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.
What’s New
It’s National Reading Month…Help CLiF Spread the Seuss!
This March, CLiF is spreading the joy of Dr. Seuss far and wide! March, beautiful March! Our favorite month of the year! We embrace all that March has to offer us here in the Northeast – the mixed precipitation, the onset of cabin fever, the daily battle between the lion and the lamb – Why, … Continued
The Delivery Boy
By Simon Brooks As a storyteller I travel to many different schools and colleges, libraries, birthday parties, summer camps, business retreats, and private events. As a result I see a great many people from all walks of life, especially younger people. I have seen and performed for both the rich and economically challenged and learned … Continued
Mr. Tim’s Bike
By Caroline Jones Let me begin by saying that “Mr. Tim’s Bike” sounds like an awesome children’s book, and someone should get started on writing it right now. We can talk later about splitting the profits. So here’s the deal: Mr. Tim is a para-educator at J. J. Flynn Elementary School in Burlington, and I … Continued
Cure for Jet Lag
By Caroline Jones Someone once told me that the best way to cure jet lag is to spend a day surrounded by high-energy children, bumping around the state of Vermont from one CLiF event to the next like a pinball whose internal clock is seven hours ahead. I’m not sure how medically sound that advice … Continued
Mothers and Kids: Togetherness
At CLiF, much of our work occurs behind the scenes. We spend many hours scheduling events, organizing logistics, communicating with coordinators who are on the ground in various communities throughout Vermont and New Hampshire. While we love what we do, nothing compares to hanging up the phone, logging off our email, and stepping out from … Continued
Sustaining Momentum through Creativity
What do skiing, books, and microcontrollers all have in common? The CLiF Community Literacy Conference, of course! In all honesty, the skiing was only a background as attendees sat slopeside in the conference room at The Mountain Club on Loon. While the spring skiers glided past the window, teachers, principals, librarians, and other eager past, … Continued
CLiF Spotlight: Digging for Incredible Family Stories
Everyone has a story worth telling.
CLiF Spotlight: New Works by CLiF Presenters
In preparation for an upcoming CLiF presenter gathering, I stocked up on their books for vacation reading. My six year old and I particularly loved The Tapir Scientist by Sy Montgomery. My daughter truly loves animal facts (thank you Wild Kratts), and this in-depth look at the animals and the research process lit a spark. She … Continued
CLiF Spotlight: The “girl book” problem
I was caught off guard by a recent Twitter conversation started by Shannon Hale, author of the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy and many others. The powers that be at this school decided that regardless of her qualifications as a presenter, Hale was for girls – and boys wouldn’t be interested. … Continued
CLiF Spotlight: Why Book Drives Work
Define “the best.” Here are three possible answers: Indie bookstores, the people who support them, and the people who run them. This year, the generous patrons of five bookstores donated 789 books to the low-income, at-risk, and rural kids CLiF serves. The first wave of these books arrived in mid-December, brightening the holidays for many kids. Just like every … Continued
CLiF Spotlight: National Readathon Day
What better way to spend a cold winter Saturday afternoon than reading? This Saturday, January 24 is the first National Readathon Day. A project of the National Book Foundation, GoodReads, Mashable, and Penguin Random House, National Readathon Day aims to raise awareness about the millions of Americans who struggle with low literacy skills. From noon to 4 … Continued
CLiF Spotlight: Family Holiday Dinners, or the Best Events Ever
I love this season. I love that so many cultures have holidays this time of year, when it’s cold and the nights are darkest and we’re most in need of shared light and warmth. It’s hard to pick a favorite CLiF event, but our holiday family events for Year of the Book communities are right up … Continued
CLiF Spotlight: Party for a Cause in Hanover, NH
The party Friday, November 14 in Hanover, NH is a great example of the good that can happen when two organizations work together. The Hanover Rotary Club hosts an annual auction fundraiser and splits the proceeds with a nonprofit serving the Upper Valley. This year, the club invited CLiF to be its nonprofit partner. CLiF’s share went … Continued
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!
Sept. 26 Friday Links Library
September is coming to a close. The CLiF Year of the Book has been successfully launched in eight elementary schools, and schools that saw 80% or more of families commit to regularly reading together are getting ice cream socials. Rural Libraries kickoffs are coming up next. And in the office, we’re assembling the newsletter, preparing for the … Continued
Sept. 12 Friday Links Library
Wow, it’s been a busy, fun month. Over the past two weeks six of our eight CLiF Year of the Book schools had kickoff celebrations, and next week we’re finishing the tour in Laconia and Manchester, NH. That means I’ve had little backlog in the links I collect for this occasional Friday Links Library series. So you’re getting … Continued
General / CLiF Spotlight / Book Recommendations
August 8 Friday Links Library
I’m so excited: I’m reading the manuscript of a friend’s just-finished mystery novel. I love reading more than pretty much any other activity (besides, maybe, eating), and reading a friend’s work — especially when it’s great — is so much fun. The dialogue! The suspense! The inside jokes! I’m very proud of him for having the focus … Continued