How to use this Page

We had several notes over the weekend from folks who were "just now" catching up on Share a Story - Shape a Future 2012 and reading the posts. We hope you're still basking in all that great, positive energy!!

We also had a couple of other items and additions that I wanted to highlight. I'll be adding them to our Comprehensive Index of Posts and List of Contributors, but I also want to share them here.

Debbie Alvarez, who blogs at The Styling Librarian has a three-part series called International Mindedness. These are postsshare "various books [that] also cultivate deep discussion to develop International Mindedness. In addition to the book content, Debbie has links to websites and other "World Awareness Resources" on the Web.

• International Mindedness Part 1: Authors 
• International Mindedness Part 2: Traditions 
• International Mindedness Part 3

I also wanted to share a note from Josh Ory at Reading Racehorse, LLC. There were more than 900 downloads of Frank the Friendly Pirate, the company's eBook App which they made available for free during Share a Story. We hope you'll stay in touch with Reading Racehorse, as more titles will be released this year and available in the iTunes store. [for iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch]


Our thanks to everyone who made Share a Story - Shape a Future 2012 a wonderful, energizing event. If you are interested in being part of next year's planning group, just drop us a line! Work will begin this fall.

Add a Comment

Congratulations to Maria @ Once Upon a Story for winning the 2012 Multicultural Books Collection of 45 (!) children's literature celebrating cultures around the world. The books, donated by Reading is Fundamental, will be sent to a school library or public library in your community!

As advertised, we selected the winner at random. Here's what I did ...

1. I numbered each post written in response to a Writing @ Reading prompt. We had five posts, so we had numbers 1 to 5, working backward from the most recent post (Wednesday).

1. Maria @ Once Upon a Story
2. Maria @ Once Upon a Story
3. Eric VanRaepenbusch @ Happy Birthday Author
4. Christine of Book Life Style
5. Eric VanRaepenbusch @ Happy Birthday Author

2. I went to the Dice Roller on Random.org  Since we had less than 6 entries, I used just one cube.

3. I Rolled the dice. 

Roll 1 - a 6 @ 2012-03 17:59:43 UTC
Rolle 2 - a 2 2012-03-09 18:00:04 UTC

The entry listed as #2 is Maria's!

Congratulations Maria ... Please contact me at shareastory [at] thereadingtub.com to get details about how to have the books sent to the school or public library of your choice.

Display Comments Add a Comment

Is it Friday already?

In just four days we've gotten a year's worth of ideas, suggestions, and hopefully encouragement for not only connecting kids with books, but using them as a launching pad to bigger and broader things.

As we wrap up this week, we thought we would do something a bit different this year. There is no "formal agenda." We have no scheduled guests. Instead, we are opening the floor (as it were) for

•  culture-of-reading topics we may not have explored, 
• requests for ideas in specific areas; 
• questions for our hosts and guests; 
• your culture-of-reading and literacy ideas; or 
• just general commentary.

If you've not been able to join us all week, we have an Event Summary page with all of the posts and all of the Writing @ Reading contributions.We hope you find that an easy way to jump in.

We'll be back later this morning to announce the winner of the the 2012 Multicultural Books Collection, for your school or public library. Our friends at Reading Racehorse will continue to offer Frank the Friendly Pirate, an eBook App for free today.


As always, we thank you for joining us on our annual literacy blog tour! We appreciate you spending your time with us ... and for dedicating your passion to creating a community of readers among the kids who touch your lives.

Display Comments Add a Comment

One of the mini-themes today is the idea that being a reader transcends "formats." Kids will never get inky fingers reading the newspaper any more, but we hope that they always have the joy of holding and exploring a book.

That said, we also recognize the value and unique opportunities that eBooks and Apps can give our kids. They might just get us over the hump and send reading rates soaring ... at least we can hope so.

Well, that is the idea that Josh Ory and his team (self-described limestone miners!) used as the foundation in creating Reading Racehorse and launching their first eBook app in December 2011.

Even though we are a 'for profit' company, our goal is to teach the world to read. So, in my opinion, it would be selfish of us to not do this. Our concern is for the kids.

What is "this" you ask? Well, it is big. I mean B.I.G. BIG.

For the next 48 hours, Reading Racehorse is giving away Frank the Friendly Pirate, an eBook App available in the iTunes store. [for iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch]  From the iTunes store description:

The defining function of the app is when a word in the story is touched, the pronunciation of that word is heard through the speaker on the device. There are other apps that continuously read stories in their entirety, but we have taken this a crucial step further.

Our app allows the child to read the words they already know. Then when they come to a word that gives them difficulty, he or she can touch that particular word to hear what it is. The reason this works is the natural tendency to take the easiest path. They will simply read the words they already know and only use the touch function on the ones they don't. Eventually the child will be able to read the entire story without touching any words.

No special code, no secret password, just a free download. We are very grateful to Reading Racehorse for this most generous donation and all that it means for connecting kids with books. While you're in the iTunes store, we would love it if you'd thank Josh, too!

