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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 literacy outreach 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.

Every Fourth of July I think about Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, and his often quoted words, “I cannot live without books.” That our own democracy has grown and flourished owes much to Mr. Jefferson and his Declaration, but also to the rise of the printed word.

Independence Day is a great time to share books with children. Reading Rockets has a Celebrate America list of recommended reading for children ages 0-9. Use this list to throw together a book-nic to go along with your Fourth of July barbeque and read about real and legendary American heroes and heroines, revisit classic American songs, and follow the adventures of travelers across the United States while you wait for the fireworks.

You can also read aloud the Declaration of Independence together. The concepts outlined in this famous document may be difficult for young children to understand so you may want to consider some strategies for pre-teaching concepts and vocabulary before you get started.

I picked up some great new Fourth of July reading at the American Library Association (ALA) convention last weekend in Anaheim, California, including a proof of Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out which is due out in September. Using the White House as the unifying theme, more than one hundred authors and illustrators help share more than 200 years of American history in this inspiring read-aloud anthology, sales of which will benefit the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance, a Reading Rockets and AdLit.org partner.

And at the ALA convention, I was also reminded about why libraries are so very important to our country and how they serve to improve our democracy. Check out these 12 Ways Libraries Are Good for the Country. What else would you add to this list?

Remember though, your local library is likely to be closed on Independence Day, so head there today to get your books for the long weekend!

University of Auckland education lecturer Wayne Mills, initiator of children’s literature quizzes in New Zealand and internationally, is the winner of the 2008 Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award. The award recognises Mills’ achievement in establishing the popular Kids’ Lit Quiz held annually in New Zealand since 1991 and in expanding it to an international event in 2003.

“The quiz is about rewarding kids who love reading and who are good at it,” says Wayne Mills. “The competitive side to the quiz is a real draw and I believe it is specifically benefiting boys as a result.” The first event featured 14 teams; New Zealand now has 423 teams from 244 schools.

Teams of four 11-13-year-olds answer wide-ranging questions about children’s books; they ‘train’ by reading widely to build up knowledge. Regional winners compete in Auckland each June at the annual Storylines Festival. The winner represents New Zealand internationally, competing against teams from China, South Africa and Britain at the World Final, to be held this year in Oxford, U.K. The British Government, local bodies, publishers, private companies and top author Phillip Pullman have supported the event.

Mills is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Education, University of Auckland School of Arts, Languages and Literacies, and a popular speaker around New Zealand. The Margaret Mahy Medal will be presented to him at the Storylines Children’s Literature Trust’s annual Margaret Mahy Day in Auckland on Saturday 29 March 2008.