Monday Blurb – 1 March 2010

Because the roundup goes out on Mondays, I rarely add a blurb, but today I just couldn’t help myself … In the course of voting for a National Read to Kids Campaign (*cough, cough*) I found a new blog: Mad about Reading, authored by Dr. Madeline Boskey. Here’s her premise:

There are all kinds of readers. Some—like my daughter and me—are never without a book to read for pleasure. Others—like my son—are careful, analytical, and curious readers who read primarily to seek information from the page. No matter what kind of reader your child becomes, you can help him or her get started. After all, you are your child’s first teacher. And, best of all, you can have some fun in the process.

Speaking of reading ideas and meeting the needs of all kinds of readers … have you seen the latest issue of Literacy Lava? Literacy Lava 4 is “hot” off the presses, and Susan Stephenson and her team of contributors continue to wow me with all their great ideas. What’s inside? From the Chook herself: “ideas for nurturing creative thinking, ways to use magazines with your kids, ideas for raising book-loving boys, what to do if your child is not into writing, how to encourage your child to love reading, ways to promote inquisitiveness through hands-on learning, how to help kids make connections through story extensions, and all about getting kids to tell stories through movie-making.” Every issue – which is FREE by the way – also includes online extras and activity ideas for the kids.

And last but not least, check out the two NEW buttons Susan created for Share a Story 2010. We also have Elizabeth Dulemba’s timeless image of Mama Bear reading to her cub. The event starts next Monday, but you can help us start the party by adding one of these buttons to your sidebar or website. The paste-in code is available for each of the buttons on the Share a Story ~ Shape a Future blog.