TULSA, Okla. – Tulsa City-County Library treasures books, but treasures children even more. TCCL’s annual Books to Treasure program makes the power of art and literature accessible to children of all ages with a live event highlighting a beloved children’s book creator and a select piece of their work. Now in its 18th year, the 2020 program will feature author and illustrator Zachariah OHora on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at 7 p.m. on TCCL’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/tulsalibrary.
Sponsored by the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation since 2003, the free Books to Treasure program has grown into a Tulsa tradition for all second-grade students in Tulsa County. Through the program, each second grader receives a free copy of the featured illustrator’s book, plus the chance to get a custom library card with an illustration from the book. This year’s featured book is “Horrible Bear,” written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by OHora.
Other works illustrated by OHora include the New York Times bestseller “Wolfie and Bunny,” also by Dyckman; “The Teacher’s Pet” by Anica Mrose Rissi; “If Your Monster Won’t Go to Bed” by Denise Vega; “Bikes for Sale” by Carter Higgins; and more. OHora made his debut as an author with “Stop Snoring Bernard!” which received the 2011 Society of Illustrators Founder’s Award and was the official selection for the 2012 Pennsylvania One Book, Every Young Child program. Other titles written and illustrated by OHora include “No Fits Nilson,” “The Not So Quiet Library,” “My Cousin Momo” and most recently “Niblet & Ralph.” OHora’s award-winning work has appeared on posters and record covers as well as in publications like the New York Times, The Atlantic and others. He remains busy writing, illustrating and co-parenting two children at his home in Pennsylvania. Find titles by OHora in the library’s catalog at www.tulsalibrary.org.
To enhance the author’s virtual presentation, TCCL’s children’s librarians have developed specific lesson plans using OHora’s books focusing on curriculum areas such as anger, stress management, adjective study, maps and earth, arctic facts, exploring animals and more. Find them at www.tulsalibrary.org/kids/books-to-treasure.
Previous recipients of the Book to Treasure award include: Christian Robinson (2019), Shadra Strickland (2018), Hannah E. Harrison (2017), Rafael Lopez (2016), Derek Anderson (2015); Philip C. Stead (2014), Peter Brown (2013), Mo Willems (2012), Grace Lin (2011), Steve Jenkins (2010), Brad Sneed (2009), Jim Arnosky (2008), Floyd Cooper (2007), Lisa Campbell Ernst (2006), Janet Stevens (2005), Arthur Howard (2004) and Marla Frazee (2003).
Visit www.tulsalibrary.org/kids/books-to-treasure or call 918-549-7323 for more information about Books to Treasure.
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