Walking 900 Miles to Paris: Uncovering Family Stories in Hardwick, VT
They say everybody has a story. Research an entire community, and you’re bound to harvest a bushel basket of unforgettable tales.
What’s New
Articles by Duncan McDougall
Literacy Activities / Education
Free Literacy Resources for Children and & Adults from the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF)
For 23 years the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) has supported and inspired young readers and writers and their families in every corner of New Hampshire and Vermont. Here’s a list of free online resources to help entertain and inspire young readers and writers, as well to help adults share books and stories with children. Enjoy! … Continued
Addiction, Incarceration, Love, and Hope
Every once in a while an unforgettable little moment unexpectedly unfolds and, in a few short seconds, encapsulates the power of CLiF’s work. Here is one… For the past two years CLiF has been working with families affected by the opioid crisis. Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of young mothers … Continued
Children’s Laughter in a Men’s Prison
The visiting room in the New Hampshire State Prison for Men (NHSPM) can be an intimidating place.
Return to Patagonia
I devoured adventure stories when I was a kid, tales from the ends of the earth.
After 20 Years, CLiF Has Just Begun
Twenty years ago this week the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) was born. Like all new nonprofits, we started small. Our first initiative was the Rural Library Program. We created it to provide collections of new, high-quality children’s books to rural public libraries in New Hampshire or Vermont that were struggling with limited resources, and that … Continued
Santa’s Workshop: Delivering Books to Children of Prison Inmates for the Holidays
The CLiF office looked remarkably like Santa’s workshop this week as holiday tunes played in the background
CLiF Spotlight: Encourage Children to Choose Their Own Summer Reads
Summer is a magical season for kids – a time when they finally get to make many of their own decisions…Except when it comes to reading.
Remembering Mary Jane (MJ) Manahan — Longtime CLiF Advisor
Everyone at CLiF was saddened to learn that longtime CLiF Advisor Mary Jane (MJ) Manahan passed away earlier this month at 61.
CLiF Spotlight: Digging for Incredible Family Stories
Everyone has a story worth telling.
CLiF Spotlight: Power Lunch with “A Real Alive Storyteller”
It’s not often that folks compete for the honor to have lunch with me (especially when I’m not footing the bill) but it happened on October 6th. And it was a blast!
CLiF Spotlight: Back to Camp!
On June 25 I donned shorts and flip-flops and traveled to Bethlehem, NH to visit Copper Cannon Camp (CCC) located on 128 acres adjacent to the White Mountain National Forest.
CLiF Spotlight: The Man Behind the Book Nook at UVM
On May 14, Gretchen, Julia, and I attended the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR)
CLiF Spotlight: Boys and Books
Every year CLiF works with thousands of low-income, at-risk, and rural children from birth to age 12. And every year, without fail, our most challenging clients are the oldest boys.
CLiF Spotlight: A Day On the Road with Duncan
CLiF serves many thousands of children each year across New Hampshire and Vermont – a service area of 19,000 square miles.
CLiF Spotlight: Connecting Inmates and their Children Through Stories
We gave four presentations to a total of 135 inmates about the significant positive impact that sharing books regularly can have on their children’s development, and ways to make reading fun and easy even if the parent is not a strong reader.
General / CLiF Spotlight / How You Can Help
A Church Walks the Talk
The 75 members of the First Church in Jaffrey, NH are an energetic group of individuals who feel that they should demonstrate not only in words, but also in deeds, their love for their fellow human beings and the planet around us.
General / CLiF Spotlight / How You Can Help
Can You All Say “Hi!” to Peg?
“This is my friend Peg. Can you all say ‘Hi!’ to Peg?” Seventy five kids waved and called out “Hi Peg!”