Lemonade, puppies and whitewashed fences paint a classic scene of simpler days when girls wore pigtails and boys went fishing -- the kind of scene you'd expect to find in a tale by legendary author Mark Twain.

Fans of Twain recently took a stroll to yesteryear through the pages of the author's classic American novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, at the Broward County Main Library as part of The Big Read.

Thousands are expected to be reading and discussing the novel by the time the six-week, 65-event program ends Dec. 10. The idea behind the event, an initiative by the National Endowment for the Arts, is to promote the joy of reading for pleasure.

A BIG BOOK CLUB

``It's like a countywide book club,'' said Tara Zimmerman, literary events coordinator for the Florida Center for the Book at the Broward County Library.

The kickoff event featured Dixieland music by the Gold Coast Jazz Society, homey cookies and a re-enactment of passages from the novel by 14-year-old Kit Herman and his friends.

``The book takes us back to the old times and shows us how life was,'' said Kit, dressed in overalls and a straw hat.

``It also brings back appreciation for classic writers.''

And that's the idea behind The Big Read.

GRANT

The program is paid for with a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts. Participants will receive paperback copies of the book, readers guides and bookmarks while supplies last.

The money also will pay for activities that include old-fashioned puppet making, musical entertainment, guest speakers and refreshments.