Gift of Reading Book Drive Spreads the Magic of Literacy

by Stone Marshall | Dec 3, 2014 | parent-news | 0 comments

RAFT, Resource Area For Teaching, and the San Jose Mercury News are partnering again to put thousands of books in the hands of children who may not have had a book of their own before. Students who cannot read at grade level by third grade are four times less likely to graduate high school by age 19 than their reading proficient classmates; the Gift of Reading book drive aims to increase student success in school and life.

The Gift of Reading book drive puts thousands of books in the hands of children who may not have had a book of their own before.

Literacy is one of the most powerful indicators of a child’s future success, yet less than half of California third grade students read at grade level and one third of young children aren’t read to every day. Having direct access to books can help reverse these trends, developing confident readers prepared for success in school. RAFT, Resource Area For Teaching, and the San Jose Mercury News are partnering again to put thousands of books in the hands of children who may not have had a book of their own before.

“We have a huge challenge with literacy in California, and the Bay Area isn’t excluded,” said Grainger Marburg, CEO of RAFT. “Promoting childhood literacy is one of the most powerful things we can do to help break the cycle of poverty.”

The Gift of Reading drive began on November 18 and runs through December 15, with a goal of collecting 45,000 new or like-new children’s books. Community members can get involved by donating books at 18 Bay Area bookstores, libraries, and offices. The full list of donation sites and information on making a financial contribution are available at http://www.raftbayarea.org/gor. For the first time, donors can also participate virtually through an online book drive powered by Los Altos-based Roonga.

With collections already underway, RAFT will begin distributing books in early December to educators and organizations serving children. RAFT encourages supporters to donate early so students can receive their gift of books before the start of vacation, an ideal time for children and families to read. One of last year’s participants shared that her students are always thrilled to receive a book and elated to know it is theirs to keep.

“Being able to provide every student with a book of their own is an exciting event,” she said. “Even a reluctant reader is motivated to read a book of their own, but buying books for each of my students on my own would be too expensive. Being able to go to RAFT to get these books for my students is as thrilling for me as it is for them because I’m able to introduce my students to new genres and broaden their reading experience. I never get tired of seeing smiling students closely hugging their books.”

Sharon Levin from Redwood City is a children’s literature reviewer with an obvious passion for the drive. This year she collected more than 50 boxes full of books to contribute.

“I think it’s important to make sure that children receive the gift of reading because books are a way to explore, escape, to empathize, and just to enjoy,” said Levin. “It breaks my heart to think of children or households without books. To me, reading comes right after shelter, food, and clothing.”

A recent study showed that reading proficiency is a strong and accurate predictor of high school graduation. Students who cannot read at grade level by third grade are four times less likely to graduate high school by age 19 than their reading proficient classmates. By donating books, you are not only providing a warm holiday memory for a child, you are also increasing the likelihood of their success in school and life.

For information on receiving books for your students or program, contact raft(at)raft(dot)net.

Gift of Reading Donation Locations:

CAMPBELL
Recycle Bookstore
275 East Campbell Avenue

LOS ALTOS
Linden Tree Children’s Books
265 State Street

Los Altos Library
13 South San Antonio Road

LOS GATOS
Los Gatos Public Library
100 Villa Avenue

MENLO PARK
Kepler’s Books
1010 El Camino Real

MILPITAS
Milpitas Library
160 North Main Street

MOUNTAIN VIEW
Books, Inc.
301 Castro Street

MORGAN HILL
BookSmart
80 East Second Street

PALO ALTO
Books, Inc.
85 El Camino Real

REDWOOD CITY
RAFT
101 Twin Dolphin Drive

SAN JOSE
RAFT
1355 Ridder Park Drive

Recycle Bookstore
1066 The Alameda

Hicklebee’s Bookstore
1378 Lincoln Avenue

Santa Clara County Office of Education
1290 Ridder Park Drive

SARATOGA
Christa McAuliffe School
12211 Titus Avenue

SUNNYVALE
Leigh’s Favorite Books
121 South Murphy Avenue

Bookasaurus
125 South Murphy Avenue

Resource Area for Teaching
1160 Kern Avenue

About Resource Area For Teaching
RAFT believes the best way to spark the love of learning for the next generation of thinkers, innovators, problem-solvers and creators is through hands-on learning. A nonprofit organization since 1994, RAFT serves 12,000 educators each year who teach over 900,000 students. Find out more about RAFT and how to get involved at http://www.raft.net.

