville) recently visited with Mayor A. George Pradel about the Naperville READS book, “Wonder.” CAN works to integrate differently-abled adults into our community and the Naperville READS book is about trying to fit in when you stand out. “Wonder” author, R. J. Palacino will give a presentation in Naperville on Tuesday, Feb. 5 in the Wentz Concert Hall. Free tickets are available at Anderson’s Bookshop and all 3 Naperville Public Libraries.
Updated: February 12, 2013 2:23PM
Everyone’s heard the anti-bullying message, the plea to be kind. But exactly how do you do that?
Just how, in everyday life, can you “choose kind” when interacting with classmates, colleagues and people on the street?
A very good place to start exploring how to “choose kind” is with the Naperville READS 2013 book, “Wonder,” by R.J. Palacino.
Basically, it’s the story of August “Auggie” Pullman, a boy born with severe facial deformities, about when he begins attending public school.
But it’s more than his struggles to be accepted, it includes his parents’ uncertainties about how to cope with strangers reacting to Auggie’s face as well as the toll this places on his older sister.
Labeled a young adult book, “Wonder” is really a story for the entire family to read and discuss.
It’s an excellent starting point for the discussion of what it really means to “choose kind” and how to go about it.
While the book is classified as fiction, it is based on a real incident.
The author was at an ice cream shop with her two sons when they saw a little girl with a severe facial deformity.
Both young boys were frightened. In a hurry, author Palacino said she pulled the boys away, but for a long time, she worried about her reaction.
What was she teaching her sons? What did the little girl and her mom feel? All these questions and dozens more led to the writing of “Wonder.”
You’ll have an opportunity to get those questions answered and talk with the author of “Wonder” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, in Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., on the North Central College campus.
The Naperville READS presentation is free, but tickets are suggested and are available at Anderson’s Bookshop and all three Naperville Public Library locations: Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave.; the Naper Boulevard Library, 2035 S. Naper Blvd.; and the 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Drive.
For more information about Naperville READS, visit the website www.napervillereads.org or on Facebook. There is also a special “choose kind” website, http://choosekind.tumblr.com.
As they have since the program’s inception in 2002, the goals of Naperville READS include engaging the entire community in reading and then discussing selected titles. The program promotes the pleasures of reading as well as providing a way for all ages to discuss the issues and concepts involved in the selected titles. This program is partially supported by a grant from the city of Naperville.
Susan Greenwood is the community relations coordinator at the Naperville Public Library. Contact her at 630-961-4100, ext. 2223, or greenwood@naperville-lib.org.
