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Guest blogger Molly Cooney is a Lockheed Martin Engineering Leadership Development Program employee.

After 5 years at Lockheed Martin, my experiences have been varied and fascinating. I never would have imagined that upon graduating college as a Computer Science major from Villanova University, my jobs would include driving Humvees^® or guiding satellite launches. But in fact, I have done all of those things and have had many other experiences that allow me to use my education in ways that make significant impacts on the world around us.

While learning on the job, I was also able to broaden my STEM foundation with a Master’s degree in Information Systems and Technology from The Johns Hopkins University. Thanks to both my foundational education and a Lockheed Martin leadership development program, I have been able to take rotational assignments in Maryland, Arizona, California and Virginia, which not only allow me to grow my skills in managing software programs, but allow me to learn about different cultures, lifestyles, and about what I want in my career and life.

I’m Matt Grecco, Software Engineer at Lockheed Martin.  I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Notre Dame and a Master’s Degree in Statistical Sciences from George Mason University.

One of the best things about working as an engineer is the wide range of projects you can work on.  I’ve done everything from troubleshooting a computer problem on the train platform at Grand Central Station in New York City, to giving a live demonstration of our equipment to a battalion of German soldiers in southern Germany.

Another thing I really enjoy about being an engineer is the sense of accomplishment you gain when you get a breakthrough after spending days on a problem you just can’t seem to figure out.  That feeling you get when the “light bulb” goes off in your head is truly unique.  It gives you the satisfaction that coming up empty so many times really pays off in the end.

I’ve always been a problem solver and have always liked methodically putting things together.  I grew up loving ™, which is usually the start every engineer gets. The same basic engineering principles involved in building fun Lego trucks and structures, are used daily in my work as an engineer allowing me to continue solving difficult problems.

My name is Jonathan Bredemeyer and this summer marks my fourth year at Lockheed Martin since I began working on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station near my hometown in Florida. I graduated in 2006 from the Florida Institute of Technology with degrees in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering.  I’m scheduled to complete my Master’s degree in Software Engineering this year.

Everyone likes an underdog.  Adversity makes for great storytelling after the fact, regardless of the outcome.  This is one of the reasons I enjoy working on space-based systems.  There are so many obstacles to overcome and only a single chance to get it right.  Because of the formidable environment of space, nearly every product at Lockheed Martin Space System Company fits the ‘underdog’ story format.  As a software engineer and a member of the Engineering Leadership Development Program, I’ve had the opportunity over the last several years to apply my engineering skills on three different products.

After graduating from Florida Institute of Technology, I started at Lockheed Martin in Cape Canaveral, Florida working as a member of a software team developing a test system for the Trident II missile.  This involved literally walking through a missile every day to get to our test system.  I learned a great deal about embedded programming and software engineering as an applied discipline, rather than the ideal practices I’ve always read about.

My next job rotation was in Sunnyvale, California as a member of the database group on a satellite program called SBIRS. During this time, it was fascinating to learn the transformation that software and data has to endure to make it onto a satellite and then be executed correctly.  I also got to see a few of our satellites, which was an awe-inspiring experience.  While large metal squares with antennas jutting out at odd angles aren’t pretty, they do give the feel of a technically advanced product engineered to overcome the harshest environment known to man.

Currently, I’m working on the GPS3 program in the Software group, developing a data management and generation system.  Our system will collect all the data going on the satellites and process it to produce an acceptable upload file.  This will allow the satellite to correctly send and receive commands that keep it functional and able to tell your car or phone exactly where you are located.  As an engineer, I’m always looking for problems to solve, and working on space-based products has provided very interesting technological and scientifically challenging tasks in my discipline.

Now if only I can get on the Iron Man Suit Software team as my next job rotation…

Hello, I am Dr. Ray Johnson, the Chief Technology Officer for the Lockheed Martin Corporation.

I have a great job that allows me and the 70,000 Lockheed Martin scientists and engineers to explore and discover the wonders of science. We engineer solutions and use new technologies to protect people and improve their lives, and we constantly look for new and exciting ways to be innovative.

Technical careers rely on an educational foundation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). My colleagues and I also rely on these technical disciplines. We are deeply concerned about the shortage of scientists and engineers here in the U.S. and about the need to reinvigorate future generations to pursue technical careers. We recognize the importance of these areas of study, and through our company’s support, we are involved in a number of initiatives to encourage students to get involved in STEM-related activities.

One initiative Lockheed Martin supports, and that I am greatly excited about, is the upcoming USA Science and Engineering Festival that will be held in Washington, D.C. from October 10-24, 2010. As the Festival Host, we hope to have a million people participate; the best part—it’s free. The event culminates with a two-day Science Expo on the National Mall featuring more than 1,000 exhibits spanning an incredible array of technical fields: aerospace, green energy, medicine, biotechnology, climatology, robotics, nanotechnology, and so many more.

The Festival will be an incredible experience for any student. We hope to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers to invest in their future and America’s future by studying science, technology, engineering, and math at their schools.

Guest Blogger Rachael Walker is the Outreach Consultant for Reading Rockets, a national multimedia initiative which aims to inform and inspire parents, teachers, childcare providers, and others who touch the life of a child by providing comprehensive, accessible information on how to teach kids to read and help those who struggle. Rachael began her career in children’s literacy at Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), has also served as a consultant to the NEA’s Read Across America campaign, and was most recently the Executive Director of Reach Out and Read of Metro DC.

At my son’s elementary school, I’m known to some as Princess Rita Alot, to others, the Book Fairy.  While out shopping, I’ve been recognized as “the space alien who came to school.”  I like to dress up! School book fairs and library nights have given me many opportunities to have fun with favorite themes and characters.

I’m realizing now though that I’ve been very limited in my costume choices, neglecting the wondrous world of nonfiction. So Science Fair, here I come—in my late 19^th century dress with a vial of (pretend) radium and Kathleen Krull’s biography of Marie Curie.

How did I lose track of so many great nonfiction opportunities?  As a parent, I don’t think I’m alone.  When my kids were younger, we read a lot about shapes, colors, animals and then trains.  Lots and lots of books about trains.  Which is normal. As children get older, their interest in specialized information grows stronger.  The trick I think is to remember to keep introducing potential new interests so that you don’t wander away from nonfiction all together just because you’ve exhausted (or been exhausted by) one favorite subject.

