Celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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First published in 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is an enduring classic that has never been out of print. It won the Pulitzer Prize, and one million copies are sold each year. Celebrations are being held to honor the book. 

From the New York Times: “Mary McDonagh Murphy, a writer and documentary director whose book, “Scout, Atticus & Boo: A Celebration of 50 Years of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’,” will be published in June, called “Mockingbird” ‘our national novel.’
“I can’t name another book that is this popular, that tells such a good story, has such indelible characters and makes a social statement without being preachy,” Ms. Murphy said. “It is plain in the very best sense of the word.”

 A 50th Anniversary Celebration Weekend (PDF) is being held in Monroeville, Alabama, July 8-11, 2010.  A Facebook page has also been created in honor of the event: To Kill a Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary.

“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.  It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.  You rarely win, but sometimes you do.”

  ~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 11, spoken by the character Atticus.

Learn more about the story at the NewYork Times.  They've also compiled a valuable list of resources for teachers: 50 Years of 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.