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Logan J is the Socal.com On Camera Host

John Lithgow dazzles audiences whether in Stratford-upon-Avon playing Malvolios in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Twelfth Night, playing alien High Commander, Dick Solomon, on the hit NBC comedy series 3rd Rock from the Sun or flounced on a book store table reading and singing from his latest book to a crowd of children clumped together on the floor around his feet.

Socal.com and kid host Logan J caught up with the very busy John Lithgow at his Barnes & Noble book signing of Mahalia Mouse Goes to College and joined the audience for a rip-roaring, one-man performance of spoken word and song.

Anyone who says book signings are dull has not been to a John Lithgow evening. Watch the video.

Mahalia Mouse Goes to College is #7 in the ever growing library of children's books written by John Lithgow. He originally wrote the story to be part of his keynote address at Harvard's commencement for the Harvard College class of 2005 and then realized that he had the makings for a book.

As the story goes, Mahalia Mouse, a young girl mouse, is sent out one rainy night to find food for her family. In a twist of fate, Mahalia gets zipped inside a backpack and, unbeknownst to the backpack owner, is carried into a science classroom just as the advanced course begins. It is love at first nibble. Mahalia has found her calling in science and she hunkers down to learn all that she can. There are adventures ahead.

Now, in history, there might have been a few boy mice who excelled at science but Mahalia is certainly the first girl mouse to receive honors. John Lithgow pointed out that he wrote the story, in part, to encourage little girls to consider the sciences, use their talents and go after their dreams in education.

Mahalia Mouse Goes to College is told in the author's signature witty and theatrical verse. The CD that accompanies the book is excerpted from the original recording of John Lithgow's  presentation to the Harvard College class of 2005 commencement.

John Lithgow did not limit the book signing presentation to the most recent work, he shared past and future books in a wonderful performance of song and rhyme and even audience participation. The group of children and adults gathered round him was regaled with a delightful and high energy musical reading of the award winning earlier books Marsupial Sue and I'm a Manatee sung in perfectly pitched a cappella. No small accomplishment.

To wrap up all the fun before actually signing books, John Lithgow raised his hands as if holding a book and explained that the reason we couldn't see it was because it hadn't come out, yet. The title is I Got Two Dogs and it comes out next year. The audience was invited to participate in singing along on the chorus. It was a hilarious finale to a very special evening.

John Lithgow's books make great gifts for any reason or season. Each comes with its own CD so you and your children can enjoy hearing the author's ingenious rhymes and songs, often accompanied by full orchestra.

If you do happen to get word of a book signing or a live concert by John Lithgow in your area, be sure to go. You are in for a wonderful time.

Check the author's web site for more books, CDs, a calendar of performances and lots more fun stuff.

http://www.johnlithgow.com/home.html