Reading Rockets has some interesting resources and activities for engaging in nonfiction reading.  The Family Literacy Bags which pair a set of theme-based fiction and nonfiction books and related interactive activities are great to encourage reading at home and support the role of parents as educators.  Sleep is the newest themed bag and wonderful to share during cold winter weather.

The Family Literacy Bags also offer these tips for reading nonfiction books with kids:

• Wonder out loud. As you are reading, or afterward, talk about facts you find interesting or questions you have.
• Show your child how to use the table of contents, section headings, index, and word list (glossary) to find the answer to a specific question.
• Don’t be afraid to jump around, reading pages that especially interest your child. You don’t have to read a nonfiction book straight through.

If you’re unsure of where to start with nonfiction, this Quick Guide to Selecting Great Informational Books for Young Children will give you a very thorough introduction.  But if you have nonfiction fans in your house, they might enjoy learning more about how these kinds of books are made.  These video interviews with Gail Gibbons, Seymour Simon and George Ancona will give curious minds even mor

Guest Blogger Lydia Breiseth is the manager of the bilingual English-Spanish website Colorín Colorado, whose mission is to provide educators and parents with information about teaching English language learners to read and succeed. Ms. Breiseth began her career teaching English to adults in Ecuador with the educational exchange program WorldTeach, and has subsequently taught English and Spanish in a variety of educational and family literacy programs to students of all ages. Prior to working at Colorín Colorado, Ms. Breiseth served as the Community Affairs Liaison at Telemundo Washington DC, managing outreach initiatives to the region’s Hispanic community.

As I read through the deluge of news reports and heartbreaking stories during the early aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, one particular report from Florida stood out:

Phones rang off the hook at Evans High, the Pine Hills school with a significant Haitian population that immediately set up a donations site after the earthquake.  More than 650 Evans students — about one-third of its student body — are Haitian.

“Central Florida pitches in to help Haiti”, Orlando Sentinel, 1/15/10

To think of such a huge percentage of a school’s population being affected by the earthquake is staggering; what really struck me, however, was that image of community members being so moved and concerned for the students in their school that they picked up the phone, called the school, and found out what they could do to help the students affected by the earthquake.

By offering support and donations to their local school, these community members made a powerful statement: we will care for all of the students in our schools – no matter who they are, and no matter where they are from.  It is an especially important message in these days of heated immigration debates and discussions about our obligations (or lack thereof) to children of immigrants in this country.

In subsequent days, I have seen other such stories from around the nation – not just Florida and New York, but Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, and Maryland.  Communities have mobilized to support their Haitian families, and their commitment to their neighbors is a welcome glimmer during a period of tragedy and loss.

As the communities rally, educators now have a daunting task to build a support network for students affected by the earthquake, and continue discussion with other students who want to better understand what has happened in Haiti.  For ideas and resources that will help those efforts, take a look at the following articles from Colorín Colorado and Reading Rockets:

Helping Haitian Students Cope with the Earthquake
www.colorincolorado.org/article/35420

It Happened Over There: Understanding and Empathy Through Children’s Books
www.readingrockets.org/article/35419

By starting these important conversations with students and each other, we can address the challenges facing our neighbors and our own children – one discussion and phone call at a time.

Guest blogger Tina Chovanec is the director of Reading Rockets.org: the authoritative online source for comprehensive and accessible information about teaching young children to read and helping those who struggle. Reading Rockets is one of four multimedia educational websites created by Learning Media, a division of WETA, the PBS affiliate in the Washington DC area.

“Everybody can be great because anybody can serve…You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” [Martin Luther King, Jr.]

Hearts and hands will join together across the country on January 18^th, a day transformed from a “day off” to a national Day of Service to honor the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 18^th is rolling in quickly. It’s not too late to help out on one of the projects your community has planned for that day. You can find an opportunity close to home by visiting Serve.gov, an online resource managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Some ideas are included after the jump. And it’s not too early to start planning a service project for next year: the site also has resources for individuals and organizations, including tips on fundraising, building partnerships, organizing the day, and how to be an effective team leader, as well as a planning toolkit, project examples, and more. Follow MLKDay on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook!

Get Ur Good On? Our partner, Youth Service America, sponsors a lively online network of blogs, photos, and videos that showcase the diverse voices of youth who are “doing good” in their communities. Jump in and join the conversation.

At Reading Rockets, we’ve come up with some reading-writing-and-book-inspired ideas for the Day of Service or for a year-round community project. Here’s our Top 12. Add your ideas to the list!

1. Volunteer to tutor a struggling reader (check out our Tips for Reading Tutors)
2. Help organize and refresh your local school library
3. Teach kids how to safely use the Internet
4. Paint a book-inspired mural at your local child care center
5. Become a pen pal with a young learner
6. Collect gently used books or games like Scrabble for a community center
7. Organize a community oral history project
8. Lead a story hour for young kids (try these Hints on How to Read Aloud to a Group)
9. Plan a read-a-thon for students where number of minutes read equals number of cans of food for your local food bank
10. Take a group of kids and a field guide on a naturalist walk at a local park: teach some map reading and do a clean-up along the way!
11. Host a community cooking demonstration that engages families in recipe reading and cooking healthy meals
12. Organize a penny drive to make grants to local libraries or community organizations that support literacy projects

Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream, but he was also a doer. Kids can find models for action in life and in books. In this lovely co

Guest blogger Danny Pettry is the author of Discover Hidden Secret Wisdom: A Recreational Therapist’s System on How You Can Become Great at Anything. In honor of the release of this book, Mr. Pettry has made a donation to First Book to provide new books to children in need.

“The book you don’t read won’t help you,” is a quote that was often said by the late legendary motivational speaker, Jim Rohn. Rohn’s quote is a key to personal growth and development. Great wisdom is hidden in books. However, a person must read books to discover their secrets.

Reading and writing are two of my favorite hobbies. Helping people is my life’s passion. Naturally, I felt the desire to write a book on how “reading books” can help a person to become self-fulfilled and successful in life.

