The excitement here at RIF is palpable. With last week’s launch of our new PSA and our new campaign – Book People Unite – we’re opening a new chapter for children’s literacy.
The graphic above is a powerful representation of the crisis. In low-income neighborhoods in the U.S., there is only 1 book for every 300 children. We can fix this. We must fix this.
We are “Book People.” Book People believe in the transformative power of books. We believe that a child’s road to achievement in school and success in life begins with books. We believe that every child should have this most essential building block for their future, not just for their sake but for the country’s sake.
Together, we are igniting a movement of people committed to our cause. And that community of people is vast and strong. Through this campaign we will arm you with the tools needed to bring children’s literacy to a new level of national focus.
With the launch of the Book People Unite campaign, we are also unveiling a new blog to expand the conversation and invite new friends into the RIF community. More friends who share the same wistfulness and wonder we experienced when we read books as children. Who are profoundly moved when they learn that there are countless children living in America today without a single book in their home. Who are willing to step up, speak out and take action to resolve this crisis.
Sharing my passion for children’s literacy through Rasco From RIF has been an incredible experience, but the time has come to turn up the volume and turn a new page. Thank you to all of you who have been constant readers. RIF looks forward to your collective leadership as Book People. You will be vital toward creating this community of Book People, to building a group of passionate supporters, to keeping the conversation alive and flourishing.
Before I officially sign off, I want to welcome our newest Book People. They are our committed partners at Mother New York, the creative genius behind the new campaign and RIF’s new identity; the production team of Green Dot Films and especially the director Rafael Fernandez; the star-studded cast of the PSA and vocalists featured in our new song; and our dear friend LeVar Burton.
I also want to extend a sincere thank you to our longtime supporters. They are our friends in the publishing and distribution world, who worked with us on the PSA and have partnered with us for years getting books to kids efficiently. Our donors and volunteers, without whom we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. And our friends at Macy’s. Their generous support provided not only the funds to launch this campaign but the room to even dream it was possible.
Now, as my final request of you from the pages of Rasco From RIF, if you haven’t yet, please join me in declaring yourself a book person – take the pledge today. If you’ve already pledged, please take a leading role in recruiting more Book People to the campaign by sharing with friends, families and even co-workers.
Sitting in a waiting room today in Arkansas, I pulled a file up on my laptop with a photo of Clifford. The woman sitting next to me caught my attention, saying how much her grandson just loves Clifford. She then asked if I’d seen the new video on the internet with Clifford, the flying pigs and LeVar Burton. My jaw dropped.
Just one day after the launch of Book People Unite and RIF’s new PSA is already a viral sensation.
You can imagine how busy we’ve been at RIF getting this campaign off the ground — and there’s more excitement to come. But I wanted to post quickly to all my readers. To those of you who have pledged, thank you. To those of you who haven’t yet, join us in igniting a movement to get books into the hands of kids who need them most. Book People Unite.
Ever wondered what kind of work RIF volunteers are doing every day? Check out this Flickr photo gallery, showcasing winners from a recent photo contest we held for our RIF programs.
Winners received small cash prizes to help with their work getting books to kids in need. They also received a set of RIF’s 2011-12 Multicultural Book Collection which features high-quality books for children grades K-4. Since 2007, RIF has distributed the collection to RIF programs across the country as part of its Multicultural Literacy Campaign, a multi-year initiative to promote and support early childhood literacy in African American, Hispanic, and American Indian communities.
I am delighted to host the Monday, April 2, 2012 Nonfiction Monday Roundup. Please add your name and book title along with the URL of your entry in the comment section, I will be compiling the comments into the body of this page as time permits on Monday.
Thank you for participating by contributing to the collective information of all regarding nonfiction titles for children and youth and/or for stopping by to read today’s collection.
More about the Titantic to prep us! The Titanic Disaster, Remembering the Titanic, Titanic Sinks! and All Stations! Distress! are all posted at King School Library.
Welcome to the March Children’s Literacy and Reading News Roundup brought to you by Jen Robinson’s Book Page, Family Bookshelf and Rasco from RIF. So much has been happening in the literacy world; hang on, we’re off and reading!
