Contact: Melissa B. Jones
AASL Communications Specialist
(312) 280-4381
mjones@ala.org

For Immediate Release,
March 19, 2008

"Little Miss Sunshine" star brightens School Library Media Month

Abigail Breslin to serve as celebrity spokesperson

CHICAGO - The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association, is pleased to announce that Abigail Breslin has been named a national spokesperson for the 2008 School Library Media Month.

Breslin, nominated for an Academy Award for her role in "Little Miss Sunshine," stars in the soon-to-be-released "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl." AASL has collaborated with Picturehouse, HBOFilms and American Girl to produce a poster featuring Breslin that celebrates School Library Media Month. The poster, which includes information about the Great Depression and a host of activities developed by the AASL School Library Media Month Task Force, will be distributed for free to AASL members working in middle and elementary schools.

"Abigail and American Girl are a great fit for AASL and school libraries," said AASL president Sara Kelly Johns. "School librarians working with young students can attest to the popularity of the American Girl series of books, and we appreciate history coming alive for our students. We are so pleased to have such a talented young woman as one of our national spokespeople for School Library Media Month."

The 11-year-old Breslin began her career making commercials when she was three, but got her big break playing Mel Gibson's daughter in "Signs" (2002). She co-starred with Kate Hudson in "Raising Helen" (2004), and is also starring with Jodie Foster in "Nims Island," which is coming to theatres on April 4th. Breslin also stars in her own READ poster, now available through the ALA Store, http://www.alastore.ala.org/.

"Go to your school library. It's a great place to find information for school reports or to just sit and be able to read quietly," Breslin said.

First celebrated in 1985, School Library Media Month expands on ALA's National Library Week celebration and provides a month-long opportunity for school library media specialists to highlight the variety and excitement of school library programs. This year's theme for both events is "Join the Circle of Knowledge @ your library." For additional ideas and resources for celebrating School Library Media Month and National Library Week, follow the link on the AASL homepage at www.ala.org/aasl.