Discover Hidden Secret Wisdom: A Recreational Therapist’s System on How You Can Become Great at Anything is a book that was designed for people who are seeking to find their way in life. Each of the 12 chapters is a prescription towards wellness, success, happiness and greatness. Readers can find this book to present a captivating approach to self-discovery. Many of the lessons in the book are based on my personal experiences as a recreational therapist for a children’s unit at a psychiatric hospital. I weaved together personal experiences and examples from a wide range of sources from self-help authors to scientific researchers. Bibliotherapy (the therapeutic use of books) is a technique that I use to help children with aggression problems to become more empathetic. We read children’s stories and have discussions about how each character felt during different parts of the story. We talk about safe and fair solutions that characters in the story could have taken. Learning to read promotes the child’s self-esteem and social skills, based on my personal experiences. I try to promote and encourage these children to become avid readers at a young age.

Discover Hidden Secret Wisdom is more than a book. It is mission to promote reading and literacy. There are a large number of people who’ll never read another book after high school. Many more will never read another book after college. An estimated 13 percent of adults in my home state of West Virginia didn’t have basic literacy skills in 2003, according to a report from the National Center for Education Statistics.

I decided to form a partnership and donate to First Book in honor of Discover Hidden Secret Wisdom because of their shared vision and mission to promote reading and literacy. I am always glad to hear about the wonderful things that First Book is doing to help provide books for children in need. I believe that avid reading should start during childhood.

Dr. Seuss said it best: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Have you read any good self-improvement books lately?

For more information about Discover Hidden Secret Wisdom, please click here.

Guest blogger Maia Haag is an author and CEO of I See Me!, publishers of very high quality personalized children’s books. If you purchase these award-winning personalized storybooks at www.iseeme.com using code fsj11435a at check-out, you will receive free domestic standard shipping and I See Me! Inc. will donate $10 per book sold to First Book!

Have you ever noticed that some people seem to live a charmed life and others seem to face problem after problem? Some of my friends are almost always happy, while others experience one drama after another. What makes the sun shine brighter in some people’s lives than in others?

I would argue that it all comes back to what we heard from our parents during our childhood. If a child is repeatedly told that she is special and can accomplish anything, she grows up believing that she has the power to overcome obstacles. She is willing to try new things, knowing that if she fails in her endeavor, it does not mean that she herself is a failure. Believing that she is in control of her destiny, she has a positive outlook on life which leads to greater happiness and success.

On the other hand, if a child is repeatedly told that he is not good enough, he will start to put down his own talents and abilities. He is less likely to try new things for fear of failure. When life throws challenges his way, he is more likely to feel as if he is a victim without the ability to affect the outcome. He easily becomes overwhelmed by the challenges of life.

Parents can make a significant impact on their child’s self-image through daily communications. How can you as a parent build self-esteem in your child?

• Tell your child regularly how much you love him or her and how glad you are that your child is part of your family. Don’t assume that your child knows this.
• When your child does something well, tell your child how proud you are of him or her. Describe what you thought your child did well. Use this opportunity to remind your child that he or she can accomplish anything with enough effort.
• If your child does something that you do not like, talk about the fact that your child made a wrong choice rather than implying that your child is a bad person. This gives your child the power to make the right choice the next time and it maintains your child’s self-esteem.
• If your child is nervous about trying something new, help your child envision success.  If your child can see himself or herself completing the challenge, it becomes less daunting.

I strongly believe that parents can help shape their child’s self-image.  As a parent myself and a children’s book author and publisher, I have made it our company’s mission to help build self-esteem in children through our books.  Our storybooks are all personalized, made one-by-one for each child to make the child feel unique and special.  Since reading at bedtime is a quiet time when parents can focus on their child, we have developed personalized storybooks that describe the child’s positive character traits.

We enthusiastically support First Book’s mission because giving children their very own books and helping them learn to read builds children’s s

Guest Blogger Mike Cowan is the Director of Marketing at Demand Studios, an online community of freelancers and copy editors who produce articles for several online outlets. Demand Studios is partnering with First Book this December to provide thousands of books to children in need.

I believe you are a lucky child if you grow up in an environment surrounded by books.  Considering that my mother is a librarian, I feel that I truly hit the jackpot in this regard.  In our family room we had a huge wall unit filled with hundreds of books and before my brother and I could read we had already chosen our favorites based on their size and colors.  I was a huge War and Peace fan due to its sheer enormity while my brother was a fan of a book called Trinity by Leon Uris because of its green color.  When we were actually able to read these books my brother was drawn to the fantasy of books like The Hobbit while I seemed to gravitate towards non-fiction titles like The History of Hockey and The Guinness Book of World Records.   Safe to say that his choices won him a little more credibility with my mother.

Now that I’m all grown up, I’m lucky enough to work with the thousands of creative, literary people every day at Demand Studios. As one of the world’s largest communities of freelance writers and copy editors, we bring together more than 5,000 talented creators to produce top-quality articles for sites like LIVESTRONG.com and eHow.com.  And just like me, they all have a story about how they first fell in love with the wonder of the written word.

That’s why we decided to reach out to First Book to create a program that would inspire our freelance community to take action and support childhood literacy.  Our “Write for a Cause” program is simple: For every eight articles written and approved by Demand Studios during the month of December, we’ll donate a book on behalf of our writers and copy editors.  We’ve challenged our creators to contribute their talents to the cause, and we’re targeting a total donation of 20,000 brand new books this holiday season.

We’re excited to put our scale to excellent use, by mobilizing our freelance community to play an active role in increasing childhood literacy.  In partnership with First Book, we hope to rewrite the future for thousands of kids. Please visit our “Write for a Cause” information page to learn how you can help!

Happy holidays!

Guest blogger Evette Rios is regularly featured on the syndicated TV talk show, “Rachael Ray.” Evette Rios has also designed on camera for HGTV’s “Freestyle”, and TLC’s “In A Fix.” Evette Rios designs interiors through her firm Sitio, bringing experience working in several of Manhattan’s top interior firms. A graduate of Bates College, Evette Rios also attended both Parsons School of Design and the Graduate School of Design at Harvard. Evette Rios also shares her design advice in spanish in “Siempre Mujer” magazine.

Walking into The Brooklyn Brownstone School, I couldn’t help but feel elated to see painted on the foundation of their building the following motto: “creating a community of lifelong learners.” It was a thrill to visit the class of precocious second graders! They were all very interested in my read-aloud of Mercy Watson to the Rescue. They even acted out scenes and tried to predict the ending!

We gathered in the library for reading time, I shared a bit of my history with the kids (after all, I’m a Brooklyn girl myself) and we made bookmarks shaped like a pig to tie in with the theme of the story.

