This week of May 2-8, 2011 is Children’s book week. The official website to promote this week is www.bookweekonline.com where more information about it can be obtained. They have an important quote listed on their “About” page – “A great nation is a reading nation." That is a statement I sincerely believe in. If we want to keep our country great one important factor is keeping people literate. Reading needs to be encouraged to keep growing fertile minds of creativity and critical thinking. We as a society need to start with the young which is the importance of Children’s book week. Then of course all ages need to continue to read to keep reading at the forefront of culture.
Earlier this week I experienced one way to encourage reading in children and adults. In the nearby city of McAllen, they had their first International Book Fair May 1-3. I remembered the Book Fairs when I was living in Chicago. Especially the 57th Street Book Fair down near the University of Chicago campus. The book readings and the books from various publishers on display made for an atmosphere to promote the joy of reading. I knew this one in McAllen would not be comparable since it was just starting out. But as I have said since my daughter calls me Mr. Bookhead, where there are books I must go. I was not able to attend the first day but went out early on the Monday morning. I made it to the McAllen Convention Center at the starting time. Knowing the Rio Grande Valley I should have known that Monday morning is not the best time to attend any kind of Fair.
As I walked into the main hall I noticed a small amount of the booth spaces were open. There was a Publisher from Mexico there which makes sense as this is a Border town. The local Barnes & Nobles had a large booth space. There were a couple of Christian Bookstores open and to my surprise a used bookstore. I had been in the Valley for 10 years and did not know McAllen has several Used bookstores.
In speaking with people there I found out that Sunday had been very crowded which was encouraging to hear. They were anticipating more people to come out in the afternoon. Local schools had been invited as well to bring children. That was a positive idea to invite the schools to the event. Probably a Saturday, Sunday , and Monday timeframe would have been better.
As I was leaving, I met the man who dreamed up the book fair event. His name is Oscar Moreno. He shared how his family as he was growing up encouraged reading. Book fairs his father took him to in Mexico caught his interest in reading. Oscar brought up a concern he has how so much of free time in the Valley is spent watching movies and videos so he wanted this book fair as a way to encourage more reading in the Valley. I encouraged him to keep up letting this event grow in the future as it is a tool to help encourage reading. I have a lot of respect for a man such as this who took his dream and brought it to fruition. He shared how many people scoffed at the idea, even well educated lawyers. I told him not to let negativity from others to dissuade him from doing this again. Hopefully his idea will expand to the Lower valley of San Benito and Brownsville.
When you have the opportunity to attend a Book Fair take the opportunity. It helps you see what book stores are in the area. They offer opportunities to meet authors and learn more about the writing process. The experience can also open the minds of young children and young people the importance of reading.
Reflection: How are you encouraging the joy of reading in children that you know? Mark on your calendar next years date for Children’s Book Week - 2012: May 7 – 13. Take a moment to reflect over the last book you read for enjoyment.
Showing posts with label Children's Book Week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children's Book Week. Show all posts
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Days That Emphasize Reading
This past Friday at the University I work at, the Learning labs were celebrating National Grammar Day. In an age of Twitter, texting, and poor grammar usage, I thought it positive for there to be a day to promote proper grammar usage. Writing is a skill needed in every career so the best communication practices in writing need to be promoted.
As the day progressed being the Bookhead I am, I wondered to myself if national reading days existed. I went to my search engine and typed national reading, literacy, library days. Sure enough I found a number of them. Just as grammar needs to be promoted and supported to strengthen all of our writing skills, and skills of young people; reading needs to be support as well. Reading helps enrich the mind, build vocabularies, generates creativity. At the University I work at the students who say they hate reading are the ones who are usually not performing well in their classes and wind up in academic difficulties.
In the economic news recently I have heard of the financial troubles of Barnes and Nobles and Borders Books. As reading is deemphasized in society it is hurting bookstores. Bookheads who love their reading need to promote reading so bookstores and libraries do not become endangered entities in our culture. I recently received an email from Borders CEO Mike Edwards since I am a Rewards Member. He mentioned as they go through Chapter 11 proceedings it is still business as usual in their stores. That was good news to hear.
But how do we promote reading to encourage people to break away from their lame TV viewing, web surfing which wastes time. We need to show them the importance of what reading can do in improving their quality of life and that it is a joy to use their minds in creative and critical thinking ways through the power of reading the written word. That is what these national days for reading can do.
