Julie Andrews kicks off 50th Annual Convention

The crowd of thousands came to their feet and cheered on Monday morning as Julie Andrews, one of the most famous and admired entertainers in the world, spoke to the educators assembled at the First General Session of IRA’s 50th Annual Convention. But it was as a best-selling author and reading advocate in her own right that Andrews spoke to the thousands of conferees.
Her father was a teacher, she said, and an enthusiastic naturalist who taught her to see the wonder in the world around her.
A second career opened for her when, after a challenge from her children, she wrote a story that was published in 1971 as Mandy. Since then she has written numerous popular books and has been a passionate advocate for books and reading. Andrews told the conferees she was glad her fame had aided her advocacy, but said those efforts can only work “when people like you use your power of advocacy to make a difference too.”