New partnership with FIRST 5 Santa Clara County extends reach of Silicon Valley Reads to every member of the family

Together, the two organizations are recommending Carrot Soup by John Segal for pre-school youngsters because it focuses on themes similar to the 2010 Silicon Valley Reads selection: In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. Two companion books for school age children - Tops & Bottoms by Janet Stevens for grades K-3 and Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman for grades 4-8 were announced earlier this fall.

"Now children under age 5 will have their own picture book that they can enjoy and talk about with parents and brothers and sisters who are reading one of the Silicon Valley Reads selections," said Jane Light, Library Director for the City of San Jose and Co-chair of Silicon Valley Reads. "Every member of the family can enjoy a book appropriate for their reading level and discuss them together because the themes overlap - in this case the importance of eating fresh, healthy food."

Silicon Valley Reads is believed to be the only program of its type in the U.S. that recommends companion books for children in addition to a featured selection. The goals of the program are to promote reading and literacy and to build community through open dialogue. More than 75 free public events will be offered in early 2010 to encourage every resident in the 15 cities of Santa Clara County to read and discuss the book.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to encourage preschool children to explore the world of books while learning the importance of healthy eating," said Jolene Smith, Executive Director of FIRST 5 Santa Clara County. "We are excited to be part of Silicon Valley Reads and what it is trying to do, and we hope that every family in our region takes part in some way."

Pollan's best-selling book describes what is wrong with the American diet and urges people to "eat food, not too much, mostly plants." In Carrot Soup, youngsters follow the story of Rabbit who grows carrots in his garden for his favorite soup. The beautifully-illustrated storyboard book even includes a carrot soup recipe. The book is also available in Spanish.

This is the eighth year of Silicon Valley Reads, presented by Santa Clara County Library, Santa Clara County Office of Education, and the San Jose Public Library Foundation. Major sponsors for 2010 include The Health Trust, the Michael and Alyce Parsons Foundation, the Cupertino Library Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, and the Silicon Valley Library System.

For more information on Silicon Valley Reads, visit the website www.siliconvalleyreads.org.

Companion Books for Children Selected
for Silicon Valley Reads 2010

Book about what's wrong with American diet
selected for Silicon Valley Reads 2010

Residents of 15 cities, 60+ high schools and colleges asked to read
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan

In 200 easy-to-read pages, Pollan describes how "nutritionism" has confused and complicated the lives of people who want to eat a healthy diet and reduce their risk of chronic disease such as diabetes and hypertension. He advocates for a return to natural foods "that your great-grandmother would recognize" and offers practical advice on how to follow his manifesto: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

Pollan will appear at the Silicon Valley Reads 2010 kick-off event on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010 at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell. His on-stage interview by Mercury News columnist Mike Cassidy begins at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free -- first come, first seated.

"It is a genuine honor to be chosen by the community," said Pollan. "I look forward to helping launch the conversation about the role of food in the health care crisis, and the future of eating in America."

Pollan has written numerous articles and books about food and agriculture, including The Omnivore's Dilemma and Botany of Desire. The latter will be the basis for a PBS two-hour documentary this fall. In 2003, Pollan was appointed the John S. and James L. Knight Professor of Journalism at U.C. Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, and the director of the Knight Program in Science and Environmental Journalism. He is a frequent contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine.

This is the eighth year of Silicon Valley Reads, presented by Santa Clara County Library, Santa Clara County Office of Education, and the San Jose Public Library Foundation. Sponsors for 2010 include The Health Trust, the Michael and Alyce Parsons Foundation, and the Cupertino Library Foundation.

"This is the fifth nonfiction book we've selected for Silicon Valley Reads, but the first focused on health," said Melinda Cervantes, Santa Clara County Librarian and Co-Chair of Silicon Valley Reads along with Linda Aceves of the Santa Clara County Office of Education and Jane Light, Library Director, City of San Jose.

"We are excited about the potential of Silicon Valley Reads in 2010 to not only encourage reading and the appreciation of good books, but to potentially impact both individual lifestyle behaviors and public policy that could improve the health of our community," she said.

"This book gives Silicon Valley the opportunity to have a community-wide dialogue about healthy eating; it is the cornerstone of good health," added Frederick J. Ferrer, CEO of The Health Trust, a nonprofit foundation with a vision of Silicon Valley as the healthiest region in America.

Ferrer emphasized the importance of making Silicon Valley a healthy place for all its residents. "We must ensure that we engage everyone in the community in this conversation--because healthy eating shouldn't just be a privilege for those who can afford it," he stated.

Later this fall, Silicon Valley Reads will announce the title of two companion books for children, a picture book and a book for young readers with themes similar to In Defense of Food.

For more information, visit www.siliconvalleyreads.org.

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