We Share A Story 2003 offers a venue for teachers and students in Bellingham and her Sister Cities of Port Stephens (Australia), Punta Arenas (Chile), Tateyama (Japan), and Nakhodka(Russia) to meet, connect and share.

We Share A Story 2003 is sponsored by the Friends of the Bellingham Public Library and receives financial support from various groups and individuals in the Bellingham community.

We Share A Story 2003 envisions: "Sister Classrooms" exchanging email/snail-mail sharing information, stories and artwork. Opportunities to create displays for schools, libraries, community centers and web sites.

Mabela the Clever, an African folktale retold by Washington state author/storyteller Margaret Read MacDonald, read in participating classrooms around the world.

This event took place during USA National Children's Book Week/International Education Week, on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 at 9:15 A.M. in each respective time zone.

On the afternoon of Saturday, November 22, 2003 the Bellingham public
Celebrated We Share A Story: A Pacific Rim Literacy Connection.
The Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department, the Whatcom Children's Museum and the Bellingham Children's Library presented activities celebrating Bellingham Sister Cities' customs and cultures. Highlighting this celebration were readings of Mabela the Clever in native languages by Whatcom Community College and Western Washington University ESL/International students.