Southeastern Libraries Cooperating and the Council of Regional Public Library System Administrators have announced the commencement of season two of Once Upon a Reader. Aimed at pre-K children and their families, the statewide one-book program promotes Minnesota children’s literature and encourages families to talk, sing, read, write and play together — five practices critical to early literacy skills development.

A panel of youth services librarians from across the state selected “Ten Pigs: An Epic Bath Adventure” by Minnesota author/illustrator Derek Anderson, as the focus of this year’s program.

“Anderson combines humor with simple, straightforward rhymes to successfully convey basic counting concepts,” praised School Library Journal. “Because of its big, vivid illustrations and rhythmic, sprightly rhymes, (Ten Pigs) is ideal for sharing with a group as a read-aloud.”

CRPLSA launched Once Upon a Reader’s inaugural season in 2014, with funding from Minnesota’s Legacy Amendment Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. This year’s season will be observed from March to October and include a diverse mix of tie-in activities, enabling libraries of all sizes and in all corners of the state to participate in the program.

Beginning this spring, Derek Anderson will travel across the state entertaining and educating kids in each participating regional library system with his “Ten Pigs Trunk Show.” During this portable one-man show, the author will read the book aloud, lead a reenactment, sketch, sing and more. In the SELCO region, trunk shows will be in Austin and Albert Lea on June 21, in Red Wing and Lake City on June 22, in Winona and Hokah on June 23, in Owatonna and Faribault on June 28, in Dodge Center and Spring Valley on June 29 and two performances in Rochester on June 30.