Reading Racehorse will be releasing additional titles in 2012, so stay tuned.

Display Comments Add a Comment

Wow, we're already at the half-way point! So did you travel 'round the globe with Carol yesterday? Part of our goal for creating a culture of reading is to encourage readers to stretch ... reading widely or reading diversely is more than just a way to expand your reading. It helps you engage in the world around you with more compassion and understanding ... and the world needs a little more of that!

Today Terry Doherty is hosting the topic "Recognizing Readers" at Family Bookshelf. There is a perennial stereotype of what a reader "looks like," and like all stereotypes, it particularly representative of who readers are. Terry and her guests hope to break down that stereotype, and today's writing prompts give you a chance to do the same.

With our focus today on reading as a passport to other worlds, we have selected prompts that help all of us "read widely."

Our goal with the questions is to reach new places for sharing our reading and literacy experiences and ideas, and we'd love to include your voice, too. Here's how it works ...

1. Select the question(s) that resonates with you.
2. Find an old post or write a new one that answers the question. [Be sure to grab a Share a Story button from the sidebar to include in your new post!]
3. Add your post as a comment.
4. (optional) Tweet about your post and include @ShareaStory or the #SAS-12 hashtag.

We'll be adding links for the questions all week, so there's no rush to have an answer the same day a question is posted ... unless you are entering the contest to receive the RIF 2012 Multicultural Books Collection for your school or public library.

All entries must be posted by Noon Eastern Standard Time, Thursday, 8 March 2012 to be entered in our random drawing. Winners announced Friday, 9 March 2012.

[image credit: Share a Story Logo created by author/illustrator Elizabeth Dulemba.]

Display Comments Add a Comment

Jo Ann Kairys interviews her son and co-author Daniel Kairys (pronounced care-ease) about the inspiration for their award-winning book Sunbelievable: Connecting Children with Science and Nature  and how it engages young readers.

Interview with Dan.

Daniel shares his experiences as growing up as a young reader in Montana, and how a simple story like Corduroy impacted him and introduced him to "other cultures." Jo Ann shares her memories of Daniel's first dive into reading with The Hobbit. Daniel adds that Chaim Potock was also one of his first real forays into reading.

Both of Daniel's children love to hear him tell stories. Like many busy parents, Daniel doesn't have lots of time to "spare," and Jo Ann asks how he fits reading with his kids into his schedule .... and theirs. Terry also asked Jo Ann a few extra questions.

Terry: Thank you for finding Share a Story, Jo Ann and for sharing such a wonderful interview with your son and co-author. I'm curious. Was Daniel as "into" books then as he is now with his kids?
Jo Ann: You're welcome. I'm glad to be here. It is such a great complement to my new passion: the BRAG project (Bloggers Read Across the Globe).

Daniel was always into books... he loved picture books and started reading before he learned the alphabet because he was so eager to know the actual story on the page. He started sounding out letters by guessing. I helped him with the sounds and then he immediately grew into chapter books. He read The Hobbit on his own in the early part of second grade. Couldn't put it down.

From second through fifth grade, his teachers took him almost daily to the library for a new stack of books. He spent most of his days at the school reading in a corner, loving every minute! He sees similar traits in his children and tries his best to encourage and inspire their reading by engaging them in the experience, sharing impressions of characters in books, talking about their feelings and expressions. They have a lot of fun with reading this way!

Terry: You mentioned the Hobbit, andin your interview, Daniel mentions Chaim Potock. Thinking about the kinds of books he read as a child, and now as a dad, has anything changed?
Jo Ann: He loved me to read aloud from the encyclopedia. When a topic interested Daniel, he'd search for more information during our library visits. A favorite topic at around age 7-8 was WWII--strategy, biography, history, geography. He also loved when I read from the newspaper... especially editorials!

At Dartmouth College he was granted special permission to attend advanced poetry writing classes, with no prior writing experience. I think the s

Display Comments Add a Comment

How do you create a reading culture when you don't consider yourself a reader. What does a reader look like?  Do they wear glasses and always have books in their hands? Do they always have their nose in some book and never seem to hear you?

Terry Doherty and her guests will be answering those questions!  At the Family Bookshelf and here on the Share a Story blog, you'll find suggestions on ways to engage readers-to-be, recognize a reader, and maybe even discover that you're already a reader!


Books and the Fourth Grader: Discovering a Reader by Terry Doherty @ Family Bookshelf
Like many of her peers, the fourth grader in Terry's house eked out her required 20 minutes of reading. She finished her homework, but her parents wondered if she would ever really like books and reading. When would the just-get-by behavior end? Continue reading ...

No Time To Write - Musings of a Children's Book Author, Surgeon and Read Aloud Dad by Jo Ann Kairys @ Share a Story - Shape a Future
In this 20-minute interview, award-winning author/illustrator Jo Ann Kairys and her son talk about his life as a writer and reader, both growing up and now as an adult. “I especially love working with my son Daniel, co-author, humanitarian surgeon and avid read-aloud dad."

