Posts filed under 'Reading in the News'
Welcome to the bimonthly children’s literacy and reading news round-up brought to you by Jen Robinson’s Book Page and Scrub-a-Dub-Tub. As a reminder, while Jen, Mheir and Baby Bookworm are settling into routines, I (Rasco from RIF) am “filling in” for Jen, so here’s a *wave* to Jen and Baby Bookworm who is growing quite fast! It has been exciting recently to see Jen back on twitter and posting on her blog; check out some of her latest posts!
While the air doesn’t have even the hint of autumn yet in the Washington, DC area, the calendar says September, the windows of many commercial establishments show fall colors, the school busses are back on the streets and children are now not always running along the sidewalks more carefree but stooped forward with the weight of backpacks. It is easy to allow our thoughts to immediately leave summer behind….
But I encourage each of us to stop, think and go to work on preparing for next summer! There is no better time to reflect on our communities’ programming for summer learning than now when the summer of 2010 is fresh on our minds. I am a broken record, yes, I know it but summer is such a critical period for literacy for our children. Make sure your community has individuals attending the National Summer Learning Association’s (NSLA) annual conference SUMMER CHANGES EVERYTHING! By the way, *wave* a Happy Anniversary greeting to NSLA and read about their productive year for children.
As school does start up sights often turn to “back to school” nights or regular family engagement nights, mornings, afternoons…Reading Rockets recently shared an article Creative Literacy Events for Families listing some new ideas, different twists on often-used, good ideas. A family game night or cultural cookout sound intriguing to me! Also, if you have not reviewed a copy of School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action by Joyce Epstein and others, you will want to do so. Dr. Epstein is the Director of the National Network of Partnership Schools and the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships, Principal Research Scientist, and Research Professor of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University; the Network will be hosting the annual Leadership Development Conference in Baltimore October 26 and 26; you do not have to be a member of the Network to attend. It is a great opportunity for networking and learning more about the critical school, family and community partnerships critical to children’s educational progress.
Another potential community or even Family Literacy Night activity that builds on the “One Community, One Book” concept was recently announced by Boston: One City, One Story. I can see this as a great school night activity – what about you?
The school “start up” period also brings about a new flurry of discussion about types of reading: book, e-readers, audio reading. While the article was posted in April, I only recently had it called to my attention and it notes: 81% of the top iPad book apps (13 of the top 16) are for kids; whether in print, on screen, really it’s just a book to the kids. And did you see the WSJ article recently labeled “THE ABC’S OF E-READING”? In brief, it notes a study of 1200 e-reader owners found that 40% said they read more than they did with print books, 58% read about the same amount and 2% said they read less. And 55% said they would use their device to read more in the future…worth a read. And there is already an article that makes one think about the future of that thing we know as an APP!
Now, in case you are worried about friends who do all their reading by e-reader and you want them to remember “the print book” or you yourself are pining for the “good ole days”….you can order this if still carried:
This is weird. But that also makes it fun. Perfume that smells like an old book! The maker of this scent, Christopher Brosius, loves his books. He describes the odour of his product as: “English Novel taken from a Signed First Edition of one of my very favorite novels, Russian & Moroccan leather bindings, worn cloth and a hint of wood polish”. He made four varieties of his “In the library” scent. It comes as Perfume Absolute 15 ml and 2 ml, a Water Perfume and a Home Spray. You can find out more about it, and order it if you dare, here.
In talking about their new book pictured above, Sandra Feinberg and James R. Keller have said “How parents and caregivers act within the library setting often influences how children feel and how often they will come to the library. How children feel when they use the library will affect their attitude and behavior not only when they are children but also when they become parents.” One article commenting on this quote by the authors noted you can “substitute the word ‘reading’ for library…and is it any different?” By the way, if you haven’t met Sandra Feinberg in print or in person, you must do so. She is the Library Director at the Middle Country Public Library in New York, what a librarian, what a library!
Speaking of Libraries, have you seen this great game? The Library Adventure Game! It uses a web-based simulation to teach reference skills….sounds very interesting to me as a former sixth-grade teacher who struggled to find engaging activities on just this topic.
