Posted 4:25 p.m. Fri., 01.29.10 - Given that 2010 is the 100th anniversary of the death of Mark Twain, the choice of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" as this year's Big Read book holds no surprise.

Missouri has boasted of Twain being a native son, and Tom Sawyer drew heavily on the author's memories of growing up in Hannibal.

Several events took place in late 2009, but the formal kickoff of the Big Read programs in St. Charles County and St. Louis County and city are coming up. The Foundry Art Centre is the sponsor of and the site for many of the St. Charles events. Cultural Festivals in partnership with the Kirkwood Public Library is putting on the discussions, workshops and plays in the St. Louis County and city.

The kickoff for the programs in St. Charles will take place at the Foundry Art Center, 520 North Main, from noon - 4 p.m. Jan. 31. Events will include Tom & Becky from Hannibal performing the "Engagement" and "Cave" scenes from the book, and copies of "Tom Sawyer" will be distributed.

The Old Courthouse downtown is where St. Louis/St. Louis County's Big Read will get its start. Cindy Lovell, executive director of the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum, will give the kickoff address on Feb. 2 at a reception that runs from 6-8 p.m.

Lovell will be at the Foundry Art Centre the next day, Feb. 3, where she will address a luncheon. (For reservations, call 636-255-0270.) And on Feb. 4, she will lead a workshop at noon on "Teaching Twain in the 21st Century" in the Daniel Conoyer Social Sciences Building auditorium at St. Charles Community College. To reserve a spot at the workshop, which runs from 4-6:30 p.m., call 636-225-0270. 

St. Louis

Sponsored by Cultural Festivals Inc.

University City Public Library discussion: "The Church through Tom's and Mark Twain's Eyes." 7-8 p.m. Feb. 2, at the library, 6701 Delmar Blvd.

Bradburn's Teacher Supply Store discussion: "Outlaws: Were Tom and Huck truly bad?" Free reader's guides and books. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Feb. 4, Bradburn's, 2166 Hampton

University Public Library youth discussion: "How has American childhood changed since the 1840s?" 1-3 p.m. Feb. 6, at the library, 6701 Delmar Blvd.

Brentwood Public Library discussion: General discussion of the book. 7-9 p.m. Feb. 9 at the library, 8765 Eulalie Ave.

Bradburn's Teacher Supply Store discussion: "Aunt Polly's fence as a symbol." Noon Feb. 13. Free reader's guides and books at 4377 Manchester Rd., Manchester

Open house for educators: from 2-4 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Washington University. Susan Cryer narrates a program that discusses how Twain and painter George Caleb Bingham helped establish the mythic status of the American explorer.

Stage Performance: "The Assorted Adventures of Tom, Huck and Becky" That Uppity Theatre Company presents a lively selection of adventures, plus audience participation and original songs. The play by Lee Patton Chiles will be at 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Feb. 18 and 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at 560 Trinity Ave., University City

Bradburn's Teacher Supply Store discussion: "What would Tom be like in the 21st Century?" 4-5 p.m. Feb. 18. Free reader's guides and books at 734 N. New Ballas, Creve Coeur

Kirkwood Book discussion: 4:15 p.m. Feb. 25, Rohan Woods School, 1515 Bennett Ave.

Storytelling: Workshop on Tom Sawyer as seen through the Arts. Rosie Lee Willis, puppet making and other ands-on art and writing projects. 1 p.m. Feb. 27. Compton Drew Investigative Learning Center, 5130 Oakland.

St. Louis Book discussion: 2 p.m. Feb. 27, Compton Drew Investigative Learning Center, 5130 Oakland.

St. Charles

Sponsored by Foundry Art Centre

Faux-Funeral Procession to bury illiteracy: Horse and carriage (w/empty coffin) travels down Riverside Drive to the Foundry Art Centre, 520 N. Main, where the St. Charles Big Read program will kick off. noon-4 p.m. Jan. 31.

Storytelling: Annette Harrison recreates the white washing scene from the "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." The audience also participates in silly Ozark tales and a scary Indian Legend about the Piasa Bird. 1 p.m., Feb. 6, Foundry Art Centre.

Frog Jumping Contest: Make your own origami frog and see how far it will jump. 2 p.m. Feb. 6, Foundry Art Centre

River Music: Raven Moon reaches into the heritage that has blended sounds from Native American drumbeats to Anglo-Celtic ballads, French folksongs to African field hollers. 1-3 p.m. Feb. 7, Foundry Art Centre.

Teen Program: Youth will be given copies of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" A discussion of the book and how it relates to kids of today will be encouraged. 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 10. Foundry Art Centre.

Film: St. Charles Community College will show the documentary film, "Mark Twain: A Concise Biography." Free. 6-8 p.m., Feb. 11 St. Charles Community College, Daniel Conoyer Social Sciences Building, Auditorium, 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, St. Peters.

Mystery Night @ The Library: Faculty and community members 12 and older are invited to bring their flashlights and work in teams to search for clues to solve a mystery in the library featuring characters from "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." 6-9 p.m. Feb. 12. Advance registration required by Feb. 5, 2010. 636-922-8620 for reservations and directions. St. Charles Community College.

Games of the 1830s: A chance for younger people to learn about old, traditional games and to create their own checker set. 1-3 p.m. Feb. 13. Foundry Art Centre.

Poetry: Poetry Out Loud - Regional Recitation Contest 10 a.m. Feb. 17. Foundry Art Centre.

Printmaking: Firecracker Press will bring in two printing presses, one from the 1890s and another from the 1960s. They will demonstrate the 1890 press, a Baltimore, and talk about the history of handset type. Using pre-arranged handset type, participants will make a print. 1-5 p.m. Feb. 20. And 1-4 p.m. Feb. 21. Foundry Art Centre.

Teen Program: Youth will be given copies of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" A discussion of the book and how it relates to kids of today will be encouraged. 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 24. Foundry Art Centre.

Ice Cream Social and Raft Building Contest: 1-4 p.m. Feb. 27. Foundry Art Centre.