“Scholastic is proud to join with ‘Today’ to promoted summer reading,” said Francie Alexander, the publisher’s chief academic officer. “Al Roker is likely to do for kids’ reading what Oprah has done for adults’ reading.”
The book club, consisting of Roker and a group of young readers ages nine to 11 years, will meet in New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza once each month during the summer to discuss that month’s selected book. The book’s author also will be on hand to field questions from the group. The club kicked off with the announcement of its first selection, “The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” by Brian Selznick, a magical tale of an orphan who lives inside the walls of a busy Paris train station. Selznick will appear on “Today” on May 18, 2007, for the book club’s inaugural discussion. NBC is encouraging children to visit “Today” on the Plaza on the days that the club convenes and to bring a copy of the monthly book selection for the author to sign.