FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: The Wiregrass Ranch Foundation-Amanda Blackmon
Email:amandablackmon@mac.com
Little Free Library Grand Opening Celebrates Literacy and Community at The Shops at Wiregrass
Ribbon Cutting Event Friday, February 19th, 2021 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Wesley Chapel, Florida - February 2021 - Little Free Libraries are a global phenomenon. The small, front-yard book exchanges number more than 100,000 around the world in over 100 countries — from Italy to Brazil to Japan. Now, a new Little Free Library at The Shops at Wiregrass with their amazing facilities will now join the movement to share books, bring people together and create communities of readers.
The Wiregrass Ranch Foundation will host a grand-opening open house for their Little Free Libraries on February 19, 2021 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM in Center Court at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel, FL 33545, open to the public. The celebration will include book sharing, ribbon cutting, special book signing with Brudders' Books, as well as entertainment by Gigi and Friends and Tony the Balloon Guy.
“Our Little Free Library doesn’t just belong to us, it belongs to the community,” says JD Porter, founder of the Wiregrass Ranch Foundation.” It’s our hope that this Little Free Library will bring a little more joy, a little more connection and a whole lot more books to our community.”
The Wiregrass Ranch Foundation and the Porter family are pleased to present to our wonderful community and neighbors the establishment of the first Little Free Libraries. During these unprecedented and divisive times, we accepted these challenges from Covid and friction within our great nation. We decided to get back to the basics and never forget life’s golden rules. We hope that these libraries generate some fantastic family time and acceptable way to pay it forward and treat others as we want to be treated. Sometimes challenging times, like the ones we are facing now, is in actuality a rebirth of strong values and an awakening of what is truly important in life. The Foundation is going to use these libraries as a base for fun, interactive and engaging contests, and activities for all of us in the community. Please stay tuned to our updates on social media and feel free to share ideas that you all have as spin offs from this wonderful addition to the area. At the end of the day we all live together and what better way to share our passions and interests than through passing books forward while expanding our knowledge base.
ABOUT THE WIREGRASS RANCH FOUNDATION
The Wiregrass Ranch Foundation is a nonprofit with a focus on our local communities and aiding by providing opportunities for groups or those in need that may have been overlooked or fallen through the cracks. Its establishment and success have been completely a grassroots approach that has been embraced by the community. The Wiregrass Ranch Foundation will continue to strive to make Wesley Chapel and the Tampa Bay region better each and every day.
ABOUT THE SHOPS AT WIREGRASS
Since 2008, with over 100 shops, restaurants and services, The Shops at Wiregrass brings a unique experience to shopping, dining and entertainment.
Located at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Wesley Chapel, The Shops at Wiregrass is pedestrian and pet friendly and has an inviting atmosphere where guests are encouraged to relax, socialize and stay awhile. For more information, visit www.theshopsatwiregrass.com.
ABOUT LITTLE FREE LIBRARY®
Little Free Library® (LFL) is a nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community and improves book access by fostering neighborhood book-exchange boxes around the world. LFL received the 2020 World Literacy Award and has been recognized by the Library of Congress, the National Book Foundation and others for its dedication to expanding book access for all.
ABOUT BRUDDERS' BOOKS
Brudders’ Books, created by a local Tampa Bay author-illustrator couple, is a brand new children’s book series with one goal in mind – to provide kids a forever friend to lean on as they grow up and learn lessons in life. The series’ first book just released this past fall and centers around a sweet little bear named Brudders, who comes out of his first hibernation season and is learning everything for the first time.
A little longer than most children’s books, at 44 pages, Brudders Learns How to Make Friends was carefully crafted with the young child at the front and center of author K.A. Leigh’s mind. “In order for kids to learn, or to want to learn from someone, they need to first feel they can relate to who it is they’re learning from,” says Leigh. “So we were very intentional with how we developed the main and
supporting characters, and what their voice and flow would be. Not one of lecturing, but of demonstrating.”
As if that wasn’t enough to spark interest in the series, wait until you see the illustrations. All intricately hand-drawn and watercolor painted in the most soft and soothing colors, illustrator Derek Roberts’ goal was to take children’s minds into enchanting, happy places like classic picture books once did for him.
The couple is excited to bring their Brudders book to the Wiregrass Mall’s Little Free Library Grand Opening and will be present for meet and greets, book signings, and they’re also giving out free Brudders LFL-themed coloring sheets. “Immersing children with books and intricate illustrations really sets the trajectory for how they dream and imagine. So any library, no matter how big or small, is just a special, special place to be, and we’re just thrilled to be here for this special day,” say Leigh and Roberts.
Website: https://www.bruddersbooks.com/
Contact Info: K.A. Leigh or Derek Roberts at hellobrudders@bruddersbooks.com
Book Info: Brudders Learns How to Make Friends / Hardcover / ISBN 978-1-7347983-0-2
