Fourth General Session offers inspiration, invitation

A daily review of convention news from the staff of Reading Today

 The Fourth General Session on Thursday during the IRA Annual Convention featured the passing of the IRA Presidential gavel from Timothy Shanahan to Linda Gambrell, the honoring of outgoing IRA Board members and members of the Local Arrangements Committee, a presentation by Ontario Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne, a musical invitation to the 2008 IRA Annual Convention in Atlanta, and more.

Incoming IRA President Linda Gambrell read the picture book Wolf by Becky Bloom, a story about a wolf who discovers the value of reading. “Like Wolf, we are all members of an important literacy community—the International Reading Association,” Gambrell said. “Like Wolf, we want all our students to become members of the literacy community.”

Featured speaker Sharon Robinson discussed the legacy of her father, baseball legend Jackie Robinson, and talked about how she is working to continue that legacy through her books for children. She closed by reading from her book Safe at Home, leaving to enthusastic applause.