Chicken Soup for Little Souls at Disney World

Posted on October 31, 1997

From November 17-24, there's a week-long festival focusing on children's reading and books and Levar Burton and Mark Victor Hansen will be busy. Sponsored by The Children's Book Council (since 1919), the festival is celebrated by school libraries, bookstores, book clubs, individuals and the publishers of the brand new children's series, "Chicken Soup for Little Souls." The books have been released in support of Clinton's "The America Reads Challenge" literacy program, which is designed to have children reading independently by third grade.

The fun begins on November 18 when "Reading Rainbow," "Roots" and "Star Trek" star, Levar Burton and "Chicken Soup for the Soul" co-creator Mark Victor Hansen bring a storytelling event to local children at risk of not completing school. "America Reads to Little Souls" takes place at the Broward County Library in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (voted #1 Library in America by Library Journal magazine), also featuring an appearance from a representative of The America Reads Challenge. Then on November 19, Hansen takes "Little Souls" on the road to stops at MGM Studios and Disney Village in Orlando where he will sign books and appear on TV stations nationwide via satellite.

In addition, in honor of the special time, the publisher is sponsoring "Calling All Little Souls" where over 1,700 book selling venues and libraries will partake in a storytellng program with activities, offered free for children, throughout the month of November. "Chicken Soup for Little Souls" will also be the centerpiece of Children's Alley at the Miami International Book Fair on November 21.