General / Year of the Book

The Year of the Book at Boscawen Elementary School

Authors, Illustrators, and Storytellers, Oh My! What do these things have in common? Well, they are all an integral part of the CLiF Year of the Book grant. Boscawen Elementary School in Boscawen, NH was one of ten schools across NH & VT that won this grant worth $25,000 for the 2018-19 school year. By … Continued

CLiF Spotlight

CLiF Spotlight: Belmont, NH

Question: Why is Marty Kelley, (right) author of the book Ladybug Award nominee Albert’s Amazing Almost Adventure and Almost Everyone Farts, reading The Organic Gardener’s Home Reference to elementary aged children? Answer: He read it to train them how to share books with others. Belmont Elementary School (BES) invited Marty to “train” their K-4th graders … Continued

General / CLiF Spotlight

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

General / CLiF Spotlight

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.

Kath and Sue with python at Cutler School

General

CLiF Spotlight: Why We Love Reptiles

We love reptiles because kids love reptiles. And when third, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders know they’re going to meet some snakes, you can bet they’re excited to read about snakes.   Cutler School in West Swanzey, NH is a 2013-2014 CLiF Year of the Book school. Literacy teachers and Year of the Book coordinators … Continued

Bethlehem Public Library

General / CLiF Spotlight

CLiF Spotlight: Lost and Found at Bethlehem Library

On January 29, 2014, Duncan got lost on his way to Bethlehem Public Library. You would think he’d know how to get there–CLiF has awarded Bethlehem a Rural Libraries sponsorship three times since 2003. But he walked into the building it shared with the town offices, and there it was… gone. Turns out this town … Continued

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General / CLiF Spotlight

Feb. 21 Friday Links Library

Good morning! Here are some stories we liked this week: This thoughtful op-ed in Minnesota’s Star-Tribune. Literacy tutor Kris Potter muses on the power of learning to read with real books: “The tangible benefits of reading (real) books to kids” “Love cracks the code, creates curiosity, sustains attention and eventually lays knowledge at their feet … Continued

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General / CLiF Spotlight

Feb. 14 Friday Links Library

Valentine’s Day/Nor’easter edition! Just got in from shoveling, so let’s start with a pick-me up: Those kids reading aloud to shelter cats that went viral this week. The Animal Rescue League of Berks County, PA started a Book Buddies program when their program coordinator noticed her son preferred reading to a feline audience. From their website: … Continued

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.

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CLiF Spotlight / Book Recommendations

The Big Book Order

Here’s a peek behind the scenes in the CLiF office. Julia is busy assembling a huge book order for CLiF’s fall programs through our partner First Book. It’s a thoughtful process. Lots of kids in New Hampshire and Vermont are interested in hunting, animals, and nature, so she’s including Tracking and Reading Sign by Len McDougall … Continued

CLiF Spotlight

Calling Rural Libraries: Apply for Grant, Attend Conference

Fifteen years ago CLiF’s very first literacy program supported rural public libraries. We’re delighted to once again offer the Rural Library Sponsorship and support public libraries and schools in New Hampshire and Vermont’s small towns. CLiF is accepting applications through September 16, 2013. Twin States public libraries in towns of 5,000 or fewer residents with … Continued

General / CLiF Spotlight

Summer Readers Underway!

48 different children’s summer programs across Vermont and New Hampshire. 3,300 kids. Two free books per child. That’s a lot of books. No wonder the CLiFmobile just needed its shocks replaced. Rec program at the Barre Municipal Pool in Barre, VT From June through August, CLiF’s Summer Readers program visits lunch programs, low-income summer camps, and … Continued

General

Refugees in Manchester, New Hampshire Thank CLiF

Earlier this week, a manilla envelope packed with hand-written thank-you notes arrived at the CLiF office. They were all written by English Language Learner students at McLaughlin Middle School and Beech Street School, where CLiF presenters Duncan McDougall and Marty Kelley had given storytelling presentations and lead book giveaways for nearly 400 students in November. … Continued

General

Many Thanks to Photographer Marina Zinovyeva!

The day before Thanksgiving, Duncan rolled up to McLaughlin Middle School with the CLiF mobile chock full of books.   CLiF specifically came to visit the ELL students – or English Language Learners – at this school in Manchester, NH.   Almost all of these ELL students are New Americans, whose families have recently relocated to Manchester from … Continued

General

CLiF’s Year of the Book Has Begun!

Over the past few weeks, CLiF Executive Director Duncan McDougall has packed the CLiFmobile with books and driven to Brownington, Newbury, and Johnson, Vermont, as well as Pittsfield and Berlin, New Hampshire. CLiF has partnered with each town’s elementary school on our newest program, CLiF’s Year of the Book. (We’re also working with Pittsburg, NH. Their kick-off event will be on October 11.)

CLiF has served over 350,000 children since 1998.

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