So, with The Hunger Games being the big talk recently, what is the verdict? Check out how your reaction and/or that of young people you know compare with this review posted by Kirkus: After all the Hype, how’s the Movie?As noted by THE HUB: From the humble beginnings of a 200,000-book first run, it has become one of the bestselling books in recent years…
Interesting numbers also found at THE HUB, here are only two: 8 million: The number of times The Hunger Games movie trailer was viewed in the first 24 hours after being released on Nov. 14, 2011. 83 percent: The portion of sales on Fandango.com that came from selling The Hunger Games tickets on February 22- the day they went on sale. This is the largest number of first-day sales in the website’s history.
(image from Kirkus)
LITERACY & READING-RELATED EVENTS
Laurel’s Chapter Book Fun: This entry could have gone in several categories, but I have chosen to put it here on the top so that you WILL NOT miss it. THE NERDY BOOK CLUB announced in a post this weekend Laurel Snyder is inviting students to advise her on writing her first chapter book. There is a video to use and then a survey to administer. It’s a resume builder as well: Consultant to Laurel Snyder, just think about it – Laurel sitting at The Desk that belonged to her great grandfather, and she is reading student’s advice, maybe YOUR students’ advice. I think it is such a neat idea!
Also, I encourage you to visit Poetry for Children for a Poet Interview series over this special month. It is kicked off today introducing you to Kate Coombs whose newest book released last month (and sold out in the first week!) is Water Sings Blue. This book has today gone on my list!
DON’T FORGET: Voting for the Children’s Book Council’s 5th Annual Children’s Choice Book Awards is open! Winners will be announced during Children’s Book Week May 13-17!
LITERACY PROGRAMS & RESEARCH Libraries and our youngest children: Following a post in ED WEEK‘s Early Years blog “Libraries Target Early Literacy for Youngest Learners” there were a number of clips from papers and blogs across the country showing significant work by libraries with infants and toddlers. My first exposure to babies in the library was over 12 years ago at The Middle Country Public Library in Centereach, New York where Director Sandra Feinberg has instituted The Family Place Library concept with great energy…do read about the programming for babies and toddlers and parents!
FICTION OR NONFICTION? Wrong question! Our children and youth need exposure to both. Two New York Times articles in March are well worth your time. Your Brain on Fiction illustrates how brain scans are showing that reading elicits reactions from far more parts of the brain than previously known. Neuroscience is adding to this understanding significantly. The closing paragraph sums it up by noting “These findings will affirm the experience of readers who have felt illuminated and instructed by a novel, who have found themselves comparing a plucky young woman to Elizabeth Bennet or a tiresome pedant to Edward Casaubon. Reading great literature, it has long been averred, enlarges and improves us as human beings. Brain science shows this claim is truer than we imagined.” Later in March Edutopia posted Rutgers University professor Maurice Elias’ From Preschool to Adulthood: Building Social and Emotional Skills with Fiction supporting the New York Times article I have noted above with Elias giving addtional cites and resources.
A New York Times piece in earlier March indicated Nonfiction Curriculum Enhanced Reading Skills, Study Finds as it described a three year study in New York City schools. The debates and increased focus on nonfiction has been in brought about again lately as the Common Core standards emphasize nonfiction reading; as the standards go into effect many schools will turn to more and more nonfiction reading. A recent post “Balancing Fiction and Nonfiction” puts forth a number of the articles and reports of late on this “hot topic.” Having served on nonfiction panels for the past several years for CYBILS, I am encouraged and excited about the engaging nonfiction available for our children and youth today, I have learned so much reading the finalists!