RIF invites you to join us along with US Airways in packing your bags and taking off with the the 2010 Read with Kids Challenge! Remember, one part is where participants log the number of minutes they spend reading to and with children. This year, our nationwide goal is reading with kids for 10 million minutes between September 1 and October 31. Think of the incredible benefits kids will receive by spending quality time with you and some good books! (and there are nifty prizes, check it out!)
DON’T FORGET these events:
National Book Festival, September 25
Even if you can’t attend this 10th Annual Festival on the Mall, there are things on the website you’ll find interesting and more will be posted as the day draws closer! Also, remember the next installment of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure begun at the 2009 National Book Festival will be posted on September 10, don’t miss it!
Lights on Afterschool, October 21
Twitter: @RascoFromRIF
P. S. RIF has located THE bookcase we want given we have programs in all 50 states…is this not the BEST? Thank you Shelf Awareness for this great find:
September 2nd, 2010
Welcome to the bimonthly children’s literacy and reading news round-up brought to you by Jen Robinson’s Book Page and Scrub-a-Dub-Tub. As you know Jen and her husband Mheir have a new Baby Bookworm. During this time when Jen, Mheir and Baby Bookworm are settling into routines, I am “filling in” for Jen. As Terry noted in the mid-June Roundup, Jen periodically sneaks a peak at what’s going on in the Kidlitosphere … so just in case she’s reading, here’s a *wave* to you, Jen!
THE big event in late June was the American Library Association’s convention in Washington, DC or ALA for short. If you missed the convention or any part of it, a wonderful summary has been distributed by ALA in a Special Post-Annual Conference issue of AL Direct. I was one of those who missed the majority of the conference due to other RIF business and then through airline delays, I did not make it back for the Newbery/Caldecott banquet which you can enjoy through Betsy Bird’s eyes and ears and “the tats.” As I left town again on Tuesday the 29th I saw a sea of red shirts coming from the Hill; I asked one librarian to allow me to take a picture of her back! I had spent Monday morning and a good part of the afternoon on the exhibit floor meeting authors whom I have come to know through twitter, what fun! Once I have hit “send” on this roundup I am looking forward to reading much more from the AL Direct summary; first up will be the sections on Better services to the underserved (Cognotes, June 29, p 8); Strategies for reaching Latino Youth (Cognotes, June 28, p 8, 10); Bookmobiles on parade (of course!); and the always fascinating Book Cart Drill!
The federal Institute of Education Sciences announced during June it is awarding $100 million in grants to researchers for a new Reading for Understanding project for students preschool through high school ages.
An article receiving attention on a number of blogs was the report in which a professor – Thomas Newkirk – at the University of New Hampshire makes a case for “slowing down (reading) as a way to gain more meaning and pleasure out of the written word.”
There were several pieces throughout this month highlighted online on SCIENCE. The first at CELEBRATE SCIENCE, a blog by Melissa Stewart, was a posting titled Behind the Books: Integrating Science and Language Arts. The following quote hit me between the eyes: According to a recent study, nearly 86 percent of scientists who reported loving their jobs could trace their interest in science to someone they knew or an experience they had when they were 7 to 10 years old. This finding demonstrates the critical importance of solid science instruction for elementary students.
Other “science” articles I commend to you are a book list for summer reading from Reading Rockets; Girls Solve STEM Mysteries at Spy School; and one from the New York Times that caught many people by surprise and had a record number of “tweets” I do believe: Many Schools Teach Engineering in Early Grades! (image by Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times)
Do you know a teen between 13 and 18 making a difference by volunteering in your community? Is there a young person you know who has impacted the lives of others? Check out the Nestlé Very Best In Youth program. I have attended some of the ceremonies for this program which are actually several days of these outstanding young people and their parents meeting together – truly inspiring!
