Did you ever wonder what story your book collection tells about you? We recently had a This is Your Life experience when our basement flooded and our 22 year old son’s stashed belongings exploded into our living space. His high school bedroom had been in our basement, so he had bookshelves of titles – plus … Continued
General / CLiF Spotlight / How You Can Help
Got a “summer reader” in your life? How would he or she like a bundle of brand new books to read on the beach, at the playground, in a treehouse, or anywhere inviting this summer? Enter our Summertime Reading Contest on Facebook for a chance to win 15 brand new books and give other children … Continued
The new Common Core Standards, have recently been adopted by 46 of the 50 states and will begin to be implemented in Vermont and New Hampshire in the coming school year. These standards, initiated by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, are internationally benchmarked and intended to raise the … Continued
As CLiF develops longer-lasting and more in-depth initiatives such as our Year of the Book and Community Literacy programs, we are also helping towns and schools sustain their literacy efforts after their CLiF grant is over. To that end, on May 1 we held our first annual CLiF Community Literacy Conference in St. Johnsbury, VT. … Continued
I could start by telling you about the beautiful view of Lake Champlain from our corner table. I could then tell you about the endless performances, exhibits, and activities for kids taking place all day. I could tell you about the throngs of children – of all ages – gathered around our table eagerly awaiting … Continued
“What if our house was like a giant swimming pool and we could swim all day, even when we were eating? And we had a pet dolphin instead of a dog?” “Hmmm. That would be cool.” “Mom, what if our car could fly and we could fly right over all the other cars so we … Continued
To dogs everywhere! Nobody captures the sweetness and humor of the family dog better than Vermont author Stephen Huneck. His work is a celebration of what it is to love and be loved by a dog. While the title character of Huneck’s books is his own black lab, Sally, the star of the show is … Continued
Amidst a sea of bustling children, adorable little ones in strollers and Ergo carriers, and mamas-to-be looking radiant and curious, Julia and I set up a table at the Good Beginnings First Annual Baby and Child Expo to talk with parents about reading to their children from the get-go. Good Beginnings of Central Vermont is … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
If you have ever had a small child living in your home, chances are there are several Dr. Seuss books lying around. He is, after all, the best-selling children’s author of all time. Did you ever notice, though, that there are two different types Dr. Seuss books? Quite frankly, until recently, I did not. In 1937, … Continued
My girls are trying to figure out life by living, learning, testing, playing, fighting, and reading. Reading is the cool trick we do every night before bed. After a long day of living, learning, testing, playing and fighting, it’s like a much needed form of therapy, but the relaxing, entertaining variety (if there is such … Continued
Photo credit: http://www.blog.thehoya.com/i-got-a-pocket-got-a-pocket-full-of-poems/ That’s right. Find your favorite poem (even one you wrote), scribble it on a piece of paper, and put it in your pocket when you get dressed tomorrow morning. Thursday, April 18 is national Poem in Your Pocket Day, and we’d love for you to join us as we celebrate here at the … Continued
Book Recommendations / How You Can Help
I imagine a long time ago, cavemen and women gave their cave children some food, whatever it may have been, and those cave children duly ate it. Task accomplished. Done. Now everyone start looking for more. Here in America in 2013 things are a might bit different. Just a might. Now that we live in … Continued
CLiF Spotlight / How You Can Help
Queen City Ghostwalk, the Burlington company that has, for over a decade, provided haunted history tours to locals and visitors, has found a delightfully creepy way to celebrate National Poetry Month. On Thursday, April 18th, they will present Fright by Candelight, an evening of dark poetry to benefit CLiF! The program will take include readings from well-known … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
Oh, the cruel and fickle ways of spring! How it one day inspires such hope and joy and enthusiasm, then the next it spits snow in your face and mocks you in your optimistic, non-down jacket. The slant of the sun, the extended daylight, the intermittent peeps of warmth, all turn you against what were … Continued
Flight goggles firmly on their heads, Vermont author and CLiF presenter SS Taylor and New York City illustrator Katherine Roy voyaged to the Newbury Elementary School in Newbury, VT last Friday to give three presentations to all the students from Grade 1 to Grade 6 about the multi-year process they navigated to create their new epic children’s book The Expeditioners.
Are you looking for a creative, rewarding, and flexible job? The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) is a nonprofit based in Waterbury Center. For 15 years CLiF has inspired a love of reading and writing among more than 140,000 low-income, at-risk, and rural children in almost 400 towns throughout Vermont and New Hampshire. Communications Director: 30-35 … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
People, it’s almost over!!! Winter is almost over! I did not learn this from the Weather Channel, the Farmer’s Almanac, Punxsutawney Phil or the calendar. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel because I know that Sunday is… OPENING DAY OF BASEBALL SEASON!!!! Nothing says summer like the roar of the … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
We at CLiF don’t usually talk about people behind their backs, but, um, can we talk about Jon Klassen for a minute? Okay, are you aware that he won, not one, but two Caldecott Awards this year? Who does that? Honestly, where did this guy come from? What? Oh. Canada, of course. Right. Did you … Continued
CLiF has served over 350,000 children since 1998.