Catherine Matthias of Joseph will give a presentation of her book “The Word Gobblers” on Sept. 13 at Cook Memorial Library in La Grande.

JOSEPH — The Josephy Center for Arts and Culture will present a book reading of “The Word Gobblers” with author Catherine Matthias and illustrator Joan Gilbert on Friday, May 20, 7 p.m.

The book is described as “a handbook for parents working with children who struggle to read.”

Matthias will read from the book, which is an extension of her work as an Irlen Syndrome Screener. According to a press release from the Josephy Center, one in six people worldwide suffers the effects of Irlen Syndrome, which is the inability of the brain to process certain light waves or colors.

Matthias, who lives in Joseph, is the author of six early reader picture books published in English and Spanish by Children’s Press and Scholastic Books. Her two nonfiction books were part of a career series titled “I Can Be a Police Officer” and “I Can Be a Computer Operator.” Her fiction titles are “Over-Under,” “Out the Door,” “I Love Cats” and “Too Many Balloons.”

She first heard of Irlen Syndrome and the Irlen Institute from a retired college counselor. Matthias said her two oldest grandchildren struggled with reading, and her friend mentioned Irlen Syndrome. She started doing research, and began writing a book that became “The Word Gobblers.”

As research, she got involved and eventually became an Irlen Screener. For the book, Matthias sent her manuscript for review to Helen Irlen, originator of the study of the syndrome and director of the Irlen Institute, who wrote the foreword.

Gilbert has spent 30 years in graphic design and illustration. In 2019 she moved toward fine art and launched a project titled “Wallowa Lake: 55×55” — three-year journey exploring Wallowa Lake while exploring mediums, styles and techniques will culminate in a one-person show at the Josephy Center in October 2022.

In addition to a career in graphic design, Gilbert has volunteered teaching art to kids in schools and camps. She worked with the 2012 Enterprise sixth grade on a five-month animation project which led to a six-minute animated short film “Wallowa Lake – the REAL Story,” and then, three years later, into a children’s book of the same name.

She has written and/or illustrated three other children’s books: “‘Twas the Night Before Round-Up” (author Nancy Atterbury, 2009); “Little Prince Spaghetti” (2011) and “The Word Gobblers” (author Catherine Matthias, 2021).

In 2014, Joan expanded into exhibit design where she created permanent exhibits for the Josephy Center and designed a major portion of the exhibits for the Wallowology Natural History Discovery Center.

The Josephy Center is at 403 N. Main St. Learn more at josephy.org.