Posts tagged Read Across America
Will YOUR KIDS Have Books for ‘Read Across America’ Day?
Feb11
2013
Written by Brian Minter
2013
Written by Brian Minter
Chandler Arnold, First Book’s executive vice-president, with a student from Belmont Runyon Elementary school in Newark, NJ, at a ‘Read Across America’ event last year.
Read Across America Day is fast approaching; on March 1, children across the country will celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday by reading ‘The Cat in the Hat’ and other childhood favorites.
But, as much as we love Dr. Seuss, the READING part is the important bit. At First Book, we will always line up for cake and ice cream, but books and reading come first. Because kids who read at home become stronger, more capable readers, and that’s the critical ingredient in become successful — in school and in life.
‘Read Across America’ is an annual event sponsored by our friends at the National Education Association (NEA). First Book is proud to do our part for such a critical issue.
Here’s what you can do:
- If you work with kids from low-income families, sign your program or classroom up with First Book. We can help you get new, high-quality books, including (naturally) ‘The Cat in the Hat’ and other Dr. Seuss favorites.
- If your program is already signed up with First Book, visit the First Book Marketplace to get some great Dr. Seuss titles for your kids.
- Take the NEA’s ‘Read Across America’ pledge.
And most importantly of all, take the time to read to a child in your life. You’ll both be glad you did.
One Cake, Two Cakes, Cat Cake, Hat Cake
Jul02
2012
Written by Erica Perl
2012
Written by Erica Perl
Guess who has a supporting role in an upcoming episode of CAKE BOSS? That’s right – First Book! Newark Mayor Cory Booker and the Cat in the Hat worked alongside CAKE BOSS Buddy Valastro to help bring thousands of books to kids in Newark. But concocting a culinary confection honoring the good Doctor is no small feat. Did fur and frosting fly? Did Cory Booker trade his usual Superman cape for the iconic striped hat? Tune in to find out! The episode airs tonight at 9:30 p.m. EST on TLC.
How did First Book end up in such esteemed company? As regular readers of this blog will recall, First Book participated in a very special Read Across America celebration this March in Newark. Working with some great local partners (like the Foundation for Newark’s Future, New Jersey After 3, and Anne Feeley), First Book helped the My Very Own Library initiative provide almost 60,000 brand-new books to students at eight Title I public schools in Newark.
In addition to receiving great books that they got to select themselves, the “icing on the cake” for the kids was a visit from Buddy Valastro and the team from Carlo’s bakery. Buddy talked about Dr. Seuss and the power of reading and imagination before unveiling an amazing, multi-tiered, whirling Dr. Seuss-inspired cake that he and his crew dreamed up and created for the event.
We think you’ll agree that the final creation was truly amazing. And from being there to see and taste the final results, we can report that it was delicious. The best part, though, was seeing the kids’ faces as they sat down with their brand new books and cake. One child looked so excited we feared he was going to topple over! Instead, he carefully sat down, took a bite, then opened his book and began to read.
If you’d like to support First Book’s work, volunteer in your community, or sign up your Title I school or local nonprofit to get new books, we’d love to hear from you.
Kids Are Eager to Read: Just Add Books
Mar05
2012
Written by Brian Minter
2012
Written by Brian Minter
First Book was part of all kinds of great events across the country for Read Across America Day on Friday, including a tremendous partnership in the city of Newark. Working with some great local nonprofits, we were able to provide almost 17,000 brand-new books — including plenty of Dr. Seuss titles, since Read Across America Day is Dr. Seuss’s birthday — to students at eight Title I public schools in Newark.
We got to meet lots of amazing kids at Belmont-Runyon Elementary, along with some of the educators and public servants that do so much and put so much of themselves into their work.
“I’m just so happy that our kids in Newark are getting thousands of books,” said Mayor Cory Booker. “Not put in libraries or in schools, but actually put in their hands for them to own.”
As always, the best part was seeing the looks on the children’s faces when they were given new books of their own to keep. You might think it was just the excitement any child feels when they’re being given shiny new things, but almost every one of those kids sat down to open their new Dr. Seuss books and start reading them — right there on the floor.
Most kids from low-income families have no books of their own at home. A new book is more than just a novelty for kids like the ones at Belmont-Runyon Elementary; it’s a rare treasure. To see how eager they are to read, you only need to hand them a book.