My friends from Eight O’Clock Coffee and Candlewick Press provided two brand new books for each child with the help of First Book. They were heroes, donating 250 books for the school – two for every student! But, the real heroes were the children, who delighted in each word and enthusiastically participated in making crafts and story time. Once they received their books, many kids had them opened to chapter 6, the page where we last left Mercy in our read-aloud. They couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

It was a treat for me to join the students of the Brooklyn Brownstone School. I know we were able to make a difference in the next chapter of their lives.

Guest blogger and First Book supporter Mindy Klasky is the author of ten novels. Her most recent release, HOW NOT TO MAKE A WISH, launches the As You Wish series, which chronicles a mischievous genie and his effect on various theatrical productions and the people who run them. Mindy also wrote the Jane Madison series, about a love-struck D.C. librarian who discovers that she’s a witch. Visit www.mindyklasky.com to learn more about Mindy’s work and her support of First Book.

When I was a lawyer, I attended conferences regularly, to keep up to date on developments in the legal field, thereby avoiding legal malpractice.  When I was a librarian, I also attended conferences, to learn about new technology, new trends in customer service, and to reinforce my worth to my attorney-clients, helping them to avoid legal malpractice.

But why should I go to conferences as a writer?  Especially when I no longer have an employer paying my way?  Especially when every day that I spend at a conference talking about writing is a day that I don’t actually spend, you know, writing?

The first – and by far most important – reason to go to a writing conference is to visit the people.  At a writing conference, I can talk about the joys and jeremiads of a full inbox, and all the people around me understand.  I can discuss the terror of staring at a blank computer screen, and people share their strategies for coping with their own horror-inducing screens.  I can grumble about deadlines and or chatter about goals and aspirations, and every single person in the room has something to contribute, sharing their stories about the same.  A few business meetings take place at conference — I can see my agent and my editor face to face, conveying my excitement about current and upcoming projects.  Also, my closest writer friend is still the first one that I met at my first conference – there’s some bond there that can’t be broken.

The second reason to go to a writing conference is to attend structured programming.  At most conventions, there are panels where writers discuss specific topics for an hour or more.  I’ve attended panels to learn about new trends in my genres, about historic works in my field, about tangential scientific or social developments that relate to my books.  More often that not, I dig out my notebook during panels, sketching out new ideas for short stories or novels, inspired by the speakers.  Many conferences include other types of programming — readings (where authors read from recent work, which often results in my purchasing too many new books!), autographing sessions (where I can get those new treasures signed), and special sessions (such as one memorable “poison tasting” seminar, where an author used different brands of chocolate to encourage sensory analysis, all the while promoting a book about a woman who serves as a nobleman’s poison taster.)  Structured convention programming feeds my mind with new story ideas.

The third reason to attend a writing conference is to learn more about the place where the conference is held.  I’ve had the opportunity to explore major cities while attending conferences — Atlanta, Dallas, Montreal, Toronto….  The list goes on.  Leaving the convention hotel and getting out to the “real world” reinforces the power of the convention itself.  I can visit museums or simply people watch, and more story ideas flow, triggered by the swirling thoughts already stirred up by the conference.

Do you attend conferences for your job or your hobby?  If so, what do you get out of them?

Guest blogger and First Book supporter Mindy Klasky is the author of ten novels.  Her most recent release, HOW NOT TO MAKE A WISH, launches the As You Wish series, which chronicles a mischievous genie and his effect on various theatrical productions and the people who run them.  Mindy also wrote the Jane Madison series, about a love-struck D.C. librarian who discovers that she’s a witch. Visit www.mindyklasky.com to learn more about Mindy’s work and her support of First Book.

Last week, my newest novel hit the stands.  HOW NOT TO MAKE A WISH is the story of Kira Franklin, a stage manager for a down-and-out dinner theater.  When Kira discovers a wish-granting genie in a magic lamp, her entire life is turned upside down.  I had a lot of fun writing Kira’s story, but it was challenging to come up with some aspects of her world.  No, it was easy enough to depict Minneapolis, a city where I lived for several years.  And it was easy enough to show how staging plays works – I spent a lot of time as a stage manager in college.  Specifically, it was challenging to come up with limitations on the magic in Kira’s world.

How do genie wishes really work?  Why doesn’t everyone just wish for more wishes?  Why doesn’t everyone wish for infinite money, which would make a lot of other wishes come true?  World peace, perfect health for everyone, the end of hunger – why not just embrace those possibilities and make them real?

In Kira’s story, the genie offers some very good reasons.  (Short version:  the genie has an attention-span problem.  Major wishes take major time to implement, and the genie can’t concentrate for long enough to complete the task.)

Nevertheless, when writing the book, I started to wonder what small time-limited wish could have the broadest impact on society.  My thoughts were gelled when I watched a segment on CBS News Sunday Morning, about long-time adult illiterates who found the courage to step forward and learn to read.  Every single one of those adults said his or her life changed radically, once they overcame a lifetime of hiding their inability to read.

People often ask me what I would wish for, if I only had one wish.  I have a whole long list of selfish things that I want.  But, if I were making a wish to better the world, I’d ask for everyone to be able to read.  (And if they chose to read my novels, well, so much the better!  ::grin::)

How about you?  What would you wish for?

Guest blogger Liana Heitin has taught students with special needs for the past five years as a public school teacher, reading specialist, and private tutor. She has a master’s degree in cross-categorical special education and is a freelance Web editor for LD OnLine, the leading website on learning disabilities and ADHD. LD OnLine offers research-based information and expert advice for parents, students, and educators. Liana’s writing has been featured in such publications as Education Week, teachermagazine.org, and the recent book, The Ultimate Teacher (HCI Books, May 2009).

While most kids (and many adults) are eagerly awaiting the 31^st of the month, we here at LD OnLine are enjoying every day of October or — as we know it — LD Awareness Month! In Canada and the U.S., this month is dedicated to educating the public about learning disabilities in order to build acceptance and understanding.

If you’re in the know about LD, spreading your knowledge may seem like a daunting task. But LD Awareness Month isn’t necessarily about setting out on a campaign to inform the world. It’s about starting in your world and watching the knowledge proliferate beyond.

As usual, the best place to start is in your own home. If you have a child with a disability, it’s important for him or her to understand what that disability is all about, in order to find comfort and learn to self-advocate. If your child does not have a disability, there is inevitably someone in his or her class who does and is in need of supportive peers.

