It’s Black History Month and we’re excited to highlight five books from our Multicultural Book Collections that bring to light incredible experiences and individuals in African-American history.
What’s more, each book features free, fun activities for kids, helping you and the child in your life to connect even more deeply to the stories.
What Color is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors
First on our list is a New York Times Best-Seller written by the iconic Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This extremely informative book draws attention to African-American inventors who might otherwise be outshined.
“C’mon genius,” Ella whispered to me. “Name some black scientists.” I’m sure I’d read about a few, but I couldn’t remember a lot of names. Finally, I said, “George Washington Carver.”
Free activities [.pdf]
Martin’s Big Words
This is an easily accessible book for young readers that illustrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s challenging fight for equality. Not only are Dr. King’s words moving, but the illustrations are so striking – honored with numerous awards, including a 2002 Caldecott Honor Book award and a 2002 Coretta Scott King Honor award.
Martin said love when others said hate. “Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.”
Free activities [.pdf]
The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby
What a story! As a reader, you can’t help but root for Wink and draw inspiration for conquering big life goals. This tale of overcoming racial obstacles is full of energy and life.
Sweat stung Wink’s eyes. He gritted his teeth and tuned out all the stomping and snorting around him. Leaning forward, he pushed Alan-a-Dale harder. The horse gave him everything it had. Wink-a-Dale crossed the finish line as the rest of the pack thundered past in a blur of browns, blacks and rainbow-colored silks.
Free activities [.pdf]
Wings
This new spin on the classic Greek tale features a young boy with wings, Ikarus, who is bullied by his peers. It’s a beautifully written and illustrated book offering a lesson in the beauty of difference.
I called to Ikarus and he sailed closer to me. I told him what someone should have long ago: “Your flying is beautiful.” For the first time, I saw Ikarus smile. At that moment I forgot about the kids who had laughed at him and me. I was just glad that Ikarus had found his wings again.
Free activities [.pdf]
More Than Anything Else
Sometimes the best way for a kid to understand the magnitude of societal injustices in the 1800s is to hear it from a child’s perspective. This book explains what life was like from the perspective of a young Booker T. Washington, who wants desperately to learn to read but isn’t allowed to enroll in school.
She doesn’t say where she got it. She can’t read it herself. But she knows this is something called the alphabet. She thinks it is a sing-y kind of thing. A song on paper.
Free activities [.pdf]
February is definitely a great time to read these books, but keep going all year long! To get started, check out our Multicultural Book Collection from 2011 and this year’s Multicultural Book Collection, which features books focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (or STEAM) themes.
Interested in learning more? Read more about RIF and Multicultural Literacy.
It’s February and love is in the air. Book love that is. Check out these recent notes from some of our RIF kids.
And if you’re struggling with finding that perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, consider giving to RIF in your sweetheart’s name. There’s nothing like the warm fuzzies they’ll get when they realize they’ve helped a child in need get their very own book.
Fairy in Danger
Phew! Fairy doctors really come in handy, don’t they? So glad you liked your book, Katie. We’re also big fans of your fairy drawing.
The Great Outdoors
Gracie, we dig funny books — like Piper Reed, Campfire Girl — too. And even though Piper does get poison ivy, we’re rooting for her right along with you. Marshmallows anybody?
Like Honest Abe
Wow, Kaimi, hearts are melting here. You just filled our bucket.
Reading Rainbow
Madeline, we couldn’t have said it any better—we think books are pretty cool too, not to mention your rainbow.
Daredevil
Javier, you’re welcome – and that’s quite an illustration! Just remember to wear a helmet, OK?
The Dinosaur Lover
Nia, Tyrannosaurus Dad is a great book, isn’t it? We just love how appreciative you are. Keep on reading kiddo!
Happy Valentine’s Day, Book People. Now let’s spread the book love.
It was a simple act. In 1966, Margaret McNamara brought a bag of used books to four boys she was tutoring. As they chose their books – the first books they owned – she saw something in them change. The books unlocked their passion for reading and learning. The books gave the boys new chances in school and life. She realized her simple act held enormous power. Reading Is Fundamental was born.
Decades later, a 10-year-old boy who loves books saved back a portion of his weekly allowance, planning to give it to an organization helping others at the end of the year.
“I love to read and I think that if all kids had books, they’d probably love it too,” says Danny McNulty, a fifth-grader in Pittsburgh. “I read about what Margaret McNamara did and thought it was amazing.”
So Danny sent RIF $58.50 – enough money to buy 23 new books for underserved kids.
“Without books, my life would be very different,” says Danny, who wants to be an engineer. “I read every night before bed. Some days, I spend hours reading. What would I do with that time?”
