There’s still time left to RSVP to Raising A Reader San Francisco and Alameda Counties’ first holiday party and fundraiser! In addition to enjoying some delicious snacks, cocktails, and great company, guests will also be able to kick-off the holiday season by packing their own red RAR bags to be delivered to classrooms across the Bay Area. For more information, check out the message from our Executive Director in the video below:

Celebrating Indigenous People’s Day

Part of Raising A Reader’s mission is to provide culturally and linguistically relevant books that reflect the communities we serve and respectfully portray diverse peoples.

In honor of Indigenous People’s Day, Oct. 8, below are two books from Raising A Reader’s collection on Native American culture and beliefs.

“Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message” is written by Chief Jake Swamp, and illustrated by Erwin Printup, Jr.

This story illustrates an Iroquois-Six Nations message of gratitude for nature, nourishment, and shelter. The act of giving thanks is presented in a tangible way that children and families can relate to their daily lives.

“How the Stars Fell into the Sky” is written by Jerrie Oughton, and illustrated by Lisa Desimini.

This story shares the Navajo legend of the stars as a guide for people. The main protagonist takes on the meticulous task of placing the stars in order, however an impatient friend changes her plans.

Amazing Storytelling at Cleveland Elementary

Earlier this week, Raising A Reader staff was invited to take part in a literacy event at San Francisco’s Cleveland Elementary School, where RAR will launch its program soon. Antonio Sacre, a fantastic storyteller and book author, was there to help celebrate the day. Among other stories he shared with the children, Antonio told the story from his book, “The Barking Mouse.” His way of sharing the story was mesmerizing to watch and had the kindergarteners completely engaged. The children absolutely loved the part about Mama and Papa “smooching,” and the room erupted with giggles and shouts of “ewwww!”

Click below to see an example of his recent performance:

A Big Thank You to Raising A Reader Volunteers!

Raising A Reader’s annual Book Sort was a tremendous success thanks to a record 67 volunteers!

The large groups that turned out on Sept. 14 and 15 made it possible to organize thousands of books and little red bags which will reach children and families across Alameda and San Francisco counties.

For the third consecutive year, the Book Sort was held in the Caltrans building warehouse in Oakland. The staff is especially grateful to Brigetta Smith, Abdullah Mahmud, and the entire Caltrans staff for extending a warm welcome and hosting the event. We are also thankful for the support of volunteers from Wells Fargo, Western Digital, and Girl Scout Troop 30646, as well as photographers Jamie Manley and Cris Nicole.

On behalf of the entire staff and the 10,000 families with which we partner, we extend our gratitude to everyone who helped out. The dedication and hard work was heart warming!

If you’re interested in volunteering with Raising A Reader, San Francisco and Alameda Counties, please email Veronica Flores at [email protected].

Celebrate Latino Heritage Month!

September is Latino Heritage Month and what better way to celebrate than through great children’s books! Latinos account for 24% of children ages 0-5 in the U.S. currently. The following book reccommendations provide a way for children of every ethnicity to see themselves and/or develop intercultural understanding and empathy.

“Hairs/Pelitos” is illustrated by Terry Ybàñez and written by Sandra Cisneros, acclaimed author of “The House on Mango Street.” Cisneros’ book rhythmically and bilingually celebrates the diversity of Latinos. Publisher Weekly describes “Hairs/Pelitos” as: “rendering the family members in a variety of unusual skin tones as well as with distinctive hairstyles. Purple-faced Papa has hair ‘like a broom, all up in the air,’ while Nettie’s ‘slippery’ orange hair contrasts vividly with her blue skin. The narrator waxes lyrical on the subject of Mama’s hair: ‘sweet to put your nose into when she is holding you, holding you and you feel safe, [it] is the warm smell of bread before you bake it.’ Each spread is framed by bright borders ornamented with everyday objects — shoes and bikes; steaming cups of coffee; dice, jacks and jumpropes. Inside, the characters seem to float across swirling blocks of color. A spirited and buoyant celebration of individuality and of the bonds within families.”

“Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English” is written by Alma Flor Ada and illustrated by Simón Silva, one of Mexico’s most influential contemporary painters. The book delights readers with short, bilingual poetic vignettes for each letter of the alphabet. From Cesar Chavez to Yucatan, children will enjoy the beautiful illustrations while learning new words and letters.

Junko Yokota, professor of children’s literature, explains the importance of diversity in children’s books: ”Mirrors let people see reflections of their own lives: windows let them see others’ lives. Seeing oneself represented in literature engenders a sense of pride, it encourages a reader to take more interest in a book and feel a sense of involvement in literary discussions that follow a reading selection. Books that act as windows allow readers to see experiences that are different from their own lives and stretch the range of experiences that we have had.”

Parents and educators can provide those book experiences that truly serve as as windows and mirrors!

