March 2nd is National Read Across America Day. This is a nationwide celebration revolving around reading. This take place on Dr Seuss's birthday and so a lot of these celebrations will be Dr Seuss themed. And while I personally have my own opinions on the man, I am all for anything that encourages the love of reading. Almost all schools participate in one way or another, but your local libraries and some community centers will also have events going on, so be sure to look for those! I especially encourage parents who have small children, whether they're already in school or not, to look for events like this or a way to celebrate at home. This is a crucial time to ignite the passion for reading and the fun that can come with it. My Alma Mater (k-8th) has always been very supportive of reading and encouraged their students with unique book reports and projects. Now that my sister attends there she has been actively participating in Read Across America Day every year. The school gives them some kind of a project and encourages them to dress up as a character from the book they read. The school does a parade of all those dressed up and it's a lot of fun for the kids. This year her teacher has asked the kids to make a "Book Tasting Menu". Book Tastings are REALLY CUTE. You give the kids a blank menu with some information to fill in, based on their age group, and then you have platters (or however you are choosing to present this) of books that they go through. The idea is to SAMPLE the books: look at the cover, read what it's about, maybe read a few pages, and then fill in your menu. This gives kids an opportunity to 'sample' books they may not necessarily have looked at otherwise. I will be the first to say that I am a creature of habit. I prefer certain genres, so I'm quick to run to those sections at the library. For younger kids the genre idea doesn't really matter as much. They're mostly reading in two different departments, at least in my experience: fiction and non-fiction. If your kid is below, let's say third grade, there is a good chance they're either bringing home fiction AR books or non-fiction animal books. It's the most common occurrence, but I know every child is different and their reading level may not coincide with their age, and that's okay too! These kind of events are a great way for kids to socialize, discuss stories and what they're interested in. The interest in reading doesn't last unless there is a spark. I know my local library is doing crafts based off of Dr Seuss books. This is brilliant because it helps bring the story to life outside of the pages. You can even do this at home with your child! I try really hard to bring creativity to JJ's school lessons and projects, it's what helps make the information stick and keep her coming back for more. If you've hosted a book tasting, let me know how it went. I'm really intrigued by this idea and I hope my local library does this soon. I sincerely hope you all have a great Read Across America Day and you find a book you just can't put down! And as always, read on my fellow book worms! May we one day have Belle's library.
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AuthorThere are all sorts of fun book 'accessories' to be found. Here's to expanding our book addiction! Archives
December 2018
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