Eighth grade was not a good year for me. Along with the usual teenage angst and social awkwardness, I was deeply depressed and anorexic. I spent a week at the Teenage Psychiatric Ward at the Keene State Hospital two-and-a-half hours from home. This was a harrowing experience and deterred me from seeking mental health care … Continued
After a difficult year, kids deserve some fun this summer! Fortunately for New Hampshire and Vermont children, they have CLiF to bring stories to life and give away brand new books to treasure. CLiF’s inspiring storytelling presentations by NH and VT authors, illustrators, and storytellers get kids excited about reading and writing and encourage strong … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
This weird school year is almost over, which means one thing…summer reading! Sure, school-required reading lists can seem like just another thing to do, but make sure to take time to read what you enjoy – and let your kids do the same! One of my favorite things about summer is posting up in a … Continued
One of the special things about CLiF is that we work with 66 of the best children’s, middle grade, and young adult authors in Vermont and New Hampshire. In normal years, we send them to schools, libraries, homeless shelters, prisons, camps, and more spaces where kids and families spend time in NH and VT. They … Continued
Friends, it has been a year. A year of remote or hybrid school and work, a year without live events, programming, and activities, and, for many, a year of hardship. It’s also been a tough year for educators and librarians, who have been working hard in an ever-shifting world to ensure kids and families still … Continued
General / Presenter Profiles / CLiF Spotlight / Education
CLiF would like to introduce or re-introduce you to Jon Gailmor of Elmore, VT. Jon has been writing and performing music internationally since 1971. He finds inspiration in family, pets, fighting for equal treatment of all people, sports, Vermont, beautiful places, and current events. Watch a clip of Jon’s presentation from CLiF’s Virtual Author’s Series here. Things … Continued
April is National Poetry Month and we’re kicking it off by celebrating the talented young poets who bravely submitted their work to our Kids’ Poetry Contest. We were so impressed with the dozens of submissions we received and are proud to share these students’ work (with their permission)*. Winners and runners up were selected in … Continued
General / Presenter Profiles / CLiF Spotlight / Education
CLiF would like to introduce or re-introduce you to Karen Gross of Bennington, VT and Washington, DC. Karen is an educator and author, writing books for both children (early-childhood through Grade 6) and adults. Her Lady Lucy Series is well-known and has been read to over 3000 children across the globe. Watch a clip of Karen’s presentation from CLiF’s … Continued
Literacy is one of the most important abilities we can pass on to children. This is not just vital from a technical life skills perspective, either. Reading, writing, and communications skills open us all up to a diverse and rich world. They help us to connect more deeply with one another and better understand the … Continued
General / Presenter Profiles / CLiF Spotlight / Education
CLiF would like to introduce or re-introduce you to David Martin of Lyndonville, VT. David likes to write books about animals for new readers. He only saw himself as a writer after reading lots of books to his own kids, and never thought he would leave New York City. Watch a clip of David’s presentation … Continued
General / Presenter Profiles / CLiF Spotlight / Education
CLiF would like to introduce or re-introduce you to Natalie Kinsey-Warnock of Glover, VT. Many of Natalie’s book borrow from her life in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. She describes herself: “I am an athlete, naturalist, artist and writer…I am an outdoorswoman, enjoying hiking astronomy, bird watching, and creating watercolor and pastel paintings of wildflowers, birds, and landscapes. … Continued
General / Presenter Profiles / CLiF Spotlight / Education
CLiF’s wrapped up its virtual storytelling series on April 7. Thank you to everyone who participated! End-of-Winter Schedule: Wednesday, March 10, 1 p.m. – Meet author/genealogist Natalie Kinsey-Warnock; watch her presentation hereWednesday, March 17, 1 p.m. – Meet author/musician David Martin; watch his presentation hereWednesday, March 24, 1 p.m. – Meet author/educator Karen Gross; watch her presentation hereWednesday, … Continued
General / Presenter Profiles / CLiF Spotlight / Education
CLiF would like to introduce or re-introduce you to Terry Farish of Kittery, ME/Portsmouth, NH. Terry writes children and young adult books. She writes about the New American experience, and, as she wrote, “to understand us in our small world.” Watch a clip of Terry’s presentation from CLiF’s Virtual Author’s Series here. Things to think about: Here … Continued
Racism isn’t something any person is born with. It’s something that is taught. Unfortunately, it is often taught by actions, rather than words. We live in a society where it’s easy for kids to learn about racism very early on, so it’s important to be honest and open about what it is, what it means, … Continued
General / Presenter Profiles / CLiF Spotlight / Education
CLiF would like to introduce or re-introduce you to Gina Perry of North Hampton, NH. Gina writes and illustrates her own books, and illustrates for other authors. Watch a clip of Gina’s presentation from CLiF’s Virtual Author’s Series. Things to think about: Here are a few ways to get to know Gina’s work better: CLiF has created … Continued
General / Presenter Profiles / CLiF Spotlight / Education
CLiF would like to introduce or re-introduce you to Jim Arnosky of South Ryegate, VT. Jim, self taught in writing, art and the natural sciences, has written and illustrated over 130 books on nature subjects and has illustrated 46 other books written by various authors. Jim loves to fish, boat, and play his guitar. In his … Continued
You might be tempted to dismiss outbursts and temper tantrums as “kids being kids,” and while emotional reactions such as crying, frustration, hunger, and pain are normal, your child never learning how to healthily manage their emotions is not. Children aren’t born knowing how to cope with their feelings, and the adults in their lives … Continued
CLiF would like to introduce or re-introduce you to Linda Urban of Montpelier, VT. Linda wrote: “In my books, I write about the small things that matter in a big way.” She writes picture, early chapter, and middle grade books. Watch a clip of Linda’s presentation from CLiF’s Virtual Author’s Series here. Things to think about: … Continued
CLiF has served over 350,000 children since 1998.