 

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Holiday books for kids are in abundance this season

by Stone Marshall | Dec 3, 2014 | parent-news | 0 comments

NEW YORK — Looking to keep the kids entertained during long holiday car rides or dinners? Tell all your gift-buying elves to wrap up a book.

Among this year’s Christmas selections:

BOARD BOOKS

“Maisy’s Christmas Tree,” by Lucy Cousins: Maisy the mouse and pals Cyril and Tallulah prepare for the holiday, from trimming the tree to singing carols. One side of the book is cut out in the shape of a tree, something little ones might appreciate. Candlewick Press, ages 2-5.

“Dinosaur vs. Santa,” by Bob Shea: A smiley little dino wears a bright orange snowsuit, makes gifts for his parents and sneaks downstairs on Christmas Eve only to scurry back to bed due to someone in red ho, ho, ho-ing in the dark. Disney-Hyperion, ages 3-5.

CAT LOVERS

“Pete the Cat Saves Christmas,” created and illustrated by James Dean, story by Eric Litwin: In this retelling of “The Night Before Christmas,” the can-do kitty is called upon to deliver gifts when Santa falls ill. The feline’s “minibus flew, just like in a movie” and “Pete the Cat cried, ‘This is totally groovy!'” Harper, ages 4-8.

“Here Comes Santa Cat,” by Deborah Underwood, pictures by Claudia Rueda: There are jet pack mishaps and dead fish gifts for children as a wily but mute cat holding placards on sticks to communicate impersonates Santa Claus to ensure he gets a gift after a particularly naughty year. Dial Books for Young Readers, ages 3-5.

SNOWY BOOKS

“Blizzard,” by John Rocco: based on Rocco’s childhood experience during the blizzard of 1978, when 40 inches of snow fell on his Rhode Island town. From the first flake right before recess to delivering groceries via sled on day six and the arrival of snowplows. Disney-Hyperion, ages 3-5.

“The Animals’ Santa,” by Jan Brett: Meticulously drawn forest creatures await the arrival of this special Santa. The animals recall gifts of Christmases past. There was a puzzle for the crows hanging from their tree branch and a brush to fluff his tail for the arctic fox. A magnificent finish from the beloved Brett with a snowy owl in a starry Santa’s cap and a basket full of booty strapped to his breast. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, ages 3-5.

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

“CC Claus: A Baseball Christmas Story,” by CC Sabathia, written with Ray Negron, pictures by Laura Seeley: Star Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia enlists the help of George Steinbrenner and baseball stars of yore to help two boys in need of balls and gloves for Christmas after their letter to Santa lands in Sabathia’s fan mail. Ecco, ages 5-up.

“Star Bright: A Christmas story,” by Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds: The newest angel, a girl in a pilot’s cap and goggles, tries to come up with a gift for baby Jesus. She hurtles down to Earth and becomes the star that lights up the night sky. The book contrasts a futuristic heaven with old-world illustrations for the birth of Jesus. Atheneum, ages 4-8.

CLASSICS

“A Little Women Christmas,” by Heather Vogel Frederick, pictures by Bagram Ibatoulline: This adaptation of a portion of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” is a good introduction to the March family. Mother and the girls are alone for the holiday while Father recuperates in a hospital after hard service as a Union Army chaplain. Jo has cut off her hair to earn money as she vows there WILL be gifts. Simon & Schuster, ages 4-8.

PUFFIN HARDCOVER CLASSIC BOX SET

A gifty set of hardcovers with colorful, textured bindings. Includes “A Little Princess,” ”Anne of Green Gables,” ”The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” ”The Secret Garden,” ”The Wind in the Willows” and “Peter Pan.” Puffin Classics, ages 8-up.

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How ‘The Hunger Games’ Is Challenging Gender Stereotypes – by Empowering Boys

by Stone Marshall | Dec 2, 2014 | parent-news | 0 comments

It is a well-established marketing principle that, when targeting children, you need to appeal to boys. If you target boys, girls will happily get involved. The opposite, however, is not true. Because boys recoil in horror at the mere sight of girls’ toys and books, don’t they? We all know that’s not true. But we pretend it is – and worse, we make it so.

