Laura Bush: 2008 National Book Festival launched with laughter

WASHINGTON (AP) — Children's book author Jon Scieszka enlightened a National Book Festival audience Friday night with stories about how he learned to read funny books by Dr. Seuss and strange books at school about an "alien" family.

"There was a boy, two girls, a mom and a dad and they talked in the weirdest way," Scieszka said at a gala kicking off this year's book festival, an annual event started by first lady Laura Bush in 2001. "Instead of saying `Hey, look at that dog,' they would say `Look. Look. See the dog. That is a dog."

Scieszka, who grew up in Flint, Mich., and now lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., and other authors entertained President Bush and Mrs. Bush, dignitaries and book lovers at a fancy gathering at the Library of Congress held on the eve of Saturday's book festival on the National Mall.

He said he became convinced that the "alien" characters were afraid they were going to forget each other's names because they kept repeating them.

"So if Jane didn't see the dog," he said. "Dick would say `Look, Jane, look. There is the dog next to Sally, Jane. ... The dog is next to father, Jane. Ha. Ha. Ha.'"

At home, Scieszka said his mother read him stories that made sense — tales about a guy named Sam, who liked green eggs and ham, and one about blue dogs, yellow dogs and dogs that drove cars and had a giant party in a tree.

"Those are my kind of dogs," he said.

More than 70 authors, illustrators, poets and thousands of book lovers of all ages are expected to attend this year's event.

"Many, of whom are here tonight, will tell the stories behind the books we love and introduce readers to new favorites," said Mrs. Bush who was honored at the gala for creating the festival. Mrs. Bush and her daughter, Jenna, will present their children's book "Read All About It!" and sign copies at the children's pavilion at the festival.

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