As June moved forward, there were more and more articles about summer reading which led into a great Summer Learning Day sponsored by The National Summer Learning Association. Of note were book lists like the Bank St. Best Children’s Books of the Year released the first time for free online and Shelf Talker’s updated roundup of 2010 kid/YA book receiving starred reviews as of June 17, 2010. Many children attend summer camps and it was interesting to note an article this month from the American Camp Association outlining what summer camps can and should do to promote continued summer learning. Summer is a great time to promote young artists as outlined by Imagination Soup and writers with the “story box” concept outlined by The Book Chook. Summer 2010 is the first summer a reading program has been instituted by the Defense Department with the hope military children will be further inspired to read. Finally, Tiger Tales spent the month of June focusing on How Children Play Around the World…I like the idea of promoting “play” during the summer! I am looking forward to learning more about the program track on “The Promise of Play” from posts from this year’s Aspen Ideas Festival.
The summer months can be great fun for many of our children, but for too many children the summer months mean “hunger, fear, disengagement and regression.” I was disturbed to read in the newest report from the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) “Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation: Summer Nutrition Status Report (2010) that fewer children received the services of feeding programs in the summer of 2009 than previously; and this followed a school year where free and reduced meal participation had increased. Hungry children cannot enjoy nor concentrate on reading, it’s that simple. Be sure to read the suggestions for change in the summer feeding program and also think about how your community is addressing this basic need for children. I invite you to read my Rasco from RIF column “What about Rhonda, Ted and their friends?” regarding the children in our communities most at risk of reading and academic failure. Don’t forget, it is not too early to be making plans to attend the excellent annual conference produced by The National Summer Learning Association; this year’s program “Summer Changes Everything” will be held in Indianapolis November 9 and 10.
When you travel do you include exploring children’s bookstores as I do? We Heart Books asked readers to share favorites from around the world and has had three columns to date on the subject. I personally feel fortunate to have finally had the opportunity to visit Books of Wonder in New York City this past week when Reading Is Fundamental kicked off our annual 
Book a Brighter Future campaign with Macy’s. I hope you will shop at Macy’s during July and in so doing, help bring more books and literacy resources to children in your area and throughout the country; thank you in advance!
July 5th, 2010
2010 KIDS COUNT Special Report NOW AVAILABLE
Reading Is Fundamental is pleased to join the Annie E. Casey Foundation as a 2010 KIDS COUNT Special Report Outreach Partner. The special report, “Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters,” makes the case that reading proficiently by grade three is a fundamental benchmark in developmental success and overall childhood well-being.
The report will be discussed today in an event in Washington, DC at The National Press Club from 1-3 p.m. Review details here on signing up for the webcast of this event as well as other aspects of the report and its release.
Please visit the online Data Center , where you can download the report and create maps, graphs, and charts of education data at national and local levels.
May 18th, 2010
Read in today’s New York Times about Katherine Paterson, appointed today as the second Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
Congratulations, Katherine, from the nationwide RIF family!
January 5th, 2010
Well, I am eager to know: Have you read the “yellow” Wimpy Kid? I have done so several times already and as with the other Diaries, I love it, pure and simple, I do love it! Of course, some adults (not me!) are scratching their heads once again wondering “What is it that is touching just the right chord with kids (and many of us grownups!) to make this phenom called The Wimpy Kid so appealing?” The New York Times reporter captured it well, I believe. What do you think? AND, how did Reading Is Fundamental like the READING IS FUN summer reading club attempt by Wimpy Kid’s mom? I laughed and laughed….Wimpy Kid’s best quote in the book for me is this one upon seeing Mother had chosen Charlotte’s Web as the book to be shared: Just from looking at the cover, I guarantee either the girl or the pig doesn’t make it to the end of the book. I am so ready in another year for Wimpy to go to summer camp….and a first junior high dance as well!
READ BEYOND REALITY@your library! It’s Teen Read Week October 18-24; so many great teen books!
Play-Doh, fun staff by Hasbro….have you voted in the Play-Doh creation finals? Vote once a day until October 31. I particularly like the Fiesta Taco…but then the Ants on a Log creation sure brings back memories of my own childhood. Tough decisions.
