Archive for April, 2009
For our third April 2009 Program of the Month, we honor the Rotary Club of Wichita (Kans.) RIF program. Coordinated by Carl Martin, this program serves 9,793 children between pre-K and grade 5. The Rotary Club of Wichita provides approximately 300 volunteers who visit schools and read to children whenever RIF books are distributed. On numerous occasions, Wichita Public Schools has acknowledged RIF’s vital role in the lives of their children. In another show of support, the president of the Rotary Club of Wichita contacted the editorial board of the area’s newspaper and submitted a letter about RIF and the importance of providing federal funding to promote early childhood literacy.
Happy Reading!
Henry Dunbar, RIF Director of Communications
April 30th, 2009
(From left to right.) Elke giving an Appalacian read-aloud to Estill Springs Elementary students. A sign congratulating Elke. South Irvine Pre-K students proudly displaying their new RIF books.
Hi, it’s Marcus Lee and Cody Ruxton just returning from Irvine, Ky., “where the bluegrass kisses the mountains.” This trip was the first of three visits meant to capture the unique stories of all three Volunteer of the Year Award (VOYA) winners who represent the thousands of dedicated RIF volunteers all across the country.
Home to under 3,000, Irvine proudly celebrates 15 years of RIF. This program is championed by 2009 VOYA recipient Elrene “Elke” Davis, who is the RIF program coordinator for the Estill County Board of Education. In only one day, Elke shared with us an authentic Appalachian read-aloud, invited us on a special RIF book delivery to scores of happy 3rd-graders, welcomed us to a book distribution at Clifford the Big Red Dog’s house, and introduced us to generations of RIF kids.
By day’s end, we had visited four schools and heard countless stories of fun literacy moments from a large and enthusiastic group of teachers, school administrators, RIF kids, and RIF volunteers. Hearing their stories, we certainly know that Elke loves books and shares her passion with the whole community. As added proof, she told us that recently while purchasing a copy of Curious George, a cashier asked Elke’s adult son whether the book was for his son or daughter. He reluctantly replied “actually, it’s for my mom!”
We finished the tour with a banquet honoring Elke’s achievement along with 65 of her closest family, friends, and supporters! Until our next VOYA adventure…
Bon VOYA-ge!
Marcus Lee, Marketing and Communications Coordinator and Cody Ruxton, Manager of Volunteer Engagement
April 30th, 2009
While in Arkansas welcoming my grandson William, I have had time to both read favorite children’s books even more often as well as catch up on other literacy articles. If you missed the Newsweek feature on Eric Carle, you should review it. In celebration of this 40th anniversary you may have caught Google the day they had a special caterpillar online and the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books this past weekend featured the caterpillar as its logo this year. Finally, join me in regularly visiting Carle’s blog. I find it a lot of fun!
Happy Reading!
Carol
April 29th, 2009
A new term I’ve learned in the blogging world is BBF: Best Blog Friends. I want to call your attention to three of those BBF’s today.
A Fuse #8 Production by Elizabeth Bird, a children’s librarian at the Children’s Center at 42nd Street in the New York Public Library’s landmark Fifth Avenue building. If you aren’t keeping abreast of her posts from the poll she ran regarding the Top 100 Picture Books, you must catch up! Today is number 15 and it’s one of my all-time favorites, Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. I included it in the Top 10 list I submitted. Elizabeth provides a great compendium of information on each of the top 100 books, a special file for all to have!
GottaBook by Gregory K. Are you keeping up with 30 Poets/30 Days during National Poetry Month? If not, you’re missing a great review of poetry terms and forms—another file to keep. Yesterdays’ entry, Kenn Nesbitt’s poem “My Chicken’s On the Internet,” had me laughing through the day!
Booklights at PBS Parents launched last week with an introduction by Gina Montefusco, who noted Booklights is “our new blog spreading the fun and love of children’s books.” Gina is a former RIF staffer and we congratulate her and PBS on this new resource for parents! Jen Robinson, whom I’ve mentioned a number of times on Rasco from RIF, will be a regular contributor to Booklights.
Happy Reading!
Carol
April 28th, 2009
You know from previous entries I like bright red. That added to my attraction to this cover. To see then it is by Newbery Honor author Hiaasen, made me even more interested. I now have to hold the book and read it.
Submit your cover story here!
Happy Reading!
