Center for the Book Press Release

PR97-142, 9/5/97

NEW "GUMBY" TRAVELING EXHIBIT SUPPORTS "BUILDING A NATION OF READERS" THEME

"Adventures into Books: Gumby's World," a touring exhibition developed by the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito, California, promotes "Building a Nation of Readers," the Center for the Book's reading promotion theme for 1997-2000. The exhibition opens on November 18, 1997 at the Museum's waterside location at the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, where it will remain until April 10, 1998. Then it will tour to nine other children's museums that are members of the Youth Museum Exhibit Collaborative and located in Hull, Quebec; Brooklyn, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Memphis, and St. Paul.

"Gumby already is one of the Center for the Book's reading promotion `spokescharacters,' said center director John Y. Cole, so our involvement in this innovative exhibit is both appropriate and exciting. We also are pleased to continue the partnership with children's museums that began in 1994 with the "Library-Head Start-Museum family literacy project."

In "Adventures into Books: Gumby's World," children can "walk into" giant books--the way Gumby, the popular clay animation figure, begins his adventures in his long-running television show. Visitors also receive a hands-on introduction to Gumby and the art of clay animation, and the opportunity to create their own books and to share their favorite books online. The exhibition, the first to feature Gumby, has been created with the support of Gumby creators Art and Gloria Clokey.

For public information, call 415/487-4398. The media contact is Kathryn Eustis, 415/824-6800.