Saturday / May 18 / 10:00 AM / The Hugo House

I’ll be reading from Arnold Lobel’s Mouse Tails (an under-recognized work of genius).

Chef Tamara Murphy, a Seattle Sounders player, Anna Banana Freeze from the Massive Monkees and New Day Northwest host Margaret Larson are among celebrity readers taking part in First Book Seattle’s second annual fundraiser ‘What Was Your First Book?’

‘What Was Your First Book?’ is an all-ages story-time taking place on Saturday May 18th at Richard Hugo House in Seattle from 10:00am to Noon. The readers (full list below) will read the book that first inspired their love of reading and chat to the audience about their choice.

Limited Tickets are available at http://www.firstbook.org/seattle for $25 for adults and $10 for children. $25 provides ten new books to children who need them. The voice of the Sounders Ross Fletcher will host the event.

First Book Seattle has donated over 5,600 books in King County since its November 2011 inception. First Book Seattle gets books to children who need them through working with Title I classrooms and community groups where 70% or more of the children are from low-income families. We know that the presence of books in the home is the single greatest factor for predicting future literacy.

May’s event will not only raise funds for First Book Seattle but also provides a unique opportunity to hear high profile members of our community talk about their passion for reading and inspire children and adults alike.

The readers:

o Chef Tamara Murphy of Terra Plata

o Margaret Larson host of New Day Northwest

o Anna Banana Freeze from the Massive Monkees b-boy crew

o Shovey Chase from the Rat City Roller Girls

o Seattle Sounders player

o UW Husky Wide Receiver

o Captain Bjorn Toorun Ride the Duck driver

o Rachel Kessler from Typing Explosion poetry performance

o Julie Trout 2012 Regional Teacher of the Year

o Linda Neunzig owner Ninety Farms sustainable farm

The event is co-sponsored by Elliott Bay Book Company and the Richard Hugo House.