BILINGUAL is another term, another concept that frequently pops up for debate; this month was a month with several articles appearing. The benefits of bilingualism are outlined with recent research included in The New York Times article “Why Bilinguals Are Smarter.” Education Week noted in a recent issue ” ‘Dual’ Classes See Growth In Popularity.” This article does a good job of pointing out issues being further studied, particularly as it relates to dual programs in teaching English Language Learners. While dated December 2000 there is a piece prepared by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) “Brain Research: Implications for Second Language Learning” that I have found helpful in understanding this issue better. I remember exciting discussions I held with parents in Corpus Christi, Texas when visiting Texas A and M Corpus Christi campus a number of years ago. The campus and local public school system continue to operate the The Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC); this is an elementary school serving students age three through the fifth grade. It is a dual immersion program with the children spending half the day in English taught classes and half in Spanish taught classes. I was ready to be a student when I was there to visit!
SUGGESTIONS FOR GROWING BOOKWORMS Words, words, words: A recent post in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution found at Momania: A Blog for Busy Moms asked this question in its title: Did your child have 1000 hours of one-on-one reading by first grade?The internet started spinning! In addition to the critical and important information provided in this article based on Marilyn Adams’ work as quoted by the San Mateo Library, I recommend to you MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCES IN THE EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES OF YOUNG AMERICAN CHILDREN by Betty Hart and Todd Risley. Children indeed need those words, words, words!
Visit the Rainforest, make a “thank you” video: two fun activities for growing our young readers, lots of conversation will be involved!
The Amazon rainforest is now available as “Google street view”….won’t that be fun planning and taking a boat ride down a river via the internet? Don’t miss the video made showing HOW they did all this photography, the bike is fascinating! Or perhaps you prefer to visit other countries first?
The National Education Association and Parenting magazine’s Mom Congress invite you and/or your child to make a video thank you to upload as part of the online “My Amazing Teacher: Thank a teacher who changed your life” project where videos have been posted already by sports and entertainment stars as well as figures.
Three articles written for teachers have great tips equally as important for parents and community volunteers working with our students; the first two are from ASCD and the third was posted by Edutopia. Taming the Wild Textoutlines actions for creating a reading culture which must be created at school, at home, wherever the young student finds herself. Don’t judge, provide time for dialogue, let readers read at their comfort level…great list! Every Child, Every Dayoutlines six elements for each reader as needed each day, three of those, all of which can be carried out at home, community-based afterschool program, and other sites: Every child reads something she or he chooses.
Every child writes about something personally meaningful.
Every child listens to a fluent adult read aloud. Do You Write with Your Students? Simply stated, children and young people need to have us as adults write with them. At home it can be journals, letters to relatives, stories for younger siblings, and much more.
Okay, I have to leave you with something fun! Have you seen the pictures of Alicia Martin’s streaming book installations? Don’t miss the post at designverb.
Thank you for caring about children’s literacy and reading development and for acting daily on those convictions; what a treat to be part of this wonderful kidlit community!
Watch in mid-April for big Book People Unite information from RIF and Happy Reading to all!
Carol
Today marks a crossroads for RIF. Our 34-year long federal grant – totaling $24.8 million last year and 80 percent of our budget — officially comes to a close tomorrow.
To maximize our ability to get books to kids who need them most, we’ve had to say goodbye to some of the most dedicated staff members I’ve had the privilege to work alongside. And a true sign of their devotion to our mission is the way in which they have departed, making clear their continued commitment to the cause of literacy.
We salute them. And we are proud to continue to have them by our side as lifelong supporters as we write the next chapter for RIF.
In fact, it’s not simply a crossroads for RIF, it’s a crossroads for the country. And literacy is at its heart.
America’s competitiveness in the global economy is dependent on nurturing the young minds of our future generation.
The loss of our federal support comes at a time when the number of children living in poverty has hit a record high. And for every 300 children living in poverty in America, there is only one book.
Study after study proves that it’s not how much money is in their parents’ bank account that matters most. When it comes to success for our children, what matters most is how many books they have the opportunity to read.
The solution is simple. And your role is more critical than ever.
We are emboldened by our more than 400,000 RIF volunteers who placed 15 million books into the hands of 4 million children last year. We know there is a foundation of deeply committed individuals, foundations, and corporations who will stand by our sides. Now, more than ever, is the time for RIF to innovate and spark a movement for reading in America.
