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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, For countless young readers, books open a window to |
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a realm of imagination and possibility, and in recent years, the |
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city of Abilene has undertaken a series of unique efforts to |
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showcase the wonders of children's literature; and |
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WHEREAS, Abilene is the home of the National Center for |
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Children's Illustrated Literature, the only museum in Texas that |
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exclusively collects artwork from best-selling, award-winning |
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children's book illustrators; established in 1996, the center has |
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curated and toured nearly 60 exhibits in close to 40 states, which |
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are enjoyed by one million people every year; and |
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WHEREAS, Further adding to the city's whimsical charm is its |
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extensive collection of outdoor sculptures based on characters from |
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children's classics; while walking the length of Everman Park, |
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visitors can encounter bronze statues in the likeness of |
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Dr. Seuss's creations, and heroes from the works of |
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author-illustrators William Joyce and David Shannon are brought to |
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life in locations throughout the city; young explorers can also |
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receive a "passport" to help them find Seymour, the character from |
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Walter Wick's Can You See What I See? books, who is hidden at |
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several arts and cultural landmarks; and |
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WHEREAS, In total, 23 pieces have been commissioned by the |
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Abilene Cultural Affairs Council as part of its Storybook Sculpture |
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Project, thought to be the largest endeavor of its kind in any city; |
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each year, new additions to the project are dedicated at the |
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Children's Art & Literary Festival, a popular annual celebration |
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that includes family-friendly activities throughout downtown |
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Abilene; the festival is a collaborative effort of schools, |
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libraries, churches, civic groups, and city leaders, drawing crowds |
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of thousands from across the state and nation; and |
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WHEREAS, Literary works for children hold a cherished place |
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on the bookshelves of Texas families, and the true greats of the |
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genre weave captivating tales with dazzling artwork that is fondly |
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remembered for a lifetime; by embracing and promoting an essential |
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experience of childhood, residents of Abilene have established a |
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delightful tradition for young and old alike, and their efforts |
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have made the community a must-see destination for readers of all |
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ages; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate the city of Abilene as the official Storybook |
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Capital of Texas; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section |
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391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect |
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until the 10th anniversary of its designation; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the children of our great state live happily |
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ever after. |