There are lots of great children’s books out there that explain what it’s like to have LD and promote the idea that everyone has different strengths and needs. Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco and I Wish I Could Fly Like a Bird by Katherine Denison are great options for younger kids. Both have pictures and tell a story that allows you to connect and empathize with the main character. Older students may like Shirley Kirnoff’s The Human Side of Dyslexia or Kinko’s founder Paul Orfalea’s Copy This! Lessons from a Hyperactive Dyslexic who Turned a Bright Idea Into One of America’s Best Companies, both of which offer hopeful yet realistic first-person accounts about living with LD.

For young students, stories featuring characters with LD can also be effective classroom read-alouds. Consider passing a book about learning disabilities on to your child’s teacher or offering to come to school and read one to the entire class. Kids are surprisingly receptive to classroom guests, and the message behind a visitor’s reading is likely to stay with them.

To find more titles of books about LD, check out our LD Resources page.

Guest blogger and First Book supporter Mindy Klasky is the author of six fantasy novels, including the award-winning, best-selling The Glasswrights’ Apprentice and numerous short stories. Her latest trilogy, The Jane Madison Series, chronicles a love-struck D.C. librarian who discovers she’s a witch. Visit www.mindyklasky.com to learn more about Mindy’s work and her support of First Book.

When I was a child, my parents told me that books could take me anywhere I wanted to go.  Books were like magic lamps, filled with genies just waiting to grant wishes for me.  I could travel as far as Narnia as I read C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, or I could stay as close as my own backyard, reading through the field guides of Herbert S. Zim, searching for the birds and insects and other creatures so painstakingly drawn in those pocket books.

My short stories and novels allow me to continue studying the power of wishes.  I can explore what the world would be like if witches truly did have powers to work their spells in the suburbs of Washington, DC (the Jane Madison Series).  I can play with forces of nature, extrapolate how priestesses could harness the age-old wisdom of their predecessors through an ancient, all-observing tree (Season Of Sacrifice).  I can study the high points and low points of human nature when children are used as political pawns, fighting to do what is good in kingdoms where evil is all too common (the Glasswrights Series).

In my most recent books, though, I can explore the power of wishing much more directly.  Kira Franklin, the stage manager heroine of How  Not To Make A Wish, finds a magic lamp that contains a wish-granting genie.  She wishes her way into a production of Romeo and Juliet, thinking that her professional and personal lives will never be better.  Only then does she discover that some wishes are much more complicated than she’d ever envisioned.

Playing with Kira and her magic lamp allowed me to consider what I would wish for if a genie ever manifested in my home office.  (More bookshelves might be the first order of the day!)  I’ve considered gifts that I would give my family and friends.  I’ve thought about treasures I would seek for myself.

I’m collecting wishes, to include on my website in October, when the As You Wish series officially launches.  Tell me your wish in comments below, and I’ll include it on my website!  (Don’t be shy – I won’t be including names!)

Guest blogger Tina Chovanec is the director of Reading Rockets.org: the authoritative online source for comprehensive and accessible information about teaching young children to read and helping those who struggle. Reading Rockets is one of four multimedia educational websites created by Learning Media, a division of WETA, the PBS affiliate in the Washington DC area.

Children’s writer Sid Fleischman has a magical way with words. Before he ever took pen to paper to write his wonderful and original tall tales (By the Great Horn Spoon), mysteries (The 13^th Floor), and biographies (Escape: The Story of the Great Houdini), Fleischman was a sleight-of-hand master, a magician in a traveling vaudeville troupe.

I can’t help but think that those years perfecting his magician’s patter and delighting audiences with the element of surprise and whimsy helped shape his approach to writing.

In The Abracadabra Kid, A Writer’s Life, Fleischman reveals some of his secrets to great writing. Here are three from his bag of tricks:

The main character should be changed by the events of the story. Magicians call this “transformation” – a silk handkerchief changing from plain white to carnival polka dots, seemingly right before your eyes. In The Whipping Boy, the willful, self-centered Prince Brat is slowly but surely changed by his adventures with the clever orphan Jemmy.

Give weather reports. If “the day’s so hot wallpaper is peeling off the walls,” say so – it creates real, tactile atmosphere and can help surround the reader with the story.

Use imagery – it’s powerful shorthand. Fleischman is master of the simile and metaphor: “He could make a half dollar tumble like a flashing silver acrobat across his knuckles.” Be careful with word choice as the language must feel authentic to the characters and the narrative. “I have never had any luck in the thesaurus,” says Fleischman. Find your own unexpected ways to bring words – colorful and plain – together.

In this video interview from Reading Rockets, Fleischman talks about why books matter to kids, his “mosaic-like” approach to writing non-fiction, and why he keeps a journal of names.

Fleischman’s advice for young writers? First, read widely and with enthusiasm. Second, exercise your writing muscles so that they become strong and limber. Keep a diary, pen a set of letters, or try your hand at writing a short story. Reading Rockets shares some simple ways that parents can encourage writing at home.

Student writers need lots of support as they build their skills. Teachers can use picture books to teach young writers about basic plot structures and how to organize their own stories effectively. In this video clip “Writing Poems,” a second grade teacher leads a writing workshop that actively engages kids in the writing process and learning how to avoid “tired words.”

Sometimes all it takes to spark student writing is a good prompt. Reading Rockets and AdLit.org will be giving kids a chance to flex their writing muscles (beginning on September 26^th) with our new “Prompt Response” writing contest, inspired by the Library of Congress and National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance Exquisite Corpse Adventure. Here’s a sneak peek at the writing challenge, but stay tuned for more details in the weeks ahead!

[Oh, and if you’ve ever wanted to amaze your friends with a Cool, Knock-Em-Dead, No Skill, Nine-Card Card Trick, here’s your chance to learn one from Sid Fleischman, the master conjuror himself. First, grab a deck of cards...]

Guest blogger and First Book supporter Mindy Klasky is the author of six fantasy novels, including the award-winning, best-selling The Glasswrights’ Apprentice and numerous short stories. Her latest trilogy, The Jane Madison Series, chronicles a love-struck D.C. librarian who discovers she’s a witch. Visit www.mindyklasky.com to learn more about Mindy’s work and her support of First Book.