Carol
April 27th, 2009
In 12 languages researched and translated by Rob D. Walker with assistance from renowned specialists, Mama Says: A Book of Love for Mothers and Sons uses words and powerful illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon to share the special dreams, hopes, and lessons mothers convey to sons and back. Particularly fitting for Earth Day celebrated this week, is the following poem shared in English and Quechua, an indigenous language of the Andean area of South America:
Mama says
Respect all life
And treasure every tree
Mama says
Our planet needs
Each flower, bird and tree
The book also includes lessons about important personal values, such as the following verses presented in Japanese and English:
Mama says
Be honest
Mama says
Be True
Mama says
To put my heart
In everything I do
Here is a book of lessons, a book to take readers around the world, a book of art—and one I will give my daughter her first Mother’s Day this May.
Happy Reading!
Carol
April 24th, 2009
For our second RIF Program of the Month for April, we recognize the Chicago Public Schools, which serves more than 9,000 young parents and children through RIF’s Shared Beginnings program. Sonia Lascelles coordinates the RIF book distributions, which have been an important literacy resource for children in need since 2002. The program helps teen parents feel more comfortable reading to their children, and teaches them about the important role they play in developing their child’s literacy skills. Family is central to this RIF program—and so is book-making! The program’s past motivational activities include making family photo books, peek-a-boo books, and touch and feel books.
Happy Reading!
Henry Dunbar, RIF Director of Communications
April 24th, 2009
Hello! Jonathan Hedgpeth here again. I want to take you to another special place where RIF and our local volunteers are bringing joy to the hearts of young readers. It’s spring in Doddridge County, W.Va. and that means that inveterate RIFer Judy Bee has organized yet another successful Spring Story Hour program! It is a tradition around these parts. Judy and her RIF volunteers have woven the Spring Story Hour into the cultural fabric of Doddridge County.
The Spring Story Hour is an annual, seven-week literacy program serving children ages 2–5, book ended by two RIF distributions. In the weeks preceding the kick off, an advertisement is run in the local newspaper encouraging the parents of youngsters to register their children for the program. This year it ran from February 26 to April 9. Every Thursday between those dates children came to the West Union Public Library (housed in a 19th century opera house in the county seat of West Union) where librarians Cathy Ash and Jeannie Taylor began each session with a read aloud, followed by an activity such as drawing, puppet performances, counting games, and color learning activities. These activities closed with a sing-a-long and a craft activity related to the book which had been read aloud earlier.
After every session, the children without library cards are encouraged to obtain one. Cultivating a culture of literacy and placing books in the hands of children are the number one priorities of the Spring Story Hour. In a community like Doddridge County where rural isolation and school closure are very real challenges facing parents and educators alike, the annual Spring Story Hour is an unparalleled initiative. Having these children in the library at such an early age has an indelible impact. All the children are instructed to familiarize themselves with the library and to take books home. And of course they get to choose RIF books to keep forever! Nothing ‘tickles’ the children more than this! Judy commented that after they have made their choice, the children run with their books in hand directly to a parent, caregiver, or volunteer and excitedly ask to be read to.
This year’s Spring Story Hour included an Easter egg hunt around the massive grounds of the West Union Public Library. Now, Judy is gearing up for the second half of her RIF program: The Doddridge County CEOS (Community Educational Outreach Service) Summer Reading Program, which again makes valiant strides toward combating the challenges of rural isolation and school closure in the high country of Doddridge County.
Jonathan
April 23rd, 2009
Happy National Volunteer Week! In celebration of the volunteers who make RIF happen all around the country, RIF is pleased to announce the 2009 winners of the Anne Richardson RIF Volunteers of the Year Award (VOYA):
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Jalonda Smith (Unit I) is the parent RIF coordinator for the Volunteer Center of Morgan County, Ala., where she has involved the entire Falkville community in an impressive array of themed RIF distributions. |
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Elrene “Elke” Davis (Unit II) is a tireless advocate for literacy in the Estill County Schools in rural, Appalachian Kentucky. She holds trainings for parents and community members empowering them to contribute their time and skills to RIF distributions. |
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Barbara Sovereign (Unit III) has coordinated the RIF program sponsored by her chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society for more than 10 years. Even in retirement she dedicates herself to sharing her love of reading with the children of Monterey, Calif., by seeking funding and media attention for their RIF program. |
These honorees were selected from a competitive pool of nominations and represent just a sample of the extraordinary work men and women around the country are doing on behalf of children’s literacy. This year’s winners will be welcomed to Washington, D.C., in June and honored at RIF’s Gift of Reading Gala. To read more about VOYA and the 2009 awardees, click here.
Happy Reading!
Carol
April 22nd, 2009
I really feel the pain of the child with “different” shoes than the other children on this cover. We read so much today about schools dealing with children and designer or “in” clothing. Will this book have something to say to children about that issue?
Submit your cover story here!
Happy Reading!
Carol
April 20th, 2009
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