Libraries Are So Much More Than Books!
Yesterday I sent a nine-year-old boy home from the library with three juggling balls and four balloon animals.
What’s New
Why Writing Matters As Much As Reading
My first grade teacher, Mrs. A., told me I could be a writer. For a voracious young reader, this revelation was life-changing. I’d loved to read and make up my own stories from a very young age, and while my parents encouraged it, no one had ever read one of my stories and told me … Continued
Who Decides What Kids Can Read?
Did you know it’s Banned Books Week (September 25 – October 1, 2016)? According to bannedbooksweek.org, “The Banned Books Week Coalition is a national alliance of diverse organizations joined by a commitment to increase awareness of the annual celebration of the freedom to read. The Coalition seeks to engage various communities and inspire participation in Banned Books … Continued
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award Blog Gives Young Readers a Voice
When my library first began our youth book group a few years ago, there was one girl who never missed a meeting. She loved to read, and she always left the library with a smile and a big stack of books in her arms.
Forget the Kids, Time for Mom and Dad to Head Back to School!
As summer ends, we all begin to think about preparing our children for the school year to come – new backpacks, sneakers, pencils, and notebooks. You have double and triple-checked the list that you received in July – outlining everything that your child will need in the year to come, but you stop to wonder … Continued
Changing Ideologies; My First Time in a Prison
Recently, while scrolling Facebook, I found myself stopping to watch a video comparing prisons in Norway to those in the United States. Before clicking on the video, my heart had already sunk to the bottom of my chest – I knew exactly what was coming next, but I still wanted to know more. I wanted … Continued
The BFG is Back in a Giant Way
In my experience the movie version of a book is almost never as good as the actual book.
Happy Independence Day!
Happy Independence Day from all of us here at CLiF!
CLiF is Hiring!
Are you an enthusiastic, organized professional with communications experience and a love of literacy? CLiF seeks a part-time Communications Manager to manage our external communications, media relations, and overall outreach. CLiF has a small, committed staff and an 18-year history of substantial growth and results. Communications duties include: pitching media stories and op-ed essays to … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
Cece Bell and the Superhero Power of Stories
El Deafo is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel about a young rabbit who loses most of her hearing at the very young age of five.
General / Book Recommendations
The Next Great Book: Summer Reading 2016
by Jane Knight – Bear Pond Books As I write this, there are four middle school kids hanging out in our play space in the Children’s Room at Bear Pond– ‘The Chicken Coop’—they are reading picture books to one another, laughing and reminiscing about their ‘childhood favorites’. I love that for these kids, there is … Continued
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.
Spread the Word: Summer Internship Opportunity at CLiF
(Horse not included) The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) is seeking a summer intern who would like to work at a busy, innovative literacy non-profit. CLiF’s mission is to nurture a love of reading and writing among low-income, at-risk, and rural young readers and writers up to age 12 throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. We work directly with children who are at high … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
Graphic Novels Are “Real Books”
Graphic novels are real books, and they’re a great choice.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
A Valentine’s Day homage to Mo Willems.
Happy Holidays!
Wishing you a peaceful and joyful holiday season!
General / Book Recommendations
The Next Great Book: Holiday List
Our good friend Jane Knight at Bear Pond Books in Montpelier has done it again! Here is her list of recommended children’s and young adult books for this holiday season. Gift Ideas You’ve all asked for more Harry Potter “stuff” and this is the year for that! British artist Jim Kay has been commissioned to illustrate … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
The Left and the Right: How Books Are Helping Kids with STEM
Exclusively written for CLiF By TheLearningBlock For the longest time, many had believed that an affinity for math and science and an affinity for the humanities had been mutually exclusive, and this had been attributed to the fact that we are either left-brained, or right-brained, depending on which hemisphere of our brain is more active. … Continued