Last month, I was paging through my friends’ Facebook status updates, and I saw a post that amused me.  L., a rising high school sophomore, posted that she thought summer reading lists were cruel and inhuman punishment.  L. is the precocious daughter of friends.  She reads avidly, enjoying a number of genres.  She is an articulate young woman who is able to hold her own with adults in conversations that range from culture to politics to athletics.  She has tons of friends her own age, and she enjoyed a trip to camp for the summer.

And yet, this well-rounded, intelligent, academically gifted young woman despises summer reading.

I posted a response, gently teasing her for her opinion and noting that some of my summer reading lists introduced me to some of my favorite novels (Lord of the Flies, The Ox-Bow Incident, Animal Farm, and Huckleberry Finn, just to name a few that are visible from my writing desk.)  Never one to back down from a good-intentioned argument, L. immediately wrote back, clarifying that her problem wasn’t with reading, itself.  Rather, her problem was with writing — completing a mandatory “personal response” essay to every three chapters that she read.

And, at that point, I had to agree with L.  I understand requiring students to write some sort of essay so that they can prove they completed their summer reading.  (I’d like to live in a world where students could sign an Honor Code, stating that they’d completed their reading, and that such a signature would be accepted as binding, but I know that I live a fantasy life at times. )

But responding, every three chapters, in writing?  Confirming “I’m still reading!”  Verifying “I’m still here!” every few thousand words?  That sort of micro-management demonstrates a grave distrust of students.  Even more, though, it demands that readers pull themselves out of the story, put their books on hold while they craft written responses.  Readers must set aside story for essay, forget about the sense-of-wonder, the other-ness of great writing, solely to check off mundane details in a monitoring essay.

In the end, L. and I agreed to disagree about summer reading lists. L. still felt that her summer was being impinged upon by required reading; I didn’t think the reading requirement itself was too demanding.  But we both agreed that “personal response” essays had no place in a summer program.

What about you?  Did you ever find any favorite books through summer reading?  Was that reading required, or by choice?

Guest blogger Shadarus Semloue has helped to raise funds for First Book via Blogathon and alterna-thons for the past four years running.

Hello fellow readers,

I am not only an avid devourer of books but also the type of person who thoroughly enjoys making the world around her a bit better whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Regardless of whether it’s being kind to a new cashier when the other customers in their line are being impatient, helping someone with a baby in their arms load their groceries into their trunk, or just offering a friendly smile to someone who seems to be down, there is always something one can do to help, no matter how inconsequential it may seem in the grand scheme.

I now suffer from a medical condition that often keeps me house-bound (thank goodness for the internet!) but I find that I still have the urge to make that small difference in someone’s life even if I’ve never met them face-to-face.

When I first heard of Blogathon I knew that this was the perfect opportunity for me but honestly had no idea what charities were available or which one to choose.  I, of course, immediately posed the question to my fellow bloggers to find out what they recommended.  It seemed that everyone had their own pet charity and told stories of how they helped to raise funds and/or donated themselves, be it in the form of time or money.  The following story, however, was the one which caught my attention as it was told from an entirely different viewpoint.

I had known for years that one of  ‘the friends who live in my computer’ was a wonderful woman who ran a foster home for children with serious medical problems and upon learning that I was interested in participating in Blogathon she wrote to me and explained how wonderful her dealings with First Book were.  She told me how every time she took any of her children to the doctor they went home with a new book, courtesy of First Book, and how it brought a bit of happiness to what would otherwise be an extremely daunting experience for the child.  This, of course, sealed the deal.

It encompassed my love of reading, it helped children who were not only in need but also at that critical stage where finding an escape from everyday life was especially important (these children with medical issues often didn’t have many of the outlets available to their ‘healthy’ counterparts), and I knew that any funds I raised would be put to good use because I now had a first-hand account of the results.

Thank you, First Book, for bringing a bit of light into their lives, it has been immensely appreciated!
~Shadarus (aka: A Rather Shady Mogwi)

Guest blogger and First Book supporter Mindy Klasky is the author of six fantasy novels, including the award-winning, best-selling The Glasswrights’ Apprentice and numerous short stories. Her latest trilogy, The Jane Madison Series, chronicles a love-struck D.C. librarian who discovers she’s a witch. Visit www.mindyklasky.com to learn more about Mindy’s work and her support of First Book.

Last month, I spent a lot of time in and around hospitals, helping a relative recover from surgery.  With many long hours spent in waiting rooms, I completed a lot of reading.  Day after day, I was struck by the nature of what people choose to read when they are worried, stressed, and generally out of sorts.

For my part, I took solace in a mammoth stack of back issues of The New Yorker.  I enjoyed the cartoons, I dashed through some of the short columns, and I indulged in numerous long essays that had nothing whatsoever to do with doctors, nurses, or medical treatments.  When I finished the dozen or so magazines that I’d brought, I treated myself to novels — light fiction — completely ignoring the stack of serious, thought-provoking “Literature” that sits on my to-be-read shelf.

Other people have other coping reading strategies. The hospital gift shop stocked dozens of gossip magazines, letting visitors escape into the Hollywood lives of movie stars and elite athletes.  Those stacks were complemented by so-called women’s magazines, lifestyle periodicals designed to remind everyone that there *is* life outside of the four walls of a hospital room.  Many visitors took advantage of the offered escapism.

Not surprisingly, many people read the Bible while they waited. Because the hospital was in a community with many Somali refugees, most hospital waiting rooms had a copy of the Koran available, as well as Old and New Testaments.

Mysteries were popular - anxious family members and friends could track down murderers and thieves, even as they waited for news that surgeons had vanquished corporal foes.  Romances were present in abundance - many of them in large type, to facilitate reading by tired eyes.

The hospital hosted a library for patients and visitors, and the nun who founded the collection was memorialized with a lovely portrait in the main lobby.  Staring at her patient, compassionate features, I was reminded that reading is an escape, a release, a necessary chance to be someone we aren’t, to go places that we can’t.

Now that my relative is well on the road to new health, I’m beginning to feel ready to tackle the meatier materials on my to-be-read shelf. I might, though, decide to baby myself just a little while longer… that’s what *summer* reading is all about, right?

What books have guided you when you have been stressed?  Which books have been a comfort?

