Authors Lisa Cohn and Michael Cohn (age 10) will read their children’s books with kids with learning challenges in partnership with The Shadow Project Saturday, Feb. 16. The reading begins at 12:30 at Oregon Public House, 700 NE Dekum St., Portland, Ore. 97211. They’ll also ask kids for ideas for their next book.

The reading is a partnership with The Shadow Project, whose mission is to make school more accessible and engaging for children with learning challenges so they can achieve their full potential. Proceeds from sales of food and drink will benefit The Shadow Project.

In addition to being award-winning kids’ book authors and creators of kids’ audiobooks read by Michael and friends (age 5-12), the Cohns are founders of the Roving Reader Leaders, which aims to inspire kids to read and discuss books. The Cohns formed the Roving Reader Leaders after Michael was featured, at age 5, on the Today Show for his love of reading and his online book reviews.

“One of the goals of our book project and the Roving Reader Leaders is to share our love of reading with kids of all abilities and ages,” said Lisa Cohn. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with The Shadow Project.”

The Cohns have featured special-needs kids in two of their books. They created an autistic character in “Bash and Lucy Fetch Jealousy” at the request of the boy’s mother, Dania Doose, who hoped it would inspire her son to read. She says her idea worked. And Bash, the main character in the Cohns’ third book, “Bash and Lucy Fetch Team Vera and the Dream Beasts,” struggles with sensory challenges. In their next book, the Cohns plan to focus on the positive qualities–or super strengths–of kids with special needs.

About The Shadow Project

By equipping classrooms with innovative tools and strategies tailored to diverse learning needs, The Shadow Project has teamed with schools to foster success for more than 11,000 students who typically read one- to three-years below grade level, and have challenges such as dyslexia, ADHD, and autism. Learn more about the Shadow Project here

About Lisa and Michael Cohn

Michael and Lisa have appeared on the Today Show, AM Northwest, Sirius XM Radio, and in Disney’s Babble, as well as in the Oregonian, Voice of America, and other media.  They have received two Mom’s Choice Silver Awards for their books. Through Skype in the classroom visits, Lisa and Michael have ‘traveled’ more than 540,000 miles to meet with students in 15 countries around the world.  Watch Michael on the Today Show at age 5: Book Crazy Boy, 5, a Budding Literacy Critic

Watch Michael and his “Roving Reader Leaders” friends interview author Troy Cummings: Boys, age 8-11, Show Love of Author’s Book in Interview

Learn more about Lisa and Michael Cohn here

For more information, contact Lisa Cohn at 503-577-0504 or email BashAndLucy@gmail.com