From: MQuattle_at_aol.com
Date: Sun, 07 Nov 2010 12:01:53 -0500 (EST)

There are a number of literacy organizations in the US that give out free

picture books.... I wonder what people think it takes to make this approach

a really meaningful contribution in the struggle to foster literacy? Is it

enough just to get the books into children's hands? Or is some sort of backup, including possibly even training for parents, also needed? Has any one seen instances of book give-aways that work especially well in producing a

positive long term impact?

Leonard's questions above about linking books, children, parents, and community raise important issues as do Marc's very real concerns about the

price of a children's picture book, which can be prohibitive to many parent s working two jobs just to try to make ends meet. Those on this listserv kn ow the value of picture books (and can afford them) but many of the neediest

families take public transportation (and thus may find it difficult to get

to the public library or unsafe to walk there), lack grocery stores in thei r neighborhoods (so finding and transporting nourishing food is a laborious,

time-consuming task), and lack stable home environments (so kids are bounced from household to household, which may make it difficult for them to keep track of school texts let alone library books). Having organizations/volunteers that meet these families *where they are* seems vi tal to making a real difference.

I want to give a *huge* shout out to two organizations in the Metropolitan

Washington area that do just that. Turning the Page _www.turningthepage.org_ (http://www.turningthepage.org/) and The Reading Connection _www.thereadingconnnection.org_ (http://www.thereadingconnnection.org) hav e chosen to stay local as the most effective way to make an impact over time. Both provide free books but also read-aloud training for parents and regularly

scheduled storytimes and author visits (with food). TTP and TRC are desig ned to be reliable literacy resources for at-risk kids by involving the whole

family and the underserved schools. Staff and volunteers are trusted--an d their attitude/approach seems key to this trust and their ultimate success . They work with (struggling, tired) parents as "partners" over time rather

than swooping down as outside authorities for a one-time visit to give out

lists of read-aloud tips or show a video. By their very presence, by showing up week after week, in the same homeless shelters and underserved

schools, by getting to know the kids, the parents and teachers, TTP and T RC staff/volunteers demonstrate that literacy/reading/books are important.

Neither group has national "name recognition" but book by book, child by

child, family by family, they are making a difference. There are no easy

fixes to the problem of illiteracy but the TTP and TRC folks are quiet, steadfast workers for the cause.

Three (and more) cheers for TTP and TRC! Mary Q.

Mary Quattlebaum Children's Author, Instructor, Reviewer MQuattle_at_aol.com _www.maryquattlebaum.com_ (http://www.maryquattlebaum.com/) blog: _http://penciltipswritingworkshop.blogspot.com/_
Received on Sun 07 Nov 2010 12:01:53 PM CST