Guest blogger Liana Heitin has taught students with special needs for the past five years as a public school teacher, reading specialist, and private tutor. She has a master’s degree in cross-categorical special education and is a freelance Web editor for LD OnLine, the leading website on learning disabilities and ADHD. LD OnLine offers research-based information and expert advice for parents, students, and educators. Liana’s writing has been featured in such publications as Education Week, teachermagazine.org, and the recent book, The Ultimate Teacher (HCI Books, May 2009).

Last week, on a whim, I began to re-read my favorite book from middle school: Lois Lowry’s The Giver.  As I turned the pages, I kept expecting to have a new adult reaction to the story—to see the allegory as simple or recognize the protagonist’s dilemma as trite.

Instead, I experienced just what I had as a 6th grader. I felt the excitement of entering the science fiction world and exploring its rules. The main character’s curiosity and loss of innocence became my own once again.  And upon reaching the abrupt ending, I had a familiar emotional rush—shock, a twinge of frustration, and ultimately satisfaction.

Lowry is an adept storyteller, but I’m pretty sure that’s not the only reason I reverted to my 6th grade self. When I first read The Giver, it changed me. It made me think and feel in a way words on pages never had—and guided me toward many other books, many more ideas and feelings.  It made me into a reader. I will never outgrow The Giver because it was part of such a formative moment in my life.

A few years ago, I was teaching a gifted 9th grader with a learning disability in reading. Demetri had never finished a chapter book on his own. The two of us had been working on fluency for months, starting well below grade level, when I brought in Of Mice and Men.  We began reading together, making slow but steady progress.

Over spring break, I asked Demetri to read at least five pages a night. I gave him a homework chart and a pep talk but worried he wouldn’t follow through—Demetri was a hard worker but some days it could take him 20 minutes to finish a page.  He returned the next week and sat down, a quiet grin spreading across his face.  “I finished it,” he said, and launched into an explanation of how the book had become a movie in his mind and he hadn’t been able to stop reading. “The end was such a surprise! I never would have guessed!” Of Mice and Men had changed Demetri, like The Giver had me. We began to make a list of other books he would enjoy.

Demitri was 15 years old when he found the book that inspired him—the one he’ll read with equal fervor and delight if he picks it up a decade or two down the road.  Some people find their book at a younger age—and some unlucky readers never find it at all.  If you know a child who hasn’t discovered her The Giver or Of Mice and Men, take the summer to explore topics and genres that interest her.  Read together. Talk about your own favorite childhood books.  Comb through library shelves. And guide your child toward the book that will turn him or her into a reader.

For more tips on summer reading and learning activities, particularly for students with learning disabilities, check out the LD Online Summer Beach Bag.

Guest Blogger Rachael Walker is the Outreach Consultant for Reading Rockets, a national multimedia initiative which aims to inform and inspire parents, teachers, childcare providers, and others who touch the life of a child by providing comprehensive, accessible information on how to teach kids to read and help those who struggle. Rachael began her career in children’s literacy at Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), has also served as a consultant to the NEA’s Read Across America campaign, and was most recently the Executive Director of Reach Out and Read of Metro DC.

Summer’s getting so close now I can almost taste it.  The garden is planted and soon we’ll be enjoying more than just the early lettuce.  There’s plenty of fresh, tasty and nutritious food coming our way!

But its not only dietary pleasures we have to look forward to in the coming months.  What books will be on the menu for summer reading this year?  And what kind of experiences and activities will help serve up learning while school’s out?

We’ll see if my kids are as excited as I am about these ideas:

Start a neighborhood book club with other families. This is going on with fifth graders in our old neighborhood and I think it’s a great way to keep reading social and low-key.  Kids and parents read the same book and parents help lead the discussion and plan activities.  I think Carl Hiaasen’s Hoot is planned summer reading along with a trip to the park for a stream clean up. PBS Parents has a wonderful collection of tips on how to start a club and encourage great discussions.

Get a lot of take out—from our local library. Check out these 9 reasons you should too.  While you’re there, look for some of the recommended titles in Reading Rockets Big Summer Read Booklist or AdLit.org’s Hot Summer Booklist.

Watch movies and TV. Come on, it is summer after all!  There are many films adapted from children’s books and the rule in our house is you can’t watch the movie until you’ve read the book.  Comparing films and books is just right to get kids (and adults) thinking critically. The Kids Off the Couch Web site pairs a recommended kids movie with similar family adventures within your community.

Where did I get these great ideas?  Reading Rockets and AdLit.org have packed virtual beach bags that offer parents and educators a season’s worth of reading resources.  You’ll be stuffed if you get to try even half of these this summer!

Guest Blogger Rachael Walker is the Outreach Consultant for Reading Rockets, a national multimedia initiative which aims to inform and inspire parents, teachers, childcare providers, and others who touch the life of a child by providing comprehensive, accessible information on how to teach kids to read and help those who struggle. Rachael began her career in children’s literacy at Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), has also served as a consultant to the NEA’s Read Across America campaign, and was most recently the Executive Director of Reach Out and Read of Metro DC.

Living in a big metropolitan area, I enjoy taking a look at the newspaper (yes, the actual printed paper) to see which fun and free activities my family and I can take in on the weekends. There were a number of excellent things to do relating to the celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and I feel lucky to live in such a diverse community where entertainment and learning experiences such as Chinese paper folding demonstrations and exhibits of Japanese woodblock prints are easy to come by.

If that’s not the case in your neck of the woods, books can always offer a great window on the world. Try these recommended reads for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month from Colorin Colorado and AdLit.org.

One of my favorites on this list is Alan Say’s autobiographical novel The Ink-Keeper’s Apprentice. It is a wonderfully honest look at growing up in Japan and for me, a chance to learn about a culture that I had little explored.

Exploring is what author Janet Wong recommends as well. In this Reading Rockets video interview, the Apple Pie Fourth of July author advises readers to “do the unexpected. Look around. Embrace your community. Seek out what’s different and new and try it.”

So maybe you can’t head to the Smithsonian for an evening of Asian dance, but you can explore the international foods aisle in the grocery store or have a night out at the new Thai restaurant, visit the comic book store, or just take a walk in the park in a different neighborhood. A wonderful surprise might be just around the corner!

Guest blogger and First Book supporter Mindy Klasky is the author of six fantasy novels, including the award-winning, best-selling The Glasswrights’ Apprentice and numerous short stories. Her latest trilogy, The Jane Madison Series, chronicles a love-struck D.C. librarian who discovers she’s a witch. Visit www.mindyklasky.com to learn more about Mindy’s work and her support of First Book.

