Throughout CLiF’s many years of inspiring a love of literacy among Vermont and New Hampshire children, the power and value of books has been central to our mission. Almost every CLiF event includes a book giveaway with a wide range of diverse books on offer, as well as an in-person presentation by an author or illustrator. These core elements anchor our many literacy grant programs, and are typically the most visible representation of our work at CLiF. 

But did you know that our grant programs also include support for our partners to think creatively on how to enhance literacy and learning? CLiF has long offered mini-grants to our Rural Library and Year of the Book grant partners in elementary schools and public libraries to help engage children around reading and writing beyond traditional printed texts or standard author/illustrator visits. In the past year, we also launched our new Literacy Enrichment grant which is designed to bring literacy to life through project-based and experiential learning.

So what does this look like? FUN! Our partners go to amazing lengths to create inspiring and imaginative opportunities for children to experience literacy in its many shapes and forms. Here are just a few examples of ways recent partners have used CLiF funds to engage kids and families through literacy.

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CLiF’s newest program, the Literacy Enrichment Grant, was created to support literacy-oriented experiential learning and project-based opportunities. The first round of grants (funding up to $1000) were awarded to 11 partners in Vermont and New Hampshire last spring. Here are just a few of the innovative ideas and projects our grantees came up with:

• Bradford Public Library, (Bradford, VT) – The library used the grant to support puppet-making workshops and a performance by the No Strings Marionette Company for youth programming during school vacation week in April. 
• Morristown Centennial Library (Morristown, VT) – As part of a “Dragon Day” celebration, CLiF funds were used to purchase supplies to create a giant papier mache dragon, and dragon-themed children’s books for attendees to take home. 
• Tunbridge Public Library (Tunbridge, VT) – Grant funds were used to purchase supplies and typewriters for creating “zines” (or simple self-published magazines). During the library’s popular after-school program, kids brainstormed, researched, wrote, illustrated and published their own zines.
• Walpole Town Library (Walpole, NH) – The library created Take Home Literacy Kits for ages birth through 6 years, with board books, a corresponding educational toy, and related activity sheets. Librarian Julie Rios reported: “I’m really happy that both kids and parents are loving these kits! When we debuted them at our weekly Wiggle Time Toddler Group, they were a big hit!”

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Rural Library Mini-Grants = $300 available to each of the 12 libraries awarded the Rural Library Grant  in 2023-24.  

• New Durham Public Library (New Durham, NH) – The library created “Itty Bitty Take Home Kits” for babies and toddlers to circulate in their children’s room. These kits each contain a baby/toddler board book with games and activities that go along with it with the goal of inspiring families to read and play with their small children at home. Library Director Caitlin Frost reported, “They are extremely popular and I’m surprised we even have any on the shelf right now!”
• Lawrence Memorial Library (Bristol, VT) – The grant purchased chess boards and books to help children and adults learn how to play chess. Children and families are able to develop a new skill all while stepping away from the digital world and connecting through books and conversation.
• Marc A. Hurzeler MD Library (Jefferson, NH) – The grant supported supplies for outdoor-oriented art and science backpacks that could be checked out with an activity connecting to a picture book or nonfiction book. These kits were offered as part of the library’s winter youth programming for local students who didn’t participate in the school-sponsored ski program. 
• Fairlee Public Library (Fairlee, VT) – The library used grant funds to revitalize their 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Librarian Beth Reynolds shared, “It’s the connections I’m striving for, using the books as a bridge. Connections between parents and child, between families and librarian.”

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Year of the Book Mini-Grants = $2000 total funding for each of the 10 elementary schools with educators able to apply for individual or grade level team grants.

• Putney Central School (Putney, VT) – Adorable Folkmanis hand and finger puppets of local animals were purchased to supplement learning in the kindergarten classroom and bridge the gap between books and reality. Puppets were used by the kindergarten teacher to turn stories into a multi-sensory experience for her students. 
• Marlborough School (Marlborough, NH) – The mini grant funds were used to develop a nature journaling “toolbox” that could be checked out to classroom teachers. The toolbox included books to be used to introduce how to get started with nature journaling, how to make observations, and field guides for students. The toolbox also included individual kits for students including sketching pencils, observation tools such as magnifiers and calipers, and collection baggies. Other items that will make the journaling experience more successful included sit-upon mats and clipboards. 
• Integrated Arts Academy (Burlington, VT) – For a literacy unit on traditional folk tales, the third grade team and visual art teacher worked together to focus on puppetry and storytelling. They read fables, folktales and myths from around the world. Students wrote narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences. To explore character traits, motivations and feelings, students made their own puppets with multiple facial expressions. The puppets were used to recount stories as well as help write and practice dialogue for their own narrative. 
• Mount Pleasant Elementary School (Nashua, NH) – Forty-five first graders and teachers attended Into The Woods (JR Edition), presented by the youth performers of the Nashua Peacock Players. The grant covered transportation and admission to the performance, and each child received a fairytale book to keep.

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Year of the Book School Wide Dollars = $2000 for any memorable project or activity connected to literacy to benefit the entire school community. 

• Integrated Arts Academy (Burlington, VT) – Grant funds supported a schoolwide residency with hip hop dance artist Rose Bedard to help students interpret and tell stories and themes through dance and inspired by the children’s book Abdul’s Story. (See related blog post here).
• Maple Avenue Elementary School (Claremont, NH) – The school participated in the “IditaRead” challenge, with each class tracking their reading minutes during the Iditarod. They finished their challenge with a celebratory visit from musher Karen Land, a three-time participant in the Iditarod who travels around the country to share her experiences in the race. She visited the school with her husky Noggin, her sled, Arctic gear, and other equipment, and responded to many curious questions from students of all ages.
• Lin-Wood Elementary School (Lincoln, NH) – The school worked with artist Catherine Judge to create an interactive school mural based on compassion, gratitude, forgiveness, and courage. Each student painted a section, and wrote a paragraph explaining how their art represented one of the four adjectives.
• Albany Community School (Albany, VT) – Comics artist and CLiF presenter Daryl Seitchik visited the school to do intensive classroom workshops on writing, cartooning, and graphic novels. Setchik led each classroom through age-appropriate exercises to create their own work and inspired them to create their own unique comic strips. 

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