Time for youth to Get Lit!

Parents and kids can build excitement about children’s literature by checking out some of the Get Lit! 2006 events designed especially for families.

Graduate students from Eastern Washington University’s Creative Writing program have been making the rounds at area schools promoting the Get Lit! poetry slams designed specifically for youths and teens. Teams of local youths are being encouraged to show off their original works.

The April 19 competition at Auntie’s Bookstore features two divisions, one for children 11 and younger and one for those 12 to 19 years old. Winners in both divisions will receive cash prizes and will perform as openers for other Get Lit! events. There is a limited number of openings for the competitions.

For more information, including poetry slam rules, visit www.ewu.edu/x35244.xml or contact Nicole Odden in EWU’s Writers in the Community program, at WITC@mail.ewu.edu or 623-4227.

The highlight Get Lit! family event is the free KPBX Kids’ Concert. This year, poet Jack Prelutsky will sing and recite some of his poems during the April 22 concert at the Met Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave. For more information, go to www.ewu.edu/getlit/children.html.

For parents and caretakers who could use a few tips on how to incorporate reading into children’s home lives, a free workshop will be offered April 18 at the downtown Spokane Public Library. The 45-minute workshop will include a model read-aloud, tips on choosing age-appropriate books and inexpensive, easy ways to have fun reading at home with children. The workshop is sponsored by Page Ahead, a nonprofit literacy program that provides new books and promotes reading activities for at-risk children. For more information, go to www.pageahead.org.