Children’s Literacy and Reading News Roundup – 14 December

Welcome to the weekly roundup of news, analysis, and ideas for raising readers. This week Jen Robinson is hosting our children’s literacy and reading news round-up. The roundups are brought to you by Jen Robinson’s Book Page and Scrub-a-Dub-Tub, a Reading Tub blog. Jen and I collected plenty of content for you about literacy and reading-related events; literacy/reading programs and research; 21st century literacies; and grants, sponsorships and donations.

The tenor of the round-up this week focuses on the gift of reading, specifically books. Jen has links to a number of libraries that are collecting books or starting new programs. One of my favorites is the announcement that Lois Lenski’s Covey Foundation will be funding rotating collections for two organizations that offer services for kids that wouldn’t have access to books. I wish Shoo-Fly Girl was among them. It was my favorite Lenski as a young girl.

The other item that made me smile was Susan Carpenter’s OpEd in the Los Angeles Times. Ms. Carpenter describes her efforts to engage her reader-to-be son with books, and fills her piece with suggestions on books that have worked. “There are definitely worse things than spending an hour reading a 216-page illustrated book with a hysterically laughing kid who’s missing his front teeth, and then, after he gulps down a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, half of which ends up on his face, having him ask me to read it again.” Isn’t that what we hope for when we pick books for the kids in our lives?

As Jen mentioned, this is our last Roundup for 2009. We’re going to take a nice break and spend more time reading. I’ll be doing a couple year-end wrap-ups looking back and thinking ahead, but it will be largely quiet.

This week Sarah is hosting Nonfiction Monday at In Need of Chocolate. She’s already prowling the seas and staring at clouds! Her personal contribution – a review of 50 Things to Draw and Paint – is perfect for those of us still searching for a book for the little artists in our lives.

I would like to wish everyone all the joys of the seasons, however and wherever you may celebrate!