In its third "Letters and Literature Series", the Fayette County Public Library will honor native author, Robert Burch. The first two Fayette Countians to be honored were Carolyn Cary, and Dr. Ferrol A. Sams Jr.

The event will take place this Saturday at the library. You are invited to drop by between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

An old-fashioned carnival will be a part of the celebration.

Hailed as one of the greatest children's author, Burch was born in the community of Inman, Fayette County, on June 26, 1925. He was graduated from the University of Georgia in 1949, with a B. A. in agriculture, and from Hunter College, New York, in 1955. Oddly enough, his brother, Ambrose graduated from UGA with a degree in journalism. Each brother ended up working in the field that the other one majored in. Burch served in the United States Army in New Guinea and Australia, from 1943 to 1946. Robert, along with his five brothers, all served in World War II and all came home safely.

He is the author of 19 books for children and young adults. He writes with sensitivity and compassion about the rural Georgia landscape and people he knows so well. Many of his themes are set in the Great Depression era.

Burch did not begin to write until the age of 30, while living in New York.

One of his books "Ida Early Comes Over The Mountain" was made into a television movie, with actress Jacqué taking the role of Ida.

The Fulton County Board of Education filmed a portion of his book. "Tyler, Wilkin, and Skee" in the Woolsey school house auditorium, which has since been torn down, and the house of the late Cliff Ballard. It used many of Fayette County’s young teens, and former agricultural teacher, Aubrey Varner, played the lead role.

Library director, Chris Snell, encourages everyone, young and old, to drop by for a conversation with Fayette County's greatest children's author.

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