Colorful new book celebrates Z to A in Great Lakes Bay

The "P" page features the penguins at Saginaw's Children's Zoo

by janet i. martineau

Hot off the presses is a book that, just to be different, goes from  Z to A.

The 8 1/2-inch by 11-inch, glossy-print, 48-page publication also contains colorful images very familiar to folks living in Saginaw, Midland, Bay and Isabella counties.

Titled "Z to A in the Great Lakes Bay,”  it contains, for each letter of the alphabet, a stylized drawing taken from photos representing the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra, Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square, CMU Marching Band in Mount Pleasant, Great Lakes Loons in Midland, Bay City Fireworks, Appledore Schooner, Castle Museum...and so on.

Priced at $12, it is a fund-raiser for the READ Association of Saginaw County in a partnership with Great Lakes Bay Publishing and the The Dow Chemical Company.

The cover of the book

“Last June READ asked families and individuals to select a letter of the alphabet and  submit their favorite place to visit or activity in the community that began with that letter,” says READ director Carol R. Lechel.

 “Many of  these submissions were selected by the creative committee as ssignments were made for each  letter of the alphabet.” 

Two retired elementary teachers -- Maryann Czolgosz ans Nancy Owens -- then wrote a  whimsical verse for each letter of the alphabet.

The back of the book features small photographs of some of the other favorite places nominees.

Its sales income replaces READ’s  Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program dollars that were eliminated in 2011 from the federal budget.  That money will allow  READ to continue to provide free books for children mentored in its program.  

“Z to A” is on sale online at www.greatlakesbaymag.com, and at  The Children's Book Company located inside the Antique Warehouse, the Children's Zoo at Celebration Square, Mid-Michigan Children's Museum and the Castle Museum Historical Society of  Saginaw County. 

It also  will be available and featured at the 12th annual “DEAR at the Zoo - Drop Everything and READ”  event  on Wednesday, June 19, at the Children's Zoo at Celebration Square.     

 "The book is truly a labor of love and made possible by  many talented individuals who donated their time, talents and treasures in its making of this book,” says Lechel. “There are so many things to see and places to visit in the Great  Lakes Bay Region.”