Did you know that The Call of the Wild was first published in The Saturday Evening Post? It was published in five consecutive issues of the magazine from June 20, 1903 to July 18, 1903.

The Saturday Evening Post, June 20, 1903
From the collections of The Henry Ford

The Big Read Dearborn is making The Call of the Wild available in a tabloid format that is similar to the way it was originally published. The tabloid was created by students from Dearborn Public Schools. Pick up your copy at the kickoff on Saturday, March 8 from 11:00 am-2:00 pm at The Henry Ford.

You might recognize some familiar faces reading The Call of the Wild: Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr., State Representative George T. Darany, State Representative Harvey Santana, and Dearborn City Council members, just to name a few.

Join Dearborn leaders, employees, and residents in reading The Call of the Wild by Jack London and participate in over 35 events for all ages from March 8 to May 17, 2014. Do you hear the call?

The schedule of events is now available in a printer-friendly and downloadable format.

Many fun and enlightening events for all ages are coming up in the next couple of weeks, including Hear the Call Storytime for children, Survival Skills for teens, and lectures for adults, including the keynote lecture, Darwinian Issues in The Call of the Wild, presented by Dr. Lawrence Berkove, an internationally-recognized authority on Jack London.

And of course, don’t forget the kickoff this Saturday, March 8, from 11am-2pm at The Henry Ford!

High school students from Dearborn Public Schools have been working hard on designing a special tabloid version of The Call of the Wild for The Big Read Dearborn. The tabloid features original illustrations and a calendar of Big Read events, along with the entire text of the novel.

Over 10,000 free copies of the tabloid will be distributed during The Big Read Dearborn which runs from March 8 to May 17. It will be available for the first time at the kickoff where you can also view a display of the artwork that the students created for the tabloid. Following the kickoff, the tabloid will be available at the Dearborn Public Library and other locations throughout Dearborn. Stay tuned and be sure to pick up a copy!

In conjunction with several local community organizations, Dearborn Public Library presents The Big Read Dearborn, a community-wide reading celebration and exploration of Jack London’s classic novel The Call of the Wild.

The adventure begins on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at The Henry Ford with a grand kickoff featuring free books, music, activities, and Charlie Chaplin’s film The Gold Rush. Join the kickoff party and over 35 events that are scheduled from March 8-May 17, 2014. All Big Read events are free and open to the public. EmBARK on a journey of discovery with The Big Read Dearborn!

Call for entries in The Big Read Dearborn open photo competition focusing on environment, nature and wildlife

Entries due on April 28; professionals and amateurs welcome

We’re calling for entries in an open photo competition to recognize outstanding photographic images featuring themes of nature, wildlife and the environment.

Amateur and professional photographers 14 years of age or older are welcome to submit up to two works in the juried photo competition. Dearborn residency is not required to enter this competition. Entries are due on April 28. Entry fees are $15 for one entry or $25 for two entries per artist.

The juror is award-winning Michigan photographer Monte Nagler. He studied with renowned photographer Ansel Adams. Nagler’s work can be found in many public and private collections including the Detroit Institute of Arts and the University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ford Motor Company, Chrysler, General Motors and others.

A non-juried Youth Photo Exhibition is open to children and teens through age 18. There is no fee for this exhibition.

For specific details about preparing and delivering entries for submission in the competition, download the entry form, pick up an entry form at any Dearborn Public Library location or the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, or call 313-943-5478.

The photo competition is coordinated by the Dearborn Community Fund, one of many local organizations partnering with the Dearborn Public Library to present The Big Read Dearborn.

Many additional events will take place March 8 through May 17 as part of The Big Read Dearborn beginning with a free kickoff event, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on March 8 at The Henry Ford.

If you’ve been thinking about submitting a story to Animal Tales, this is your last chance! Submit your short story, poem, or essay by March 1, 2014.

The kickoff of The Big Read Dearborn is only one month away!

There’s a great lineup of events scheduled for the months of March, April, and May, starting with the kickoff at The Henry Ford on Saturday, March 8 from 11am-2pm.

Following the kickoff, you’ll have the opportunity to join in over 35 events – book discussions, film screenings, lectures, and special events including a photo competition, an afternoon with renowned audiobook narrator George Guidall, and The Big Read Dearborn wrap-up party on Saturday, May 17 at the Dearborn Public Library.

With a variety of events for all ages including children and teens, you’ll be sure to find one that meets your interests. Check out the complete list of events and start marking your calendars!

Calling all writers! It’s not too late to submit your tale to Call of the Wild Dearborn: Animal Tales.

Possible topics include:

• A short story, poem or essay about your pet or any animal
• A short story, poem or essay about the environment, nature or wildlife
• A short story told from the perspective of your pet or any animal
• An essay about The Call of the Wild

So far, we’ve received about 50 submissions and we hope to receive many more this month!

Are you an animal lover? Got a great story about your pet, the outdoors, or wildlife? As part of our celebration of Jack London’s The Call of the Wild, we’re sending out a call for “animal tales.”

Email your original short story, poem, or essay of 1-4 pages (along with a 1-2 sentence blurb about yourself) to hfischer@ci.dearborn.mi.us by February 1, 2014 March 1, 2014. Check out the submission guidelines for more details! Selected entries will be published in the short story collection Call of the Wild Dearborn: Animal Tales.