The Rogers State University Stratton Taylor Library and the Will Rogers Public Library in Claremore are co-sponsoring two free public events this month designed to celebrate Greg Mortenson’s award-winning book “Three Cups of Tea.”
In the book “Three Cups of Tea” Mortenson describes his transition from a mountain-climber to a humanitarian committed to reducing poverty and educating girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The first event, A Family Reading Night with “Listen to the Wind” is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Claremore Community Center, 2301 North Sioux Ave.
Noted illustrator Kim Doner, will present a captivating program on the best-selling children’s book, “Listen to the Wind,” by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth, this book is the children’s version of “Three Cups of Tea.”
Through her presentation about this book and one of her own, “On A Road in Africa,” Doner will encourage families to read together, encourage creativity in children, and promote understanding of other cultures, said Alan Lawless, director of the RSU Stratton Taylor Library and chair of the Claremore Reads Together board. Families are encouraged to attend this free program. Books will be available for purchase and a book signing will follow the program.
The second event is a panel discussion of the book “Three Cups of Tea” scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in the RSU Stratton Taylor Library, room 301. Rogers State University. The three panelists will be Sheryl Siddiqui of the Islamic Society of Tulsa, Habib Tata, a native of Afghanistan and Dr. Jamal Hyder, a Tulsa physician. Cultural and educational aspects of life in Pakistan and Afghanistan will be examined during the discussion and a question and answer period will follow.
Both events are part of Claremore Reads Together the city’s One Book, One Community (OBOC) program created to promote reading and discussion in a community by encouraging everyone to read the same book during a specified period of time. The OBOC program is a way for libraries to collaborate with other libraries as Rogers State University Stratton Taylor Library and Will Rogers Library have done during the past four years.