First Lady Crissy Haslam Hosts a Read20 Family Book Club Event at Sycamore Shoals State Park

NASHVILLE – First Lady Crissy Haslam hosted a Read20 Family Book Club event today at Sycamore Shoals State Park in Elizabethton to emphasize the importance of daily reading.

Approximately 35 children from Elizabethton Boys and Girls Club joined Mrs. Haslam to read the July Book of the Month with an Independence Day theme, Rosalyn Schanzer’s George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides, in the park’s reconstructed American Revolutionary War Fort Watauga. After the reading, children toured the park to learn more about Sycamore Shoals’ significant role in 18th-Century history as the setting for many events contributing to the expansion of America's western boundary.
“Parents have the power to boost their children's learning potential by making books an integral and enjoyable part of their lives” said Mrs. Haslam. “Interactive reading experiences about history can be a great way to foster love for reading early in life.”

Mrs. Haslam launched the First Lady’s Read20 Family Book Club in June 2012 to give Tennessee families a fun goal of reading together for at least 20 minutes each day. One book is selected each month as the featured “Book of the Month” and corresponding family activities are featured on the book club website, www.tn.gov/read20. Families are encouraged to continue reading other books after they’ve finished the Book of the Month. Mrs. Haslam has hosted book club events at schools, community centers, and museums throughout the state to promote her Read20 message with students and families.

 “Bill and I know that families have many competing priorities, but it is important to remember the incredible value of daily reading,” said Mrs. Haslam. “Learning begins in the home and books are an excellent tool.”

For more information about the Read20 Family Book Club visit www.tn.gov/read20, www.facebook.com/CrissyHaslam, follow @Read20TN on Twitter, or go to your local public library.