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Thing 1:
 I sent my booklist to KU last night to see if the folks there have time to copy and collate it before Saturday.  (KU Children's Literature Conference, remember?  Register now.) And, of course, as soon as it was sent off, I thought of no less than five books I should add to the list.  Sigh.  This is the way of the world.  I know that on the road on Saturday morning, I will think of at least 2 or 3 more. 

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.

‘Central casting’ at AdLit.org and Reading Rockets is looking for young, creative writers and filmmakers to star in the Exquisite Prompt Write It, Film It Video Contest.   Like the Exquisite Prompt Writing Challenge, prompts for the Exquisite Prompt Write It, Film It Video Contest are inspired by the authors and illustrators participating in the Exquisite Corpse Adventure, the rollicking online serial story sponsored by the Library of Congress and the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance.

To enter the contest, writers and film makers in grades 2-12 choose a prompt, create a narrative, then make a video of their story. In addition to a short video (no longer than 3 minutes) kids also submit original writing related to their video project, such as interview questions, storyboards, dialogues or scripts, in order to win fabulous prizes.

Entry deadline is August 13th. Visit www.readingrockets.org for resources and information on how to enter.

Why should Jon Scieszka, Katherine Paterson, M.T. Anderson, Kate DiCamillo, and Nikki Grimes have all the fun? In support of the rollicking story game being played by these and a crew of other award-winning, talented and versatile authors and illustrators, the Exquisite Prompt writing contest from Reading Rockets and AdLit.org uses writing prompts inspired by the “The Exquisite Corpse Adventure” authors and illustrators to get K-12 students to flex their own writing muscles.

From October through June, two new writing prompts will be available each month.  Winners in four grade level categories will be selected for each prompt.  Prizes include online publication at Reading Rockets and AdLit.org, autographed books, and classroom visits with authors and illustrators via Skype.

The first Exquisite Prompt, inspired by Jon Scieszka, asks students to share a family story.  Based on the author’s recollections of family togetherness in his memoir Knucklehead: Tall Tales & Mostly True Stories about Growing Up Scieszka, the leveled prompt and online resources help students to think about their history and heritage and tell a family story.

Also for October, a prompt inspired by author and illustrator Chris Van Dusen and his book If I Built a Car that is sure to fuel imaginations and take creative and persuasive writing skills for a ride.

All Exquisite Prompts are accompanied by author/illustrator biographies, bibliographies, interviews and links to resources and primary sources related to the prompts. Resources for educators from Reading Rockets and AdLit include strategies for teaching writing and a writing basics toolkit.

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 Susannah Harris is the manager of AdLit.org, a national multimedia initiative offering resources to the parents and educators of struggling readers and writers in grades 4-12. Susannah has been a tutor herself for more than 16 years working with a range of organizations including The Higher Achievement Program and Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, She is the Volunteer Coordinator for The Community Club, a tutoring program serving middle and high schools students in Washington, D.C.

Yesterday, President Barack Obama reminded us in his inaugural address that “we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.”

To encourage teens and at-risk youth to make healthy, productive choices for themselves, AdLit.org, the National Education Association (NEA) and award-winning young adult author Walter Dean Myers have launched the Second Chance Initiative, The initiative is centered around Myers’ new book Dope Sick, which stretches the boundaries of realism to bring forth a tale of second chances, redemption, and the promise of hope.

In Dope Sick, Lil J has lived through the layers of pain that are so difficult for inner-city youngsters to transcend and has been exposed to an astonishing array of drugs. His path from “brokesick” to “dopesick” leads to a drug deal gone bad and a shot undercover cop. Lil J suddenly finds himself in an abandoned crack house with a bullet wound to the arm. He would do anything to change the last 24 hours. That possibility becomes real when he stumbles into Kelly, who is set up in front of a TV set with remote control, ready to provide Lil J the opportunity to assess and confront his own existence and ultimately, a chance to change the direction of his life.

The first three chapters of Dope Sick are available for download from AdLit.org now, and from February 10-24, the entire book will be available for free online reading on HarperCollins’ website.

Visit AdLit.org for the following additional resources to promote meaningful discussions with the teens in your life:

• The first three chapters of Dope Sick
• An interview with award-winning author Walter Dean Myers
• A Dope Sick Reading Guide with writing activities and discussion questions
• Resources on preventing substance abuse, teen pregnancy and high school dropouts.
• Resources to strengthen school and family partnerships to support young people.
• A flier to help spread the word

Introduce young readers and writers to one of the most personal and meaningful ways to communicate—with Letters from the White House, a national creative writing contest from the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance, Reading Rockets, and AdLit.org. To enter the contest, students write letters and journal entries that explore the history of America and tap into their own creativity when they imagine and write about the experience of living or working in the Executive Mansion.

Students are encouraged to find inspiration in the poetry, stories, illustrations, and information in Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out. The contest will launch on January 20, 2009, Inauguration Day, with entries due on February 16, 2009, Presidents Day. Five finalists will be chosen in each competition level and a grand prize winner will be named in each level on April 30, 2009, the 100th day of the new presidential term.

Contest information and resources for preK-grade 3 teachers and for grades 4-12 are available from Reading Rockets and AdLit.org. At www.ourwhitehouse.org, the companion Web site to Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, educators and parents will find useful information and historical resources to help students with research. Winning entries will be published online and prizes include copies of Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out and gift certificates to Better World Books.

Special thanks to Rachael Walker at Reading Rockets for providing this post.

Guest Blogger Susannah Harris is the manager of AdLit.org, a national multimedia initiative offering resources to the parents and educators of struggling readers and writers in grades 4-12. Susannah has been a tutor herself for more than 16 years working with a range of organizations including The Higher Achievement Program and Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, She is the Volunteer Coordinator for The Community Club, a tutoring program serving middle and high schools students in Washington, D.C.

October 12-18 is Teen Read Week–an annual event sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)–to encourage teens to read for the fun of it and explore all the great resources libraries have to offer. This year’s theme is Books with Bite @ Your Library and YALSA has some great ideas for promoting books and libraries as well as a new booklist of 100+ books that teens can really sink their teeth into.

Though the official celebration just lasts one week, every week is Teen Read Week at AdLit.org, where we’re all about adolescent literacy. We add new themed booklists and interviews with top young adult authors every month.

In addition to our great resources on young adult literature, AdLit.org offers articles and resources on reading instruction–everything from achievement to writing.  And we like to bring people together for a little reading fun as well.  Check out Just for Fun for contests and activities for teens.

If you’re a teacher or librarian, we have a contest for you too.YALSA, Mirrorstone Books, and AdLit.org are looking for the best Teen Read Week celebrations that involve significant collaboration between teachers and librarians. Share your ideas, and you could win some fabulous prizes, including an author visit from Kimberly Pauley or a D&D game session run by author Geno Salvatore. Entries, which include a 300-word description of your Teen Read Week Celebration, must be submitted to YALSA by November 7, 2008. Contest form and official rules.

Finding books that suit both teens’ interests and reading abilities isn’t always easy, so don’t be afraid to ask for help in finding great books to engage the reluctant adolescent readers in your life.  Get to the library to talk with your own librarian or check out The MashUp, AdLit.org’s blog about books for teens, written by our very own YA Lit advisor (and librarian) Jamie Watson, who was recently named a “Mover and Shaker” by Library Journal magazine. Each week, Jamie reviews new books and offers suggestions for finding books for teen readers.  You may even find some titles that tempt you to get bitten right along with your teen readers!