Eric Carle recently had a very special birthday cake! And how about JUMPSTART‘S great Read for the Record Day with that hungry caterpillar? Congrats to all for a terrific day!
Here’s an informative fun interview Uma Krishnaswami posted on her blog, Writing with a Broken Tusk , with Ted and Betsy Lewin about their new picture book Balarama: A Royal Elephant. What a beautiful cover!
If you are going to be in the D.C. area October 19-31, make a note of Turning the Page’s Carpe Librum—you know, the great book sale you’ve been to or read about each spring…..well, it will be open parts of October, November and December. Check out the details, get some great bargains on books!
Happy Reading!
Carol
Twitter: @RascofromRIF
October 16th, 2009
“Two-thirds of the ninth grade achievement gap can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities during the elementary school years.” The National Summer Learning Association opened its doors on September 1, 2009, staffed by the former staff of the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University. If you are not familiar with this Association, start by studying this three-page policy brief recently released. Why now? Because NOW is the time to start planning for next summer in order to provide the best services for the children in your community who most need a quality summer opportunity.
Thank you to Lee and Low for providing this virtual visit with Ted and Betsy Lewin, Caldecott Honor winners. Not only do students enjoy these “up close and personal” looks at favorite illustrators and authors, but many of us adults enjoy the inside view as well!
Libraries were all over the news last week, particularly the Philadelphia Free Library story of “will it close, will it not?” and it appears it will stay open. A very happy library story from start to finish is the news the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library received $1 Million for Early Literacy. (Reported by the School Library Journal)
Say what? Did you know that FERDINAND THE BULL and SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE were once banned books? (Reported by the Wall Street Journal) The 28th Annual Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read will be held September 26-October 3.
Don’t forget! Register for Lights On Afterschool by 9/22 and you could win 100 books for your program!
Ready? I am excited about the upcoming October 12 release of Diary of a Wimpy Kid : Dog Days! The presses are busy! On the website you’ll find a release party kit…fun, fun, uh, wimpy fun!
DC museum exhibits now and arriving soon: I haven’t been yet but understand there is an interesting Book as Sculpture exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. (Thank you to First Book for this news.)
And coming October 13 for those like me who are Herblock fans, the Library of Congress will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Herbert L. Block, the four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, with “Herblock!” ; I am sure it will be a “must see”!
TINY VIEWS From one of my former Girl Scouts who remembered making something similar for badges: Do you remember making dioramas for “book reports”? I sure do. Here is a much smaller diorama space than I ever created!
BBAW: Book Blogger Appreciation Week was a new experience for me and what a great way to meet new virtual friends. My Friend Amy who was the lead organizer did a great job of juggling many balls, expectations, and tasks. I applaud her! She noted in her closing entry she felt like it was the end of summer camp, and for me that is an appropriate analogy. Awards, prizes, guest entries at the BBAW site, interview swaps and more; it was a full blogging week for all.
September 20th, 2009
I will soon return from a wonderful vacation visiting areas along the coast of Croatia…it has been a feast of beautiful scenery, rich history, great food and very friendly people. I will be sharing thoughts and images for months to come I am sure. But for starters: I always wander into bookstores while on vacation and within minutes of entering the plaza in Dubrovnik I spotted a bookstore…see above the first two children’s books on which my eyes landed. Then I saw the book titled SAT; I sent that photo to our friends at The College Board to ask about this early childhood prep in Croatian!
In the city of Zadar I had a rather eerie experience as I walked into a bookstore, an experience related to a book I was then reading, but more on that another day. Dave Rosenthal of The Baltimore Sun mentioned in a column this week that he, too, always checks out local bookstores when on vacation…is that something you do as well?
Other Muse Briefs
Are you familiar with Libba Bray’s work? If not, you have missed a treat and now you really must watch the book trailer she has made for her soon-to-be-released YA novel GOING BOVINE; yes, she herself is indeed wearing a cow costume and is filmed throughout Manhattan no less! Cow book due on shelves September 22.
