Raising A Reader MA’s loyal Spokespal, Holden A. Book, is heading to the Boston Book Festival, being held in Copley Plaza on Saturday, October 27th. He’s making a week-long literary and historic road trip of his journey, starting in Western Mass.

One of the most culturally rich parts of the state, Holden A. Book visited six family-friendly tourism sites in Western Massachusetts including:

1. Lenox, MA – Tanglewood:  The summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra offers beautiful music in a pastoral setting. The family-friendly picnic grounds make it an ideal place to introduce children to classical music. Holden A. Book did a few cartwheels on the lawn before hitting the road for his next destination on the trip, which was….

2. Amherst, MA – Emily Dickinson Museum: Famed poet and author is one of several 19th and 20th century literary giants with homesteads in Western, MA. Holden A. Book spent time trying to solve the riddles embedded in some of Ms. Dickinson’s more popular poems after learning about her life and career. After proving he could handle the archaic prose he headed to….

 3. Amherst, MA – Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: Kids will definitely connect with the exhibits and activities in this museum dedicated to the illustrator of classics such as “Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?” and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”  Holden A. Book loved the current exhibit on “the Magical Art of Maisy and friends,” and plans to go back in the Spring to see the Latino picture book art exhibit. Not ready to be done with the children’s book leg of his tour, Holden A. Book turned south to go to….

4. Springfield, MA – Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden at the Springfield Museums: The latest city to become part of the Raising A Reader MA family is also home to Theodore Seuss Geisel, known popularly as Dr. Seuss. Holden A. Book explored the five bronze sculptures celebrating favorite Dr. Seuss characters set in the courtyard of the Springfield Museum. His favorite? The Yertle garden featuring his pal Yertle the Turtle.

Now no family-friendly trip to Springfield would be complete without a trip to…

5. Agawam, MA – 6 Flags New England: New England’s largest theme park, Six Flags New England is all decked out for Halloween. Amidst the spooky decor Holden A. Book enjoyed the thrill of the rides in Kidzopolis and Looney Tunes Movie Town.

While there is so much to see and do in Western Massachusetts, Holden A. Book knew he only has five days to explore the entire state!  So he hit the road to make sure he’d see as much as he could. While headed down the Massachusetts turnpike he stopped to snap a picture of….

6. Wilbraham, MA – Friendly’s Ice Cream Topiary:  A welcome sight to children who travel across the Commonwealth, the Friendly’s Ice Cream topiary is also a source of inspiration for author Nicholson Baker. Holden A. Book gives the bushes a wave and vows to grab a Fish-A-Ma-Jig when he stops for dinner.

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Day One of Holden A. Book’s literary and historic road trip across the Commonwealth came to a close in Wilbraham, MA. Which of the sites he visited would you like to visit? Which are among your family favorites? Where do you think Holden A. Book will be tomorrow?