Former Chicago Bulls’ forward Bob Love quickly put two dozen awestruck youngsters at ease when he talked with them about books and basketball last week at Hinsdale Middle School’s book fair.
“So, what was your best season?” one student asked of the player who recently had his number retired by the Bulls. Another wanted to know whether Love had ever been on the court with Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain. Love answered their questions, autographed basketballs and paper, let them try on his signet ring, then posed a few questions of his own.
“How many players on a team?” he asked the group. “How many teams in a league?”
Those who answered correctly were rewarded with basketball-related materials designed to encourage reading.
Love was one of several participants in the school’s three-day book fair, held last week at Borders Book Shop, 16th Street and Illinois Highway 83, by the school’s Parent Teacher Organization.
“Usually, books are ordered and shipped to the school where the fair is held, but there simply isn’t any sales space available at the middle school,” said Becki Utigard, who chaired the event.
“We asked Garett Auriemma, Borders’ community relations coordinator, if we could hold our fair on the mezzanine near the children’s book section.”
To get students and parents to go the distance between the school and the book shop, Utigard dangled some carrots. She and other PTO volunteers put together a festival-style package of entertainment featuring authors and actors, athletes and artists and, with a bow to Valentine’s Day, dubbed it, “We Have a Passion for Books!”
In addition to Love, now retired and serving as the Bulls’ goodwill ambassador, she corralled children’s book authors Jim Aylesworth, Jamie Gilson and Helen Lester; mystery writer William F. Love; Dr. Mark Sand, a cardiovascular surgeon; makeup consultant Marianne DeLuca; flutist Becky Guido; and members of the Downers Grove Choral Society, who sang “Songs of Romance.”
Young artists who performed included high school members of The Children’s Theater of Western Springs; stringed instrument players from Hinsdale’s middle and high schools; and the middle school’s Boys and Girls Choruses.
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