Add a Comment

So did you have fun yesterday?

Donalyn Miller, her guests, and contributors set the bar P-R-R-I-I-T-T-E-E high talking about creating a reading culture at home and school. We got a few nibbles on our first set of Writing @ Reading prompts, too.


With our focus today on reading as a passport to other worlds, we have selected prompts that help all of us "read widely."
Our goal with the questions is to reach new places for sharing our reading and literacy experiences and ideas, and we'd love to include your voice, too. Here's how it works ...

1. Select the question(s) that resonates with you.
2. Find an old post or write a new one that answers the question. [Be sure to grab a Share a Story button from the sidebar to include in your new post!]
3. Add your post as a comment.
4. (optional) Tweet about your post and include @ShareaStory or the #SAS-12 hashtag.

We'll be adding links for the questions all week, so there's no rush to have an answer the same day a question is posted ... unless you are entering the contest to receive the RIF 2012 Multicultural Books Collection for your school or public library.

All entries must be posted by Noon, Thursday, 8 March 2012 to be entered in our random drawing. Winners announced Friday, 9 March 2012.

[image credit: Share a Story Logo created by author/illustrator Elizabeth Dulemba.]

Display Comments Add a Comment

Welcome to our daily post with writing prompts!

For those new to Share a Story, for the past several years we have included Writing @ Reading as a way to complement and encourage everyone to participate in this annual blog tour. Each day, we will pose a few questions related to the day's mini-themes. You can write a new post or contribute an old favorite.

By participating in Writing @ Reading, you not only share your wisdome and ideas, but you also bring visitors to your blog. Last but not least, you're also entered in our contest to win a set of the 2012 Multicultural Books Collection for your school or public library. The collection, created and donated by Reading is Fundamental, includes 45 titles ... in celebration of its 45th anniversary.

Today's questions are designed to complement the theme Creating a Reading Culture at Home and School, hosted by Donalyn Miller at The Book Whisperer blog. As you'll see in today's collection of posts, we're not just talking about elementary or dormant readers.
Our goal with the questions is to reach new places for sharing our reading and literacy experiences and ideas, and we'd love to include your voice, too. Here's how it works ...

1. Select the question(s) that resonates with you.
2. Find an old post or write a new one that answers the question. [Be sure to grab a Share a Story button from the sidebar to include in your new post!]
3. Add your post as a comment.
4. (optional) Tweet about your post and include @ShareaStory or the #SAS-12 hashtag.

We'll be adding links for the questions all week, so there's no rush to have an answer the same day a question is posted ... unless you are entering a book giveaway contest.

[image credit: Share a Story Logo created by author/illustrator Elizabeth Dulemba.]

Display Comments Add a Comment

Welcome to the best Monday in March! We are so glad you are joining us for Share a Story - Shape a Future 2012.

If you're new to our annual blog tour, we invite you to look around. For each of our four years we've picked one over-arching theme for the week. Then, all week long, bloggers gather to share ideas and recommendations on one facet of that theme.

Looking at it as a flower may help. One bloom comprises multiple petals, a stem, and leaves ... all necessary pieces to the beautiful blossom we enjoy.

Okay, let's get on with the show!

Our theme this year is the Culture of Reading, and Donalyn Miller kick-starts our event by talking about Creating a Reading Culture. She and her guests will explain what a "reading culture" is, and offer ways to encourage kids to read more at home and school, as well as across age groups.

Here's what's on tap today ...

Creating a Reading Culture at Home by Donalyn Miller @ The Book Whisperer
Parents often ask teachers and librarians for tips on how to encourage their children to read more at home. The conditions that foster lifelong reading habits in children are remarkably robust and apply to both home and school reading. Continue reading ...

Building a Reading Culture in the Secondary Classroom by Sarah Mulhern @ The Reading Zone
I have an obsession with reading. Some might say that is an unhealthy obsession (my husband is reminding me that our house is a fire hazard), but I disagree. I can’t imagine my life without reading, so I make it my mission to share that love with the students at my high school. Continue reading ...

Reading Culture and Preservice Teachers by Kristin McIlhagga @ Children's Literature Crossroads
As I was getting ready to write this, I decided to reread the Share a Story, Shape a Future website. What stood out to me particularly about the topic of A Reading Culture was the idea of stretching and pushing thinking about the concept beyond an elementary setting. I was excited about this because I’ve been thinking quite a lot about creating a reading culture with the students in my children’s literature and young adult literature course. Continue reading ...

Building a Classroom Reading Culture by Cynthia Alaniz @ Teaching in Cute Shoes
Cynthia has two recent posts that I think you'll love ... and which are both perfect fits for today's mini-theme. In 4 Comments on Donalyn Miller Opens Share a Story 2012, last added: 3/6/2012