Readers are Leaders: Buy Your Children More Books

Readers are Leaders: Buy Your Children More Books

by | Feb 19, 2018 | ESSA, Every Student Succeeds Act, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Featured, Featured, K12 Education, Kansas, National, NNPA, NNPA Newswire, nnpaESSA

By Elizabeth Primas (Program Manager, NNPA/ESSA Public Awareness Campaign)

We are our children’s first teachers, and what we teach them makes a difference.

According to research by Betty Hart of the University of Kansas and Todd Risley of the University of Alaska, by age 3, poor children have an accumulated experience with 30 million less words than their wealthier counterparts; a greater percentage of the words that poor children accumulate were discouraging compared to their wealthier peers.

We have to read more to our children and encourage them to read more for themselves.

This year let’s help reduce the 30-million-word gap by adding more books to our shopping list.

Books not only promote literacy, they also encourage our children to see themselves as an integral and valued part of the society in which they live. Walter Dean Myers, author of the critically acclaimed “Monster,” asserts that culturally relevant books help young people to validate their existence as human beings.

A Guide to Purchasing Culturally Relevant Books

Birth to 7 years-old:

Children in this age group enjoy books with vibrant colors, a predictable pattern, and interactive pages.

Our Picks:

“Please, Baby, Please” by Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee describes the behind-the-scenes look at the chills, spills, and unequivocal thrills of bringing up baby.* You can purchase “Please, Baby, Please” at Amazon.com.

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“Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,” by Mill Martin Jr. uses an alphabet rhyme to race to the top of a coconut tree. You can purchase “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” at Amazon.com.

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“Chicka Chicka 1,2,3,” also by Bill Martin Jr. is the counting-themed complement to the popular “Chicka Chika Boom Boom.” You can purchase “Chicka Chicka 1,2,3” at Amazon.com.

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“Brothers of the Knight” by Debbie Allen is a modern retelling of the classic tale “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.” Reverend Knight can’t understand why his 12 sons’ sneakers are torn to shreds each and every morning, and the boys aren’t talking. They know their all-night dancing wouldn’t fit with their father’s image in the community. Maybe Sunday, a pretty new nanny with a knack for getting to the bottom of household mysteries, can crack the case. You can purchase “Brothers of the Knight” at Amazon.com.

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8 years-old to 12 years-old:

Children in this age group are familiar with story line. They understand setting, plot, and characters.

Our Picks:

“The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street” by Sharon Flake explores the meaning of being a good friend and “happily ever after.” You can purchase “The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street” at Amazon.com.

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“Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington” by Jabari Asim tells the story of a young Booker T. Washington, the cherished American educator and advisor to presidents, journey five-hundred mile journey to Hampton Institute immediately after emancipation. He arrived with only fifty cents in his pocket. You can purchase “Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington” at Amazon.com.

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“Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money” by Christopher Paul Curtis takes readers on an exciting adventure with best friends Steven, Russell, and Zoopy. Steven was given a mysterious dollar bill from Mr. Chickee, an elderly blind man in the neighborhood. When Agent Fondoo from the U.S. Treasury Department finds out about it, he wants the currency back; but the team of secret government agents may have met their match in the three best friends. You can purchase “Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money” at Amazon.com.

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13 years-old to 18 years-old:

By this age, teens have established what they like to read, and some have decided that they don’t like to read at all, but with the right books, that can change.

Our picks:

“Firebird” by Misty Copeland tell the story of a young girl with fragile confidence who questions her ability to reach the heights that Misty has. You can purchase “Firebird” at Amazon.com.

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“Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is the coming of age the story of an Nigerian-American girl discovering the meaning of “blackness” in the United States of America. Her companion Obinze, was not able to join her in the states due to post 9/11 immigration policies and they eventually stop contact. He chose to try his chances as an undocumented person in London; as an alternative to the American dream. However, they reunite years later in a newly democratic Nigeria. You can purchase “Americanah” at Amazon.com.