Ever have that very special literacy friend for whom you wish there was something extra special you could give as a gift? Take a look at these Double Booked Designs! And speaking of gifts, have you ever perused the blog Cake Wrecks? Another treat you must not miss; and I understand they have a book coming out as well.
Abby (the) Librarian recently asked sister and brother bloggers if we ever wondered what one another’s ”Blog Central” sites look like…and invited us to share photos with our readers and with one another. While I write posts both at the office and at home, I most frequently write at home. My desk with a chair once at home in the U. S. House of Representatives, the view straight ahead out the window (which I pretend is a mountainous forest but is really trees and other plantings covering a retaining wall), and a favorite, inspiring Kandinsky poster…these images create my blogging space at home.
BOOK COVERS
Remember a few weeks ago when I wrote along with many other bloggers about the LIAR cover issue both in its initial shock phase as well as the current resolution? Well, in my opinion a “happy cover issue” is this posting by Laurie Halse Anderson who shared the currently proposed cover for the upcoming British paperback version of CHAINS, a book I featured in a Wednesday WIndow column. While I certainly like the American cover and even noted such, I think this British cover is stunning; take a look at the back cover as well.
In the category of pure INSPIRATION
Today’s Houston Chronicle has an article about Lester struggling to learn to read at age 50. It is a good reminder of the wonderful work done by organizations all across the country with the many adult learners in our communities; showers of gold RIF stars to each of those organizations, to each volunteer and above all, to each learner! Lester’s efforts also inspire me to work even harder with young children to help them find the joy of reading at the earliest age possible.
Happy Reading, have a great week!
Carol
P. S. Remember, only one week left to participate in Macy’s Book a Brighter Future campaign!
Twitter: @RascofromRIF
August 23rd, 2009
“WORDS ARE GOOD. CONVERSATION IS BETTER.” How exciting to have the results of a new study pop off the screen when Early Ed Watch posted a note on the UCLA study released yesterday in the journal Pediatrics. And the message is indeed one linking “young children’s language skills to the amount of time that adults engage them in back-and-forth exchanges.” Be sure to read about how this study builds on the Hart and Risley findings I have discussed in previous posts and the interesting recording devices used in the study.
ONCE UPON A BOOK: Want an interesting set of videos to share with a child during some inside time over the hot summer? Don’t miss these videos prepared by the San Francisco Center for the Book’s exhibit “Once Upon a Book”…see Chris Raschka, David Macaulay, Elisa Kleven, Maira Kalman, and Brian Selznick talking and showing how they work!
MORE VIDEOS: And for a somewhat younger child, there are some great video’s suggested in this Book Chook entry where blogger Susan Stephenson encourages parents and caregivers to use YouTube to help bring books alive and stimulate interest.
TWEET, TWEET: Thank you to my friend Andres Henriquez of The Carnegie Corporation who shared through twitter this weekend a fun vocabulary building site he discovered: VocabSushi—build your vocabulary with contextual examples from the daily news. Great fun!
FAST BREAK TO READING! Congratulations to the WNBA and Pitney Bowes in their summer reading promotion which offers the opportunity for youth to log their minutes as well as participate in events with teams. Bravo, WNBA and Pitney Bowes!
WHAT’S UP IN READING WITH TEENS, TWEENS AND GEN Y? They enjoy reading, borrow most of their books from school or the library, lean to fantasy/romance, graphic novels and prefer serial series to stand alone titles. Learn more about their take on “e-readers” and whether book covers matter…it is all at Checking the Pulse.
WHAT INDEED IS THIS “JOY OF READING”? At RIF we speak often of conveying the “joy” of reading to children. Periodically I come across a passage in a book, postings on blogs, or articles that capture just what that phrase “joy of reading” means at RIF. Recently I read guest blogger Liana Heitin’s entry “The Book You Can’t Outgrow” at Bookmark and her words describe yet another great example of the “joy” individuals find in reading. She wrote:
Last week, on a whim, I began to re-read my favorite book from middle school: Lois Lowry’s The Giver. As I turned the pages, I kept expecting to have a new adult reaction to the story—to see the allegory as simple or recognize the protagonist’s dilemma as trite.
