Happy Birthday, William Shakespeare!
When daffodils begin to peer, With heigh! the doxy over the dale, Why, then comes in the sweet o’ the year; For the red blood reigns in the winter’s pale. The Winter’s Tale (4.3.1-4) Happy Birthday, Bill!
What’s New
April 18 Friday Links Library
It’s National Library Week! This week celebrates our public and school libraries as trusted, relevant, and committed community resources and raises awareness of challenges libraries face. CLiF is honored to partner with many rural libraries that bring incredible value to their communities–often on shoestring budgets. This week the American Libraries Association (ALA) released the State … Continued
If you’re a parent and… you live in the Northeast
I need no words to help you understand my mood. Snow – it’s beautiful when it gently blankets the countryside and reminds us all of a hopeful, cozy winter memory. But when you’ve finally reached mid-April, your kids have recovered from multiple stomach bugs and endless head colds, and all you want is a glimpse … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
April 11 Friday Links Library
Could it be? Is that… sun? Are those… green sprouts coming out of the ground? Here are a few notable stories we saw over the past several sunny, springy days: Charlotte Albright of Vermont Public Radio visited Lowell, VT to talk with CLiF Year of the Book students and Natalie Kinsey-Warnock about their Story Keepers … Continued
General / If you're a parent and...
If you’re a parent and… you’re looking up the family tree
A very talented friend of mine designs modern family trees, and when I had my child, I decided to get her one. This turned into a much bigger project than I expected. I was so thankful that family members have been collecting my family’s and my husband’s lineage. I love the design and the history in … Continued
March 28 Friday Links Library
March. In like a lion, out like a… cold wet lion. Couple of goodies for your Friday Links Library this week: From WBUR’s On Point: host Tom Ashbrook on Goodnight Moon and the University of Wisconsin study we noted last week. The discussion asks “what we seek and share in young children’s books.” With guests … Continued
CLiF Spotlight: Keeping Family Stories Alive
Probably most adults could not coherently discuss the differences between the 1840 and 1860 census how a daguerreotype differs from a tintype or the repercussions of the 1890 census being destroyed in a Department of Commerce fire. But the children of Island Pond and Lowell, Vermont can. Funded in part by CLiF Year of the … Continued
March 21 Friday Links Library
Happy Spring! Kind of. Nobody’s putting their skis away around here. Lots of interesting tidbits in the news this week. Here’s the roundup: Last week, the New York Times printed op-eds by father and son authors Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers on why we all critically need to see children of color better represented in … Continued
Life, Kids, and Books: “How to Behave and Why”
Last week, on a school day, our alarm went off and my husband and I did not jump out of bed. We lay there looking at the ceiling for a few minutes, you know, in dread. It was, as we call it, “time to wake the donuts,” and man, we really didn’t want to. Truth … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
March 14 Friday Links Library
Happy Friday! We’re digging out after Vulcan dumped two feet of fresh snow over Vermont. Which means all this weekend we’ll be doing our two favorite activities: reading and skiing. Here are some clips from the last two weeks. Meredith found a lot happening in Ohio to help third graders pass reading tests: When more … Continued
Middle Ground: How the DCF List Process Works (and why I had 10 boxes of books in my living room)
You might not know how the list is selected and why my living room was so cluttered.
CLiF is Hiring!
Are you an enthusiastic, organized professional with program planning experience and a love of literacy? CLiF seeks a part-time Programs Manager to coordinate some of CLiF’s literacy programs across Vermont and New Hampshire. CLiF has a small, committed staff and a 16-year history of substantial growth and results. This position manages CLiF’s At-Risk, Summer Readers, … Continued
If you’re a parent and…you need to do the dishes
Photo Credit My only child celebrated her 100th day of kindergarten in February. As a parent new to public school, I was surprised that this is a milestone…and reminded that I have a lot to learn! Being new to CLiF, I have even more appreciation for how inventive schools, teachers, and parents are in designing … Continued
CLiF Spotlight: Let’s All Read Across America
I started hearing Christmas music in October. No exaggeration – I was still shopping for the final touches of my son’s Halloween costume when the bells were jingling and the sleighs were dashing right there in my radio speakers. I love family traditions and glowing lights and – oh, wow – nothing compares to the … Continued
Feb. 28 Friday Links Library
Happy Friday! Here are some stories we liked this week: A review of Bookmooch, a book swap club, and impressive statistics on how members can donate their points to “school libraries, classroom libraries, public libraries, and prison libraries” so they can choose gently used books for their collections. Closing the literacy achievement gap by ‘re-gifting’ the love of … Continued
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
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
General / Book Recommendations
If you’re a parent and… your child has no use for logic
If you live with a toddler, you’ve probably seen the blog Reasons my Son is Crying. You may have even submitted to it. I know. A typical conversation in my house goes something like this: Him: “Mama, please I can have a samich?” Me: “Sure. Do you want strawberry or raspberry jam?” Him: (Whining) “I not … Continued