It’s not inconceivable that boys might show an interest in girls’ toys. But this simply won’t do, for everybody knows that even the most transient exposure to pink will leave boys permanently gender confused and forever compromise their sexuality. Interestingly, this does not seem to apply to girls. We trust girls’ gender compass to confidently point to Venus, no matter what they wear, or read, or play with when they’re young.

We worry about our girls being the victims of gender stereotyping, and rightly so. Just a few months ago, an Always campaign went viral for spotlighting how the expression ‘like a girl’ is meant as an insult, reminding us there are still too many social conventions that penalise girls for being girls. This, of course, is unacceptable.

But the truth is, gender policing is much stricter with boys than girls. Girls are allowed to enjoy boys’ toys and books, wear trousers and dress up as clowns or pirates with kohl-painted moustaches. They can indulge in the other gender’s pastimes without anybody batting an eyelid. Boys are not afforded such luxury.

This is a disservice to both boys and girls. It restricts the way boys experience the world, hampering their emotional development. And it sends young girls the message that their activities are unworthy of being pursued by boys. For girls it’s okay, desirable even, to take on traditionally male traits. By behaving more like boys, they are bettering themselves. Conversely, it seems it would be degrading for boys to do girly things. So we don’t let them.

Fast forward a few years and the boys have turned into teenagers. Now they don’t just believe the lie – they embrace it keenly. Hence the gender segregation relegating women’s culture to a lesser role: women’s fiction, chick-lit, chick-flicks and so on. No self-respecting man would be seen indulging in such activities.

So we are back to the established marketing principle: to reach both boys and girls, we need to target boys. We need a male protagonist and, ideally, a male author. With the release of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling was advised by her publisher to use her initials, to disguise the fact she was a woman.

Enter The Hunger Games.

In 2008, the Young Adult literature landscape was very different, and the book didn’t exactly follow the beaten track: a dystopian in a market dominated by fantasy, contemporary and, since the advent of Twilight, paranormal romance. A premise whose cruelty was novel to western YA literature – and yet still had space for romance. And a 1st person narration from a female main character. All in all, quite an odd mix.

Despite the female protagonist, The Hunger Games was not targeted solely at girls. Scholastic saw the potential in capturing the ‘cross-over’ market – that YA niche appealing across genders and ages. And yes, to an extent this meant toning down the female references. Take the low-key and gender neutral cover, quite a departure from your usual YA jackets depicting the main character of the story.

But old stereotypes die hard. When the movie adaptation propelled The Hunger Games into a mass phenomenon, media and public alike stubbornly insisted on comparing it to Twilight. For many, the idea of a story centred around a young girl was so novel, they felt compelled to put the two titles in the same mould. It has a teen girl protagonist, so it’s for teen girls only right? And that can’t possibly be good, when we consider that Twilight’s target audience was often mentioned as undeniable proof of the poor quality of the movie. “Steer clear,” said movie critic Steve Newton, “unless you’re a 14-year-old girl who gets all giddy at the thought of cute boys and first love.” As if first love was a terrible female affliction and not a defining moment of growing up for both genders.

But here’s the thing. The Hunger Games is a terrific trilogy. It’s engrossing reading, with a compelling storyline and characters. When the movie adaptations came, they were good movies, with strong production values and committed performances.

And here’s what happened: people responded to it. Boys included.

All of a sudden it was okay for a boy to read a book with a female protagonist. More than okay – it was cool. And Katniss is no male character in drag. Yes, there’s action, bows and arrows and war. But there’s also Katniss musing about having her legs forcibly shaved, jostling with her feelings for Peeta and Gale, navigating a complex mother-daughter relationship and being maternal towards her little sister. Make no mistake – Katniss is a girl.

The Hunger Games made it acceptable for boys to embrace a female perspective. In doing so it opened the floodgates to dystopians with female main characters and a broader readership base. Whilst it’s difficult to know readers demographics by title, we can derive some insight by looking at the gender split of moviegoers: Divergent, the latest YA actioner with a teen girl protagonist, drew crowds which were 41% male, similar to The Hunger Games (39%) and quite a departure from Twilight (25%). Granted, dystopians are rooted in action/adventure. But it’s a start. And as an aspiring YA author, I’m proud this is where the trend is gaining momentum. The new generation is showing us they can look past the gender roles we are trying to force upon them.

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LEGO event at Longview library fuels children’s creativity

by Stone Marshall | Dec 2, 2014 | parent-news | 0 comments

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