PITTSBURG, Kan. — Once upon a time, in a state that wasn’t too far to the west nor too far to the east (it was just right), a movement started to help strengthen families.

It was called Parents University.

Parents loved it.

Children loved it.

It grew and grew.

And on Tuesday, the 16th Parents University will once again open doors to area families.

From 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Memorial Auditorium, organizers will roll out a magic carpet to help parents and children “Fly into a Whole New World Through Reading” as this year’s theme.

Three sessions, sponsored by the Crawford County Youth Leadership Program, will focus on issues pertaining to families with preschool-aged and early elementary-aged children: accepting and valuing each person, talking and working it out, and joining in play.

Organizer Anna Mae Brown, Crawford County Extension Service, says those issues will be explored through read-aloud time and hands-on activities.

“Each session presenter will start by reading a book related to the session topic. Then they’ll do an activity to go along with that topic. After attending each session, families will get their passports stamped, then turn those passports in at the end of the evening to receive one of the books they read in their sessions,” Brown explained.

Brown says the goal of the event is to tie in literacy and the enjoyment of reading together as a family, then carrying that one step further to discover how to use a book to work through real-life situations.

She anticipates between 200 and 300 participants for the event, which is being planned and executed by 12 area agencies in what she calls a “true community effort.”

Those who attend will have the opportunity to make their own stories using cloth books provided by volunteers from the Family and Community Education and Mid-America Sewing Guild.

A 25-cent sack meal including sandwich, fruit and cookies will be provided, sponsored by Kiwanis, and 28 different agencies will be on hand to showcase service opportunities they provide in Crawford County.

Parents University will conclude with a 7 p.m. family entertainment event in which local kindergarten teacher Mary Souers will involve parents and children with “big books,” music books, and get-up-and-move activities.