Here at Raising A Reader we love the start of a new school year! It’s a time of busy excitement as our coordinators return to classrooms across the Bay Area to help kick off the program.

As those Raising A Reader red bags start their weekly journeys home again, among the hundreds of great titles to discover parents and teachers can keep an eye out for some of our new, school-themed books. Sharing stories about being at school can help remind children what they did during the day and spark conversations about new experiences.

Here are some of our favorites from the collection:

Family Reading Programs

Local public libraries have wonderful programming for children and families-make it a goal to participate in at least one library activity before the end of summer!

The San Francisco Public Library features a wide array of events, with a heavy concentration on storytime for toddlers, preschoolers, and families. Some programs are bilingual.

The Oakland Public Library also features terrific programming for children of all ages, and multiple read-alouds almost every day.

According to the Applied Research Center, sharing books with children regularly and interactively is the single most effective way to develop a child’s brain architecture and the language, emotional, and behavioral skills that prepare them to learn.

Take advantage of the fantastic, free programs the libraries in your community offer, in addition to the wealth of books and resources. If you haven’t yet made it a family tradition to visit the library, start today!

Finding Time to Read

Families commonly cite busy schedules as the greatest obstacle to establishing a 15-minute daily reading routine. What if reading became part of the rhythm of everyday activities?

Here are a variety of creative strategies to build early literacy skills.

1. License to read. As you walk, take the bus, or drive around the neighborhood, turn reading into a game! Read street signs, license plates, store signs, and billboards.
2. Songs and poems. Songs and poems help children recognize language patterns. Ask your child to teach you a song or poem in any language or sing along to music together. Clap out new or multisyllabic words.
3. Read and buy. When you go to the grocery store or farmers market, read the names of foods. Ask your child to help you group food together before putting items away, e.g. fruits, vegetables, drinks, dairy products, and canned goods.
4. Better than TV. Connect with your inner performer. Instead of watching TV, read a fun book together and act out the story. Ask all family members to participate.
5. Listen and read. If you prefer to listen to a book on tape, make sure to sit with your child and follow along. Although reading and discussing a book together is most effective for bonding, books on tape is another way to encourage reading.
6. Fun with labels. Write the names of household objects on sticky labels or post-it notes. Each day add a new label, such as bed, game, table, rug, chair, etc.
7. Pack books, too! When you visit the doctor’s office, ride the train, or visit any place where you will wait, pack books along with snacks and essentials.
8. Recipe for reading. Ask your child to help you gather ingredients for your next family meal or dessert. Ask him or her to identify each ingredient and describe specific qualities. This activity helps with classification and identification tasks.
9. Reading pockets. Surprise your child by putting comics, notes, cards, etc., in a special pocket of her or his backpack.

Reading with Your Children

Many parents share common challenges when sharing books with young children. During Raising A Reader workshops, parent often share that their children won’t sit still to listen during storytelling, or that they treat their books carelessly. Parents also cite a lack of time, energy or limited resources as a barrier to establishing a reading routine at home.

Below are some tips to make reading time work for your classroom or home.

1. Follow the child’s lead

If he/she decides to move around and play, then continue reading so that the child can hear you. Children often enjoy listening to a story and playing at the same.

2. Make it a conversation

Connect the story to personal experiences and discuss the illustrations. This also helps sooth the child by talking about the story’s connection to his/her life.

3. Reading is fun!

The most important part of reading is that the child associates it with fun! Reading should not become a chore. Tap into your inner performer to use different voices for each character, sing songs, and move around as you read together.

Happy Birthday ‘Caterpillar’ author Eric Carle!

Beloved children’s author Eric Carle was born June 25, 1929, in Syracuse, New York.

He has written and illustrated over 70 children’s books in his lifetime, many of which can be found in Raising A Reader red bags!

Celebrate Eric Carle’s life and work with this book activity from one of our favorites, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”:

Butterfly Ring

Materials needed:

-Plastic sandwich bags

-Colorful snacks (e.g. jelly beans, rainbow gold fish)

-Pipe cleaner

Activity:

Put the colorful snacks into a sandwich bag with half of the snacks on each side of the bag. Close the bag and gather it at the center.

Cut a pipe cleaner in half. Twist one-half into a ring big enough to fit around your finger. Cut off the excess pipe cleaner. Bend any pointed ends so that they won’t poke out.

Thread the second half of the pipe cleaner through the ring. Then place it on the gather of the bag, wrap it around, and twist it to hold.

Bend the tips of the pipe cleaner to form the butterfly’s antennae. Slip the ring onto your finger. Wiggle your hand to make your butterfly fly!

Listen to the author reading “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”

A list of Eric Carle’s books can be found here — also be sure to check more ideas for activities for home or school, based on Eric Carle’s books.