I will list some of the websites I found that relate to important days for reading and books throughout the year. Look at their websites and find ideas on how you can promote reading to others. Here they are:
www.bookweekonline.com
This website emphasizes Children’s Book Week which is May 2-8, 2011. As I have mentioned in the past reading was placed as an important place in my life as each Summer as a child my mother made me be involved in the local library Summer reading program. That is where my life as a Bookhead began and I am still thankful for the local library that sponsored the program. Introducing the joys of reading early is even more important in today’s technological world. Encourage teachers and librarians you know to check out this website. Also buy a book for a young person during that week.
www.worldbookday.com
This is a UK website. I love the idea Books for the World. Reading needs to be promoted throughout the world. This year the World Book Day was March 3rd. Even though the organization is based in the United Kingdom we booklovers here in America should check out ideas they are doing there to promote reading and be involved in World Book day.
www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/pio/mediarelationsa/factsheets/nationallibraryweek.cfm
This is the link to the American Library Association that promotes National Library Week Which will be observed April 10-16, 2011 with the theme, "Create your own story @ your library”. I am a strong believer in the importance of the local library. From my early Summer trips to the local library to my high school days where working in the local library was my first part-time job. Watch for activities in your local library during that week.
www.nationalbook.org/nbm.html
This website looks at October being national book month sponsored by the National Book Foundation. This is a website that honors literature and promotes reading to the public. They list many ideas to promote literature and resource links to other literary websites.
So you see there are many days throughout the year where we can promote reading to those around us. You don’t have to become a complete Bookhead like me but do spread the joy of reading to those around you.
Reflection:
Visit the websites listed above. Write down one thing you learned and appreciated from each website. Mark the important dates about reading and books on your calendar and look for local activities at libraries and bookstores during these times.
As the day progressed being the Bookhead I am, I wondered to myself if national reading days existed. I went to my search engine and typed national reading, literacy, library days. Sure enough I found a number of them. Just as grammar needs to be promoted and supported to strengthen all of our writing skills, and skills of young people; reading needs to be support as well. Reading helps enrich the mind, build vocabularies, generates creativity. At the University I work at the students who say they hate reading are the ones who are usually not performing well in their classes and wind up in academic difficulties.
In the economic news recently I have heard of the financial troubles of Barnes and Nobles and Borders Books. As reading is deemphasized in society it is hurting bookstores. Bookheads who love their reading need to promote reading so bookstores and libraries do not become endangered entities in our culture. I recently received an email from Borders CEO Mike Edwards since I am a Rewards Member. He mentioned as they go through Chapter 11 proceedings it is still business as usual in their stores. That was good news to hear.
But how do we promote reading to encourage people to break away from their lame TV viewing, web surfing which wastes time. We need to show them the importance of what reading can do in improving their quality of life and that it is a joy to use their minds in creative and critical thinking ways through the power of reading the written word. That is what these national days for reading can do.
I will list some of the websites I found that relate to important days for reading and books throughout the year. Look at their websites and find ideas on how you can promote reading to others. Here they are:
www.bookweekonline.com
This website emphasizes Children’s Book Week which is May 2-8, 2011. As I have mentioned in the past reading was placed as an important place in my life as each Summer as a child my mother made me be involved in the local library Summer reading program. That is where my life as a Bookhead began and I am still thankful for the local library that sponsored the program. Introducing the joys of reading early is even more important in today’s technological world. Encourage teachers and librarians you know to check out this website. Also buy a book for a young person during that week.
www.worldbookday.com
This is a UK website. I love the idea Books for the World. Reading needs to be promoted throughout the world. This year the World Book Day was March 3rd. Even though the organization is based in the United Kingdom we booklovers here in America should check out ideas they are doing there to promote reading and be involved in World Book day.
www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/pio/mediarelationsa/factsheets/nationallibraryweek.cfm
This is the link to the American Library Association that promotes National Library Week Which will be observed April 10-16, 2011 with the theme, "Create your own story @ your library”. I am a strong believer in the importance of the local library. From my early Summer trips to the local library to my high school days where working in the local library was my first part-time job. Watch for activities in your local library during that week.
www.nationalbook.org/nbm.html
This website looks at October being national book month sponsored by the National Book Foundation. This is a website that honors literature and promotes reading to the public. They list many ideas to promote literature and resource links to other literary websites.
So you see there are many days throughout the year where we can promote reading to those around us. You don’t have to become a complete Bookhead like me but do spread the joy of reading to those around you.
Reflection:
Visit the websites listed above. Write down one thing you learned and appreciated from each website. Mark the important dates about reading and books on your calendar and look for local activities at libraries and bookstores during these times.
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