April 06, 2006

Sebelius joins fellow governors, helping to rebuild a New Orleans library
Governor applauds students’ creativity, sends Kansas book

Eighth grade students at Metairie Park Country Day School in New Orleans, Louisiana are moving their reconstruction efforts forward after Hurricane Katrina by asking each governor to send them “a book written by a prominent author” from their state.

“What a creative way to help rebuild an important learning resource,” said Governor Kathleen Sebelius. “I applaud this school’s creative approach to replenishing their library, involving their students and every state as well.”

Governor Sebelius, collaborating with the Kansas Center for the Book at the State Library, chose the historical fiction novel titled Maggie Rose and Sass by Phillipsburg author Eunice Boeve. Set in a Kansas town reminiscent of Nicodemus, in Graham County, Maggie Rose and Sass tells the tale of an all African American town settled in 1877 by former slaved from Kentucky.

The author, Eunice Boeve, has lived in Phillipsburg for 48 years. One of her books received the J. Donald Coffin Award, given each year at the Kansas Author’s Club convention, and two have been Kansas Reading Circle selections. She is a Fellow of the Kansas Center for the Book.

Maggie Rose and Sass will be added to the Day School's “Governors’ Collection.” These books will be presented to the school by the New Orleans students at their eighth grade graduation on May 26, 2006.