Barrington’s annual community reading campaign, Barrington Reads, is coming up this February featuring two books – one fiction and one non-fiction. Both books will be the focus of a series of fun and exciting events throughout the month, including opportunities to hear from each of the book’s authors. In early February the author who wrote the non-fiction selection, Paul Tough, will be in town to talk about his book, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character.
Paul will lead a thought-provoking, in-person presentation about the power of character at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4th, in Barrington High School’s Auditorium (616 W. Main Street).
In How Children Succeed, Tough makes the case that the qualities our children need have more to do with character than test scores. He also argues that that occasional failure creates children who are curious and resilient, with the character and important skills to help persevere through life’s challenges.
CLICK HERE to register for Paul Tough Event.
A contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and The New Yorker, Paul Tough highlights new research in his book suggesting that curiosity, conscientiousness, optimism, self-control and grit are keys to lifelong success. Showing how nature and nurture are intertwined, he explores how childhood stresses modify life success and the surprising ways that parents do – and do not – prepare their children for adulthood.
The fiction selection for Barrington Reads is British author Rachel Joyce’s first novel, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. The book shares the story of the title character’s spontaneous decision to walk 600 miles across England to save an old friend after he learns she is dying.
The Barrington Area Library has asked me to interview author Rachel Joyce via Skype about her book at 1 p.m. on Sunday, February 23rd in the Barrington High School Guidance Resource Center. Join us for the interview and bring your questions for the author.
CLICK HERE to register for Rachel Joyce Event.
Barrington Reads is presented through the generous support of the Barrington 220 Educational Foundation, the Barrington PTO Presidents’ Council, the Barrington 220 School District and the Barrington Area Library. This will be the fourth year for the community reading campaign, which was formerly called One Book One Barrington. Learn more about all of the events scheduled for Barrington Reads this February at BALibrary.org.