But she goes on to note she instead felt just as she had in the 6th grade when she first read the book…and feels that while, of course, Lowry is a very good storyteller the story took her back to her “6th grade self.” Heitin adds:
When I first read The Giver, it changed me. It made me think and feel in a way words on pages never had—and guided me toward many other books, many more ideas and feelings. It made me into a reader. I will never outgrow The Giver because it was part of such a formative moment in my life.
And that is just the experience we seek at RIF to create for all children.
Carol
Happy Reading!
July 7th, 2009
(From left to right.) Alan Yamamoto of Senator Daniel Inouye’s office reads with children part of the PACT RIF program. Former Hawaii Governor John Waihee, founder and president of Read To Me International and former first lady of Hawaii, Lynne Waihee, Stephen Leach, and Ricky Oshiro of Senator Daniel Akaka’s office. Parents and children from the PACT program participating in RIF activities.
Hello this is Stephen Leach, RIF vice president of government relations and community outreach, and I wanted to share with you the series of unprecedented events that RIF participated in last week.
Never in the history of RIF have we conducted two Congressional Reading Celebrations, a Regional Gathering, two conference presentations, and a vendor booth all in the same week until last week in Honolulu, Hawaii. Last week also featured the first bare foot RIF distribution in recent memory!
To honor the support and contributions of Hawaii’s U.S. Senators Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka, the Parents and Children Together (PACT) RIF program hosted staff from their offices to show their appreciation for all they do to support literacy and education. One of the events was held at a Buddhist temple where PACT staff meet weekly with local families, and as is customary in a temple, you must remove your shoes upon entering. RIF staff Rebecca Chrystal Armstrong, Cody Ruxton, Wendell Bassett, and I were all delighted to share in this tradition! Congressional staff members delivered a message from the Senators recognizing the partnership between RIF and PACT and thanked each organization for its work with local keiki (children) and ohana (families).
RIF, with the generous support of Macy’s, hosted a Regional Gathering at the exquisite Pineapple Room restaurant located at the Macy’s store at the Ala Moana Center. This event attracted more than 50 attendees, including a number of Macy’s employee’s, staff from Senator Akaka’s office, RIF volunteers, attendees from the Read To Me International conference, founder and president of Read To Me International and former first lady of Hawaii, Lynne Waihee and her husband, former Governor, John Waihee. We even had a parent and 2 year-old from the PACT program drive over an hour to attend the gathering! This truly represented a cross section of the entire RIF family!
RIF staff presented break-out sessions during the Read to Me International conference on Multiculturalism. In the Sponsor’s Pavilion, RIF had a booth with information about starting a RIF program and we conducted a raffle for a multicultural book collection.
Overall, an unprecedented and historic week of events for RIF staff and the keiki and ohana of Honolulu!
Stephen
Hanauma Bay, Oahu
June 24th, 2009
Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians
by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
This just looks like great fun, eh? Everyone I know has a school lunchroom tale to relate, often involving the “lunch lady.” Here I am told she becomes quite the sleuth when the librarians start acting rather secretive…join the fun on July 28 when this graphic novel–the first in a series–hits the shelves.
AND, this title is headed to Hollywood before the book is even released; I learned all of this when my Saturday Night Live friends and I were together, when else but Saturday night? They were quite smug sharing book news with their literacy friend here. Without yet reading the full story but seeing this cover, I think the leading lady sounds like a fit!
June 16th, 2009
Previous Posts
This is weird. But that also makes it fun. Perfume that smells like an old book! The maker of this scent, Christopher Brosius, loves his books. He describes the odour of his product as: “English Novel taken from a Signed First Edition of one of my very favorite novels, Russian & Moroccan leather bindings, worn cloth and a hint of wood polish”. He made four varieties of his “In the library” scent. It comes as Perfume Absolute 15 ml and 2 ml, a Water Perfume and a Home Spray. You can find out more about it, and order it if you dare, here.