In the coming weeks, we will spark that movement through the launch of a new awareness campaign. We will depend on you to help rally your friends and family who believe in the life-changing power of books to unite with us.
Today, we give a special salute to the dedicated RIF staff members who will be continuing this journey in a new role. Thank you. And thank you, readers of America, for your commitment to what’s to come.
I hope you have already seen the mid-month Roundup posted by Terry Doherty at The Family Bookshelf with support from Jen Robinson’s Book Page and myself. Terry has put together a great potpourri of tools listed; there are directions to accessing various book lists, new sites on apps, a multicultural book guide and more. I was delighted to learn more about www.Scoop.it where Terry is curating the Family Literacy topic and our good Roundup friend Susan of The Book Chook is curating the Supporting Children’s Literacy topic. Check out Scoop.it if you have not already done so!
A few other items to round out this week:
Have you met Kevin Henkes‘ newest mouse, Penny? Cynthia Leitich Smith has some excellent videos at CYNSATIONS showing Henkes at work and introducing Miss Penny. Go over and meet the mouse!
While it was a February post it is still an important one: from ScienceDaily an article “Puzzle Play Helps Boost Learning Math-Related Skills.” Of additional note in this University of Chicago study is a reference to the fact the ability for mentally making the transformation of shapes is a key predictor of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) course-taking in older children. Thanks to Imagination Soup for pointing out this article.
And speaking of puzzles, I always think of Melissa and Doug when I think puzzles. Unfortunately I came upon this post of Teach Mama too late for the special program noted, but I enjoyed seeing a picture of Melissa and learning a bit more about her! I really liked this question regarding Melissa and Doug in the opening of the blog post: Is their pantry full of wooden food and their playroom full of magnetic dolls and puzzles, and do they ride around on Trunkis all day long? To prepare for the event I misssed with Melissa, Teach Mama gave readers some great tips for participating in a twitter party/gathering by whatever name…it’s an experience that can be more than overwhelming at first – fun and informative, yes, but indeed wild the first time or two!
The big buzz in the literacy world at the moment of course is THE HUNGER GAMES movie opening today with many attending midnight showings last evening! And of course is there anything in this age that creates this much buzz that does not create a bit of controversy…what age is appropriate, is it true to the book and more. In the end, as the publisher Scholastic says “It all started with a book.” I look forward to reviews coming in over the weekend, and most of all, I’ll be watching for kid reviews…and first reports from midnight viewers? The kids loved it!
Terry, Jen and I thank each of you for your dedicated service to children and their literacy needs – you are each making a difference. I’ll be back in a week or so with the end of month review…I look forward to visiting again then.
A hearty congrats to Christopher Cerf, multiple Grammy and Emmy winner, for being named today as an Eric Carle honoree.
Cerf, a RIF board member, co-created and co-produced PBS’s much lauded Between the Lions – promoting reading to children and their families. He’s receiving the Carle “Bridge” Honor, given to individuals who have found inspired ways to bring the art of the picture book to larger audiences through work in other fields.
Cerf is also the genius behind many of Sesame Street’s most memorable songs. We leave you today with a clip from one of our favs.
RIF’s Jack Remondi (second from left) stands next to author Jeff Kinney with friends from ReadBoston and Mayor Menino (second from front right).
Last week, our friends at ReadBoston hosted an event for Reading Is Fundamental–featuring “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” author Jeff Kinney and Boston’s Mayor Tom Menino. Mayor Menino read a selection from Kinney’s best-selling book to students. RIF’s Chairman of the Board Jack Remondi also joined the festivities. Check out The Boston Globe piece highlighting the event, including Kinney’s adventure in finding an appropriate selection for someone of mayoral status.
I am delighted to host the Monday, March 12, 2012 Nonfiction Monday Roundup. Please add your name and book title along with the URL of your entry in the comment section, I will be compiling the comments into the body of this page as time permits on Monday.
Thank you for participating by contributing to the collective information of all regarding nonfiction titles for children and youth and/or for stopping by to read today’s collection.