It’s a question many book lovers have asked, but perhaps none as wisely as Danny. Like RIF’s founder, Danny recognizes that books fuel imagination and ambition. And he wants to help every kid get that same shot at success.
“I hope my contribution will make a difference in the life of some kid out there,” says Danny.
Don’t worry, Danny. It will.
Join Danny in helping make a difference in the life of children through the power of books. Give today.
It was 1983 when 11-year-old Sangita Patel entered her school library. In front of her were piles and piles of brand new books. Like music to her ears, the teachers told her she could choose one… one to take home … for free.
Sangita has few memories of middle school, but this is one she will always remember.
When Sangita and her family immigrated to the United States, sadly the first thing to go, were books. They spent two years staying with relatives before they could settle in to their own home. And books, especially the fables and magic of children’s fiction, were a luxury too expensive to afford and too heavy to transport.
While her parents placed a high value on education, for them — fairytales were frivolous. And Sangita, a small Indian girl from the largest city in England, found herself in a small, rural Virginian town feeling very much alone … until that visit to the library.
“I’ll never forget taking home my Reading Is Fundamental book,” Sangita said. “It literally opened up a new world to me. I chose Beverly Cleary’s ‘Fifteen’ and read it cover to cover! It helped me adjust to my new surroundings, but ended up doing even more than that. It opened the door to the written word, a world that’s now not only my passion, but also my career.”
Sangita continued to read more and more books, moving from mysteries to fantasy to historical fiction. She devoured every book she could and even started writing her own short stories and fiction, ultimately leading to a successful career in the publishing industry.
Sangita credits RIF with her love of reading.
Remember famed PBS show, Reading Rainbow? Well Sangita is now President of Digital Publishing for RRKidz, Inc., stewards of the Emmy-award winning brand, overseeing the publishing platform, content development and partnerships for the company’s new app. She, along with LeVar Burton (host of Reading Rainbow for its entire duration) and team, are leading the way in revolutionizing how today’s kids learn the love of literature.
Learn about the Reading Rainbow app, a library of quality children’s literature, at www.Readingrainbow.com
RIF played no small part in her incredible outcome.
“Many of us remember Reading Is Fundamental from our childhoods, but the organization is still doing amazing work,” she added. “And children need RIF just as much today as I did back then, if not more so. It’s why I’m proud to be a supporter of the organization, as a donor and an advocate. If I could do for a child today what Reading Is Fundamental did for me back then, it would be incredible.”
To join Sangita in supporting RIF visit www.rif.org/donate. Learn about the Reading Rainbow app, a library of quality children’s literature, at www.Readingrainbow.com
As we welcome in 2013, a big thank you to the many Book People who answered our call for year-end donations. You not only met – and exceeded – our $100,000 matching gift goal, but your December gifts could buy 220,000 books for kids in need!
Now, that’s volumes of joy!
The kids at Savoy Elementary are doing great — despite several interruptions by one spotlight-hogging Moose.
Moose was joined by Caldecott-winning illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky, who read and drew for the children from his hit “Z is for Moose,” written by Kelly Bingham.
The event was made possible thanks to a partnership between Reading Is Fundamental and the Junior League of Washington. After the reading, the children all got to choose their own, free book to take home before the holidays.
In fact, thanks to the partnership, more than 6,500 children at 20 other D.C. Public Schools will be receiving books this December. They’ll also get special activity pages to take home.
Each of the schools will also receive RIF’s Multicultural Book Collection, featuring “Z is for Moose” and 39 other titles with Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math themes.
Educators and parents can download free activity pages — developed in line with Common Core Standards — for each title to help extend the learning experience. By the end of the school year, the children at Savoy will each have five new books of their own.
Through JLW’s Resolution Read program, 100,000 books will be distributed to children in Washington, D.C., honoring the organization’s 100th anniversary.
For more a behind-the-scenes look at the Savoy event, check out RIF’s photo album on Flickr.
Thanks to thousands of Book People who have rallied together with us, 2012 has been an incredible year at Reading Is Fundamental. We’ve provided millions of children with more than 2 million new books this year, including three powerful partnerships in action just this month:
- 250,000 books to children nationwide to take home just before the holidays — united with First Book and others
- 6,500 books to children in D.C. Public Schools just before the holiday break — united with Junior League of Washington
- 1,500 books to children affected by Hurricane Sandy in Queens and Staten Island — united with YMCA of Greater New York and others
Earlier this year, we launched Book People Unite, a campaign to rally support for children’s literacy. Thousands of people have taken the Book People pledge, declaring their belief in the transformative power of books. Your support has helped us:
- Raise $4.8 million during our annual Be Book Smart campaign in Macy’s stores nationwide
- Secure $4.18 million in federal funding to provide books to kids in the summer – a critical time to support their long-term academic achievement
- Honor our troops with literacy celebrations and book giveaways for their families
- Provide literacy training for educator and caregivers in rural and urban communities
- Inspire the next generation of innovators through the launch of our 2013 Multicultural Book Collection centered on Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math (or STEAM) subjects
With poverty affecting 16 million children today – and two-thirds of children in these homes lacking even a single book to call their own – our work has been more impactful than ever.
