When the Parade of Books steps off at 12:30 p.m. at Knox County Public Library’s Children’s Festival of Reading in World’s Fair Park on Saturday, May 20, Imanii Quince will be in the lead alongside Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. Little did she know her fate for that day when she was asked to draw a dragon earlier in the spring.
In preparing for the One Book Read City challenge, students in several after-school programs across the county were asked to imagine a dragon and then draw it, but they had little idea why. They did not know that the upcoming book for One Book Read City was entitled “Zoey and Sassafras: Dragons and Marshmallows” by Asia Citro.
They did not know that one of their dragons was going to be the model for a 3D-printed sculpture. Nor did they know that UT’s Tickle College of Engineering was going to print over 100 of the dragons for the community-wide scavenger hunt associated with the book.
Imanii Quince submitted her version of a dragon. It was a winged purple and gold guy who ended up donning the shelves of over 100 businesses and organizations from May 1-15 with thousands of elementary students in search of the mythical creature.
“I was so thrilled to hear that Imanii won! She’s incredibly excited and had no idea that her picture would end up like this,” said Coran Boatwright, Imanii’s mom.
Imanii’s winning drawing
“Imanii is really creative and can do anything she puts her mind to. She even learned to tie her shoes at 2 years old.” After she read the book, Imanii told her mom, “I feel like I’m Zoey.” In the book, Zoey is a young girl who uses the scientific method to find the best nutrition for a dragon.
The public is invited to join Imanii and Mayor Jacobs in the Parade of Books at the Festival.
One Book Read City is an initiative of Knox County Schools, Knox Education Foundation, Knox County Mayor’s Office and Knox County Public Library with support from many businesses and organizations to provide gift copies of one book that every Knox County elementary student will read together. More than 30,000 students participated in the program.
About the Children’s Festival of Reading
Families are invited to meet Lyle Crocodile, Pete the Cat and Pout Pout Fish at the 17th Children’s Festival of Reading. Knox County Public Library’s annual kickoff celebration for its summer library programs takes place from 10-3 on May 20 on the Festival Lawn in World’s Fair Park. The day is packed with music, storytelling, science and discovery presentations, Miss Libby’s arts and crafts, Toddler Town, train rides on the Molar Express, food and so much more! Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and Imanii Quince will lead the Parade of Books which steps off at 12:30. The event is free and open to the public.
Mary Pom Claiborne is assistant director for marketing, communications and development for Knox County Public Library