Storytime with Bush family

Teachers at heart, first lady Laura Bush and her daughter, Jenna, will bring their love of literature to Naperville Monday night.

The Bushes will be in town to promote the children's picture book they co-wrote, "Read All About It!"

Their public appearance begins at 7 p.m. at Naperville North High School, 899 N. Mill St. Tickets are $25 and include one copy of the book and admission to the book-signing line.

"Read All About It!" is about a young boy, Tyrone, who would rather be outside playing freeze tag or swinging from the monkey bars instead of sitting still for storytime. But he changes his tune when storybook characters begin to appear in his classroom.

The book, which hit the shelves Tuesday, was illustrated by Denise Brunkus.

At Monday night's event, Laura and Jenna Bush will read from their book, talk about the experience of writing together and autograph copies of it.

The event is sponsored by Anderson's Bookshop.

"It's a really wonderful book," owner Becky Anderson said. "It has great illustrations, and it's a really fun story about how reading can come alive."

Anderson praised the first lady for making reading one of her major causes during her time in the White House.

Laura Bush hosted the inaugural White House Conference on Global Literacy in 2006 and also helped the Library of Congress launch the first National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Both she and Jenna are former teachers. Jenna also has penned a book of her own, "Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope," and was in Naperville in October to promote it.

Proceeds from the new book will go to Teach for America and the New Teacher Project. Publisher HarperCollins also will donate $1 million worth of books to children of all ages.

In Naperville, a portion of Monday's ticket sales will benefit the Jeanine Nicarico Memorial Fund for Literacy.

In addition to the nighttime appearance, the women will be spending the day talking to second-graders in Naperville Unit District 203 and will visit with first-grade students in Project Leap, an early literacy intervention program.

"I really hope kids will come away with a passion for reading and a passion for writing," said Nina Menis, director of community relations for District 203. "To see the first lady and her daughter talking about their passion for literacy, that's something that will stay with them for a long time."

Tickets for the evening event are available from Anderson's Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave. For details, call (630) 355-2665.