PA's One Book, Every Young Child 2011: "Whose Shoes?" by Stephen R. Swinburne

Here's the link to Pennsylvania Commonwealth Libraries' excellent early literacy program. One Book, Every Young Child. This program began in 2006 and this site archives past years books, programs, and activities making this a site that is useful year round. Make sure to check out one of the trunks that have been developed to go along with the book. The trunks are full of related play materials to enhance children's reading experiences. Where can you check out a trunk? At your local public library. Not every public library received a trunk, so you may have to obtain them through inter-library loan. If you have to wait for the current trunk, order any or all of the past years trunks and books and have fun while you wait.
Here's Amazon's link for Whose Shoes?.
Whose Shoes? presented by Lansdowne Public Library.


Another treasure from Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Libraries is their excellent bookmark - Tips for raising readers and writers.
Scroll down as the bookmark, Easy Things You Can Do At Home to Raise Readers...And Raise Writers, is found under "Youth Services."

Free Comic Book Day - Annual Event

It's always the 1st Saturday in May; this year it's May 7th.
Here's a link to the Free Comic Book Day Website.



Suggestions:

*Search the phone book or the web for your local independent comic book dealer(s).

* Advertise to get the information out to your readers.
-Make up fliers. Post them throughout the school and library.
-Post information on school and library websites.
-Blog about it.
-Provide local PTAs with information for their April Newsletters - hardcopy or electronic.
-Host a graphic novel/ comic book discussion in your classroom or library.
-Invite all school personnel and students to participate. You never know who enjoys comics until you ask.

*Do you need good information to combat misconceptions about the value of reading comic books?
Lean on Stephen Krashen. His The Power of Reading is a treasure trove of information about what makes good readers. You guessed it, comic books are enthusiastically endorsed. While I heartily recommend his book, here's a link to one of Krashen's articles about the value of reading comic books, especially for boys.

Comic Book Reading, Reading Enjoyment, and Pleasure Reading Among Middle Class and Chapter 1 Middle School Students
by Joanne Ujiie and Stephen D. Krashen

Stephen D. Krashen's website.

Reinventing 21st Century Libraries

This is an excellent 8 minute video from MIT's TechTV about the impact of digital information and resources on libraries. It would seem that increased access to (digital) materials has increased students' and patrons' interest and thus increased library activity. As one librarian noted, "it's about the collection and the services." Absolutely!

While this focuses on academic libraries, it's true for all libraries.