Resolve to Read!

As each year draws to a close, many of us think about how we want to improve our lives in the coming year. Here are two related ideas for you to consider. Make one of your resolutions the promise to read more—whether books, e-readers, newspapers, magazines—for pleasure . . . for yourself. Fiction or nonfiction? It doesn’t matter. Rediscover for yourself how rewarding it is to spend time with the written word. Second, make a commitment to read to your young child every day, even for a few minutes. Your renewed enthusiasm for reading will be contagious. It is a win-win situation. Happy New Year!

Holiday Shopping Inspiration

If you still have gifts to buy for young children in your life, don’t forget to buy them books!

And if people ask you what your own children need, tell them: BOOKS.

No child can have too many books.

As gifts, books are easy to wrap, inexpensive to ship, and can provide hours and hours of joy. Can you think of a more perfect gift?

Read Routinely

One of the keys to encouraging your child's love of reading, is to make sure it becomes a regular and enjoyable part of each day . . . or night. People who interact with preschoolers know (or find out) that having a time and place and structure is an important feature for helping young children stay organized and calm. So much is happening in their lives--learning new skills, making friends, starting school--that the presence of regular activities and structure is a comfort.

One mother told me that at night she and her husband each read to one of their two children. It is a special time for each child to be with that parent. But there are many ways to structure a routine. A single parent might decide to have a "family read" or spend time individually with each child. The important thing is to make it a regular routine that you and your child will anticipate and enjoy.

Help Spread Family Literacy!

Please join me in supporting one of my favorite literacy organizations, LitWorld.

LitWorld is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization led by Executive Director Pam Allyn, a renowned literacy educator and advocate. LitWorld works to cultivate literacy leaders worldwide through transformational literacy experiences that build connection, understanding, resilience, and strength. LitWorld joins together with teachers, parents, community members, and children to support the development of sustainable literacy practices across the world.
What am I doing for LitWorld?

I am running a book drive on Amazon to help support LitWorld's next event.

The event is a book fair, called LitFest, scheduled for December 10. It will take place at the Polo Grounds Community Center in Harlem. The center serves 4,100 residents of the Polo Grounds Towers, and is a hub site for LitWorld. The Polo Grounds Towers are part of a public housing project, located on the former home of the New York Giants.

The purpose of the event is to encourage parents to read with their children over the holidays while students are out of school, and to provide them with books to give as gifts to their children. It is going to be a drop-in fair where community members can come to get books for their family, There will be booths with literacy themed activities to inspire children and families to have fun with reading as well.


Help me provide books for LitFest to distribute on December 10.

Donating is simple. Just go to http://amzn.com/w/1PB8NSHLF75UR

There you will find a list of the books that have been requested by LitWorld. Please choose new books either from Amazon or its vendors. Amazon will ship the books directly to the LitWorld headquarters in Manhattan. If you have an Amazon account, just be sure to check the LitWorld address instead of your regular addresses.

So it is easy to donate. And afterward you can feel good about supporting family literacy.


Please order by December 1 to make sure books will arrive in time for the December 10 event.

Thank you in advance for helping to spread literacy in our local communities!

Cheers,

Madeline


To learn more about LitWorld, go to http://litworld.org/

Literacy is the foundation for emotional and physical well-being, intellectual growth, and economic security. The right to read and write is a fundamental human right and belongs to all people.

Season's Readings

The holiday season is nearly upon us. Thanksgiving is around the corner. Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa are not far behind. As you makes your to-do lists, plan a visit to your local library to pick up some books about the holidays to read with your preschooler. Many libraries and bookstores have special displays in anticipation of the season. Reading about holidays helps your child appreciate the meaning of special days and maybe even understand the reasons for the celebration. Learning about how families celebrate holidays also gives you a chance to compare your family traditions with those of others.

Creative Costumes

This year, make Halloween truly special . . . and perhaps even literary! Avoid commercial (and overpriced) costumes and create one with your preschooler to represent her favorite book character. Angelina Ballerina? Mike Mulligan? Corduroy? Olivia? The Very Hungry Caterpillar? Or the Cat in the Hat? Collaborate with your preschooler to come up with the right clothes and props. You will be encouraging real creativity as well as reinforcing your child's love for books.

Take Me Out to the Book Store

Is your family glued to the television, watching the baseball post-season? Make sure your preschooler gets in on the action. She will enjoy following along with you if she understands the game. So check out some books on baseball or even draw some pictures to show her how the game works. Your library may have some great books about baseball. And here are some you can order. Be sure to point out the scores in your newspaper. Make her a fan!