“The kids love getting these books, they’re really excited about it,” said Lois Myers, librarian at Belmont-Runyon Elementary. “They say ‘We get to keep these books!?’”
First Book doesn’t haul a truckload of books up and dump them on the doorstep. We work carefully with local partners to ensure that the books are part of an ongoing effort to transform children’s lives and elevate the quality of their education.
- The educators at the Newark schools selected quality titles that they knew their kids would respond to.
- Community groups like New Jersey After 3 and the Foundation for Newark’s Future brought in authors to read to the children and coordinated a school-wide assembly to celebrate books and reading.
- Anne Feeley, a generous donor (and Newark native) provided funding to help make everything possible through the Foundation for Newark’s Future’s “My Very Own Library” initiative.
- Local leaders like Mayor Booker made time to spend the day with the children, to entertain them and to let them know they were important.
- Volunteers and parents decorated the auditorium with a Dr. Seuss theme that would have put professional set designers to shame.
We were proud to be a part of an event like this, and happy to bring the books.
Just like we’d be proud to work with people and organizations anywhere who care about improving the lives of the most vulnerable children in their community. When we all work together, we make big things happen.
If you’d like to support First Book’s work, volunteer in your community, or sign up your Title I school or local nonprofit to get new books, we’d love to hear from you.
Let’s Read Across America!
Mar02
2012
Written by Rochee Jeffrey
2012
Written by Rochee Jeffrey
Happy Read Across America Day! NEA’s Read Across America Day is the largest reading event in the nation and a reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.
Read Across America is an excellent opportunity for all members of our education family – parents, teachers, students, and community members – to encourage literacy and spread the joy of reading.
Visit http://www.nea.org/grants/886.htm to get the resources you need to participate in this awesome day. You’re never too old, too wacky or wild to pick up a book and read with a child! Get to reading.
Four Simple Steps to Gear Up for ‘Read Across America Day’
Feb03
2011
Written by Brian Minter
2011
Written by Brian Minter
Today’s guest blogger is Anita Merina, the National Coordinator for ‘Read Across America’, a National Education Association initiative.
Every year on March 2nd educators, parents, grandparents, athletes, actors, politicians, and kids join together for Read Across America Day to celebrate reading. Now, if you’re thinking, “March 2nd . . . isn’t that someone’s birthday, too?” – you’re right. It’s also, not so coincidentally, the birthday of the beloved Dr. Seuss!
This year the National Education Association and First Book want to make sure your shelves are stocked with all of Dr. Seuss’ biggest hits for this spectacular day of reading. And to make getting ready easier than ever, we’ve provided four simple steps. All you have to do is follow them and you’ll be on your way to your best day of reading yet.
- Register your school or program with First Book at www.firstbook.org/register. (If you are already registered, go to step two.)
- Browse the First Book Marketplace at www.fbmarketplace.org. The Cat in the Hat? Green Eggs and Ham? Hop on Pop? The First Book Marketplace as all these books and more for around $3.00 a book.
- Order by February 8th to make sure your books arrive in time for Read Across America day.
- Read, rhyme and smile with your students as they dive into the pages of those classic Dr. Seuss books!
That’s it! See, it’s as easy as getting your straight A students to turn in their homework on time, and a little more fun too.
You’re never too old, too wacky, or too wild to pick up a book and read with a child
Mar02
2010
Written by Rachael Walker
2010
Written by Rachael Walker
Guest Blogger Rachael Walker is the Outreach Consultant for Reading Rockets, a national multimedia initiative which aims to inform and inspire parents, teachers, childcare providers, and others who touch the life of a child by providing comprehensive, accessible information on how to teach kids to read and help those who struggle. Rachael began her career in children’s literacy at Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), has also served as a consultant to the NEA’s Read Across America campaign, and was most recently the Executive Director of Reach Out and Read of Metro DC.
Know what 
today is? Dr. Seuss’s birthday! March 2 is the day that Theodor Seuss Geisel was born in 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
It’s also Read Across America Day, the National Education Association’s annual celebration for toddlers, teens and everyone in between to celebrate their literacy and language skills and the joys of reading.
Besides all the Seuss silliness, the thing that I really love about the day is that it is a day of reading for everyone. Though the National Education Association originated and sponsors the celebration, everyone is invited to be in the company of a child and a book.
Looking for some last minute ideas to celebrate the day? READ MORE »