Children’s Literacy and Reading News Roundup – July in Review

Warning: simplexml_load_file(http://childrens-literacy.com/feed) [function.simplexml-load-file]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found in /webroot/d/i/disas007/news/www/wp-content/plugins/rss-2-post/rss-to-post.php on line 293

Warning: simplexml_load_file() [function.simplexml-load-file]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "http://childrens-literacy.com/feed" in /webroot/d/i/disas007/news/www/wp-content/plugins/rss-2-post/rss-to-post.php on line 293

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /webroot/d/i/disas007/news/www/wp-content/plugins/rss-2-post/rss-to-post.php on line 302

This is an archive edition of the end-of-July Children’s Literacy and Reading News Roundup, republished here by the authors. You can see the original edition at Rasco from RIF. 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!

We knew book five was going to be a PURPLE cover and its release would be November 9.  This week we have learned the fifth book will be titled The Ugly Truth. But we don’t know what is ugly or what is true about the Diary of  A Wimpy Kid and author Jeff Kinney says that will remain a mystery until the November release of an initial printing of 5 million copies!  Kinney is currently working with producers on the second Wimpy Kid movie due in March 2011.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Harper Lee celebrated its 50^th anniversary in mid-July with many commentaries written about the book, its contested place in history, its real meaning(s) and its elusive author.   I have made no secret of the fact it is a book with a special place in my life, one that is an integral part of “me.”

Josie Leavitt struck a chord when she posted on Shelf Talker a piece titled:  DON’T GOT NO BOOKS AT HOME.  It was a stark reminder of a truth those of us in the kidlit world work to alleviate daily;  the comments were also a reminder of the great work going on across this country and indeed around the world, a motivator for us all to “keep on keeping on”!   A posting by Gordon Campbell , President of the United Way of NYC, titled “Reading & the 3^rd Grade:  How to Keep Kids on the Right Track” received wide coverage after appearing in The Huffington Post the latter part of July;  it is always encouraging and motivating for me to see persons like Gordon writing forcefully about this issue.

The questions about poverty and its effects on children and their families is brought up to date across several facets of daily living with the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s July release of The 2010 KIDS COUNT Data Book. Ten key indicators are covered by the report which has interactive features to help you learn about a particular state, across states and national findings.  The ten factors are critical enough to our children’s well being I repeat them here as a reminder to all of us of their importance.

• Preventing Low Birthweight
• Reducing Infant Mortality
• Reducing the Child Death Rate
• Reducing the Teen Death Rate
• Reducing the Teen Birth Rate
• Reducing the High School Dropout Rate
• Reducing the Number of Disconnected Youth
• Increasing the Number of Children Whose Parents have Stable Employment
• Reducing the Child Poverty Rate
• Increasing the Percentage of Children Living in Two-Parent Families

We discuss often the plight of inner-city, our most urban children but often forget the status of a significant number of rural children, a fact discussed in alarming terms in a recent posting FOR CHILDREN FARMWORKERS, LIVES OF POVERTY AND DANGER.  I point this out in a literacy round up as these are children certainly needing more advocate voices for their education.

July found eye opening articles about the number of digital or “e-books” being sold in relation to paper books, the significant and ever growing rise in numbers for e-books.  I was reading an article about a project Permanence Matters Initiative when the following sentence jumped from the page as I realized it summarizes my own personal feelings about this issue of “p-books” and “e-books”:  While we realize that much of the publishing industry is moving their attention to e-books, we still believe there is an important place for print books in the future of publishing, and want people to recognize that e- and p- books are not an either/or proposition, but rather an “and.” Did you see Jeff Bezos’ interview where he predicts Kindle e-book sales will surpass paperback sales sometime in the next 9-12 months?  And he talks with the reporter interviewing him about interactive features within e-books.  This issue is also covered in a New York Times article “E-Books Fly Beyond Mere Text” by Julie Bosman.  I was recently introduced to a blog TeachPaperless; and while the entry I reference today – Hey Teachers:  This Is How I Learn – was posted in June, it has significance with its commentary in young students’ own words as to why “interactive” makes sense to them.  And The Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) issued a report in July “eBook Feasibility Study for Public Libraries” which has some interesting observations and recommendations sure to be debated within and without the library walls.

I must admit I was rather surprised to read recently that parents and educators in Russia were protesting and even holding hunger strikes over the lack of preschools in their country;  frankly, I don’t believe we have seen the concern in America reach that level.  Very interesting…I now want to know more about their preschool programming.

Congratulations to the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) on the excellent TIME cover article: The Case Against Summer Vacation.  As Ron Fairchild, CEO of NSLA, noted in his announcement email about the article “Editor-at-large David Von Drehle thoughtfully researched the issue, and reached out to experience some of the innovative solutions our field is creating to make summer learning interesting and engaging for young people.”  You can also listen to TIME managing editor, Richard Stengel, talk about the cover story.  I have been a bit concerned personally that some people commenting on the article simply read the title and have not carefully read the real attributes of effective programming;  I hope more people will study this article as it is a critical issue that cries out to our communities for action.  One positive step is for each community to send a delegation to the NSLA annual conference;  I can attest to the quality of programming and specific information presented that will lead an organization and/or community to action that is meaningful for the children in need.

Curious George and his friend The Man In The Yellow Hat are in the news!  The Library of Congress in partnership with The Advertising Council have launched a campaign to encourage parents to read to their children.   Thank you to both the LOC and the Ad Council for this valuable promotion!  And there is news out this weekend Illumination Entertainment is developing a new film version about the curious monkey and his yellow hat friend.

In the READING TUB Terry reminded us of her love for historical fiction and shared an excellent post of Trevor Cairney’s Making History Come Alive with Literature:  The Importance of Historical Fiction.  What a treat to “find” posts I have missed at their publication date!  Terry also shared information on COMIC BOOK LITERACY, an independent documentary film showcasing the use of comic books to promote literacy;  the trailer for the film has me ready to be in the viewing audience given my support of comic books for hooking many a student on reading!

A final playful note to ask about your vote:  Slinky and Etch A Sketch face off in new toy campaign.  Have you cast your ballot?

It promises to be another hot day, this last day of July.  I’m stretching out on the couch with books today, only wishing additionally for a reading nook like this one shown at WE HEART BOOKS, great spot for an aging back!

Happy Reading!
Carol

Literacy and Reading News - Tweet