I remember all sorts of things about school.  I remember stomping through puddles on rainy days, so that our socks got wet enough that we were allowed to go barefoot for the rest of the day.  I remember elaborate games that we played during recess, involving imaginary horses, pirates, and the occasional masked superhero.  I remember birthday parties and other special celebrations, where we kids devoured cupcakes and juice and ran around on sugar highs.

But most of all, I remember my teachers.

I remember Mrs. Robinson, an ancient woman (she might have been all of 50!) who welcomed me to kindergarten.  Within a week of class, she had me reading, sounding out the words in our giant “textbook.”  (I can still picture her finger under the “m”, which was drawn to look like two little mouse bodies next to each other.  I can see her pointing to the “g”, which was shaped into a girl (her ponytail formed the curlicue at the top of the letter in the formal typeface.))

I remember Mrs. Nesbitt, who first asked us to keep a journal, in second grade.  She told us that she wanted us to write every day - something, anything.  She promised that she would never read the pages; she would just check to see if we had held up our end of the bargain. I wrote my first poems in those journals, and I started any number of short stories.

I remember Mrs. Dolan, who insisted that we were old enough to read The Hobbit in fifth grade, despite parents who thought that the class was over-reaching.  That book led me on to The Lord of the Rings, and my love of the fantasy genre.

I remember Mr. Foxworth, in seventh grade, who guided us through Frankenstein.  My eyes were truly opened to symbolism, to themes in writing.  (I also learned that a movie is never a substitute for a
book.)

I remember Mrs. Vaux, my twelfth grade creative writing teacher, who said that she knew I’d be writing in the future.  At the time, I didn’t appreciate the certainty behind her words.  I didn’t realize that she was balancing a dozen misfits in her class, finding time to reach out to each of us in a unique way, in a manner that gave us confidence to continue the projects that we began.

There were other teachers, too - men and women who taught me proper grammar, who made sure that I knew the basic canon of American and English literature.  Because of those teachers, I became an English major, and ultimately a librarian.  Because of those teachers, I became a novelist.

Did any of your teachers reach out to you, when you were in school?
Can you trace who you are today to any specific educator?

You can’t have great children’s books — without great people to write them!

Longtime First Book supporter Cheerios has developed an exciting contest for aspiring, previously unpublished writers. Over the last seven years Cheerios has been delivering books to families by putting 35 million free books inside boxes, and making annual donations to First Book. In addition, Cheerios added the Spoonfuls of Stories New Author Contest in 2007 as a way to encourage up-and-coming children’s book authors, and continue to nurture a love of reading.

Today’s guest blogger, Lori Degman, is the grand prize winner of the 2nd Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories New Author Contest. Lori, a Chicago area special education teacher who works with deaf and hard-of-hearing children, won for her story, “1 Zany Zoo.”

The day before Thanksgiving, I got a phone call from the people at Cheerios telling me I was the grand prize winner (you may have heard me screaming)! Not only did I win a $5,000 cash prize, but also the opportunity to have my book reviewed by a publisher. And guess what?? Simon & Schuster is going to publish the story as a picture book! The book is expected to be released in spring 2010, initially as a paperback distributed inside Cheerios cereal boxes, and in the summer, published by Simon & Schuster in hardcover.

After years of trying to get published, this is a dream come true! Thank you to Cheerios, the judges and the editors at Simon & Schuster!

P.S. I want to add a big CONGRATULATIONS to the two runners-up in the contest: Tameka Fryer Brown, for her story, “I’m Not Eating That!” and Joan Stradling, for her story, “Who Invites a Pig to Dinner?”

If you have an idea for a children’s book, you may want to check out www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com! That’s because the 3rd Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories New Author Contest is open for entries through July 15, 2009. A description of the contest and other details are on the web site. Winners will be announced by March 2010. Are you the next great children’s book author?

Guest Blogger Lydia Breiseth is the manager of the bilingual English-Spanish website Colorín Colorado, whose mission is to provide educators and parents with information about teaching English language learners to read and succeed. Ms. Breiseth began her career teaching English to adults in Ecuador with the educational exchange program WorldTeach, and has subsequently taught English and Spanish in a variety of educational and family literacy programs to students of all ages. Prior to working at Colorín Colorado, Ms. Breiseth served as the Community Affairs Liaison at Telemundo Washington DC, managing outreach initiatives to the region’s Hispanic community.

From Durham to Salt Lake City, from Albuquerque to Ypsilanti, from Birmingham to Boulder, libraries around the country are getting ready for a celebration that is gaining popularity each year—El día de los niños/El día de los libros (The Day of the Book/The Day of the Child).

This year marks the 13th anniversary of a celebration founded by children’s author Pat Mora.  The holiday is the American version of the traditional Mexican holiday El día de los niños.  After Pat Mora took up the cause in 1997 to combine the focus on children with a strong focus on reading, the U.S. Congress officially designated April 30 as “Day of the Child” a year later.

Why has “Día” grown so much each year?  It may have something to do with the increasing Latino population around the country. Communities that didn’t traditionally have a large Latino population now are making adjustments to respond to their new neighbors in all sectors of society, including schools and libraries.  Día offers a wonderful opportunity to invite Spanish-speaking families to get to know the local public library and all of the programs and resources it has to offer – including growing collections of Spanish and bilingual books.  It also exposes the rest of the community to the rich selection of bilingual children’s literature available, such as multicultural books written by Latino or Latina authors in addition to Spanish translations of children’s classics.

If you are looking for a Día celebration in your neighborhood or would like some ideas for Día activities, here are some great resources from Colorín Colorado, Pat Mora, and the Association for Library Service for Children:

• Colorín Colorado: Día Resources in English and Spanish (including a video interview with Pat Mora about Día)
• Pat Mora’s homepage, with ideas and information about Día
• Pat Mora’s blog, Bookjoy
• The Association for Library Service for Children (the official home of Día, offering an interactive map of national celebrations)
• The Official Día 2009 Brochure (PDF)
  

You may also be interested in Colorín Colorado’s bilingual book recommendations for children, as well as our parent articles about visiting the library (available in English and Spanish).

Have a wonderful time preparing for and enjoying Día – and when it’s over, remember that every day is a great day to celebrate children and reading in any language!