Thank you, Book People, for your steadfast support.
There’s so much more to do. We look forward to continuing the journey together. Book People Unite!
Looking for a gift for the kids in your life? Look no further.
We put out a call to RIF coordinators – experts at turning countless reluctant readers into bookworms – and asked them for the best books for kids.
They sent back some great titles. Broken out by likely age groups, we present to you this list of RIF favorites. It’s the ultimate guide for holiday shopping and family reading. Enjoy.
Kindergarten-Second Grade
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Ray Cruz
Are You My Mother?, by P.D. Eastman
Arthur (series), by Marc Brown
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, by Bill Martin, illustrated by Eric Carle
Cat in the Hat and assorted Dr. Seuss titles, by Dr. Seuss
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewig
Clifford the Big Red Dog (series), by Norman Bridwell
Curious George (series), by H.A. and Margaret Rey
Don’t Let the Pigeon (series), by Mo Willems
Fancy Nancy (series), by Jane O’Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
Fly Guy (series), by Tedd Arnold
Froggy (series), by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
How Do Dinosaurs …? (series), by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (series), by Laura Joffe Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond
Judy Moody (series), by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter Reynolds
Llama, Llama Red Pajama (series), by Anna Dewdney
Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Shelia McGraw
No, David! (and others in the series), by David Shannon
Pete the Cat (series), by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean
Pinkalicious (series), by Victoria Kann
Skippyjon Jones (series), by Judy Schachner
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle
Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak
Third-Fifth Grade
American Girl (series), by Valerie Tripp, illustrated by Dan Andreasen
Assorted joke-themed titles
Assorted NBA- and NFL-themed titles
Babymouse, by Jennifer and Matthew Holm
Bad Kitty (series), by Nick Bruel
Black Lagoon (series), by Mike Thaler, illustrated by Jared Lee
Bunnicula, by Deborah and James Howe, illustrated by Alan Daniel
Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams
Chronicles of Narnia (series), by C.S. Lewis
Dear Dumb Diary (series), by Jim Benton
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (series), by Jeff Kinney
Dork Diaries (series), by Rachel Renee Russell
The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein
Geronimo Stilton (series), by Geronimo Stilton
Goosebumps (series), by R.L. Stine
Guinness World Records titles, by Guinness World Records
Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
Hunger Games (trilogy), by Suzanne Collins
Magic Tree House (series), by Mary Pope Osborne, illustrated by Sal Murdocca
Matilda and other Roald Dahl titles, by Roald Dahl
Percy Jackson (series), by Rick Riordan
Ramona the Pest, by Beverly Cleary, illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers
Stuart Little, by E.B. White
Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginnerobot/3102623100/
Like the Mister Rogers remix from PBS Digital Studios? You’re going to love this Reading Rainbow remix! Check out what our friends at Reading Rainbow have up their sleeves now at www.readingrainbow.com. And for all the LeVar fans out there, be sure to check out his involvement in our Book People Unite campaign!
Winter holidays are the perfect time to develop reading skills in fun ways. Download our fun winter reading activities for free and check out these ideas:
- Making a list and checking it twice. Whether it’s their own wish list or it’s a list of gifts they’d like to buy or make for their family, make sure they “write” it down, even if “write” means “draw.” Let little ones “read” to you what they or you wrote. Urge the older ones to be as descriptive as possible!
- Following the recipe. From the family’s feast to a batch of sugar cookies, working with young readers in your life to follow a recipe is a great way to develop essential skills, including talking and listening. What letter does chocolate begin with? What words rhyme with flour?
- Greetings. The kids don’t have to simply be subjects in your holiday greetings. Encourage them to get involved. If you write a newsletter-style update for family and friends, give them space to contribute. If you go the photography route, they can include a handmade sign in the shot.
- Counting down the days. The little ones can practice writing those numbers with a do-it-yourself countdown calendar.
- Remembering traditions with your own books. Encourage your children to tell stories, draw pictures and write about their favorite family traditions over the holidays. Each year, you can pull out books from years past and reminisce.
- Reading treats. Even if you read aloud regularly as a family, you can make the experience special by including some holiday favorites. Hot cocoa and marshmallows, anybody?
Remember, reading with your child is about more than sitting down and sharing a book. The opportunities really are endless. Have other ideas? Share them in the comments area!
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