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“Tears of a Tiger” by Sharon M. Draper uses the grief of a young Andy to refute the belief that strong boys don’t cry. After allowing the death of one of his close friends consume him, a series of letters, articles, homework assignments, and dialogue makes clear that indeed tigers do cry. You can purchase “Tears of a Tiger” at Amazon.com.

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Learn more about the Every Student Succeeds Act at nnpa.org/essa.

Dr. Elizabeth Primas is an educator, who spent more than 40 years working towards improving education for children of diverse ethnicities and backgrounds. Dr. Primas is the program manager for the NNPA’s Every Student Succeeds Act Public Awareness Campaign. Follow Dr. Primas on Twitter @ElizabethPrima3.

*Book summaries from Amazon.com.

Acclaimed author, ballerina, Misty Copeland to serve as 2018 National Library Week honorary chair

Acclaimed author, ballerina, Misty Copeland to serve as 2018 National Library Week honorary chair

by | Dec 5, 2017 | American Library Association, Illinois, K12 Education, Kansas, National

CHICAGO – Bestselling author and American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Misty Copeland will lend her support to advocate for our nation’s libraries as honorary chair of National Library Week, April 8 – 14, 2018. Like librarians and library workers, Copeland’s efforts to lead social change through her writing and teaching fuel the transformation of lives through cultural understanding, education and lifelong learning.

[/media-credit] Misty Copeland

“Libraries Transform: Libraries Lead” is the theme for this year’s 60th anniversary celebration of National Library Week, reminding the public that libraries of all types serve as community compasses that lead users to endless opportunities for community engagement, enrichment and development.

“We are honored that Misty Copeland has agreed to join us as National Library Week honorary chair,” stated American Library Association President Jim Neal. “Copeland’s efforts to lead youth to pursue their dreams regardless of what challenges they may encounter, mirrors the efforts of librarians and library workers, as they work to inspire, educate and lead users to resources that improve lives.”

Copeland’s passion is giving back to communities. She supports many charitable organizations by giving her time and influence to support the greater good. Her generosity and support has extended to libraries by means of print PSAs, social media artwork and other materials that feature Copeland. Free downloadable tools are available now at ala.org/nlw, and more will be added throughout December.

“I’m thrilled to join leaders from the library community in celebrating National Library Week,” Copeland said. “Libraries help people of all backgrounds access the services and resources they need to discover their passions and achieve their goals.”

Copeland is the author of “Ballerina Body,” an instant New York Times Bestseller, published in March 2017. She is the author of the New York Times Bestselling memoir “Life in Motion,” published March 2014. Copeland is also the author of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Book Award-winning 2014 book “Firebird,” an inspiring children’s book that shows that through hard work and dedication any young dancer can become a Firebird.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in San Pedro, California, Misty Copeland began her ballet studies at the late age of 13. At 15, she won first place in the Music Center Spotlight Awards. She studied at the San Francisco Ballet School and American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive on full scholarship and was declared ABT’s National Coca-Cola Scholar in 2000. Misty joined ABT’s Studio Company in September 2000, joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in April 2001, and in August 2007 became the company’s second African American female Soloist and the first in two decades. In June 2015, Misty was promoted to principal dancer, making her the first African American woman to ever be promoted to the position in the company’s 75-year history.

In the fall of 2014, she made history as the first black woman to perform the lead role of “Odette/Odile” in American Ballet Theatre’s Swan Lake during the company’s inaugural tour to Australia.

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is an annual observance by the American Library Association and libraries across the county each April. National Library Week celebrations include the release of the ALA’s 2018 “State of America’s Libraries Report,” April 9; National Library Workers Day, April 10; National Bookmobile Day, April 11; Take Action for Libraries Day, April 12; and the celebration of School Library Month throughout April.

For more information on National Library Week, please visit ILoveLibraries.org.

About the American Library Association
The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 56,000 members in academic, public, school, government, and special libraries. The mission of the American Library Association is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.