NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

April 22, 2024

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For More Information:

Inger Schultz, (734) 945-2880, inger.schultz@libraryofthegreatlakes.org

Maria McCarville, (989) 755-9833, mmccarville@saginawlibrary.org

Great Lakes, Great Read Shared-Reading Initiative Announces Book Selections

In partnership with libraries, citizen education groups, Sea Grant programs and universities throughout the eight Great Lakes states and two Canadian provinces, we are excited to announce the books selected for the 2024 basin-wide shared-reading experience, Great Lakes, Great Read.

“The Water Walker” by Joanne Robertson is the children’s selection and the adult selection is “The Best Part of Us” by Sally Cole-Misch.

“The Water Walker” is the story of a determined Ojibwe grandmother, a “nokomis,” named Josephine Mandamin who walks to raise awareness of the need to protect “nibi” (water). Robertson wrote and illustrated the book, which was published in 2017.

Published in 2020, Sally Cole-Misch’s award-winning novel “The Best Part of Us” explores a family’s connections to an island in the Canadian waters of an inland lake just north of Lake Huron, and how those ties are tested through nature and family dynamics.

Great Lakes Odyssey Radio Hour Executive Producer Tom Leonard said, “Like never before, the Great Lakes, Great Read unites libraries across the watershed in linking youth and adults to award winning authors passionate about the cultural and ecological significance of our magnificent natural resource.”

“It’s terrific to have two authors whose knowledge and commitment to the Great Lakes is demonstrated so beautifully in their insightful and engaging books for the inaugural year of our region-wide Great Lakes, Great Read,” said Inger Schultz, president and co-founder of the Library of the Great Lakes. 

Swim Drink Fish Canada president Mark Mattson said, “We are thrilled to belong to such an important initiative.  Improving our understanding and appreciation of the Great Lakes watershed is a critical element in protecting and restoring it.”

Both selected authors will be featured in a free webinar series on September 25 and October 2 and 9. All events will start at 7 p.m., ET, and will be open to all.  The authors are available for in-person and online conversation and presentations with libraries, book clubs and other groups.

The Great Lakes, Great Read website, https://www.greatlakesgreatread.org, offers further details on how to sign up, the authors, their books, book discussion questions, a toolkit, an email list signup option and other resources, including who to contact in each state and province to participate in the program. 

Please follow Great Lakes, Great Read on Facebook to get the latest updates, https://www.facebook.com/greatlakesgreatread/.

This initiative is made possible by an Ideas to Action grant from WiLS in Madison, Wisconsin. In-kind support was provided by the staff with the Wisconsin Water Library at UW Madison, Wisconsin Sea Grant, the Wisconsin Library Association and UW-Parkside.

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Maria McCarville, MBA  MILS

Director

Public Libraries of Saginaw

505 Janes Avenue

Saginaw, MI  48607

989.755.9820