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In memory of Jim Trelease, the inspiration for Read Aloud West Virginia

by PartnersSupporters

By Mary Kay Bond

On July 28th, I lost a friend and mentor who changed my life when Jim Trelease, the author of The Read Aloud Handbook and inspiration for Read Aloud West Virginia, passed away. He changed the lives of countless others in West Virginia and throughout this country – and even the world. As I read the email from his wife Susan, I felt the way many of us do when we lose someone. It was as if a giant tree had fallen. Why hadn’t there been physical changes in the world? It would only have been fitting because Jim was a force of nature.

Jim was one of those high energy people whose enthusiasm was infectious. He had a ready smile for everyone, a prodigious memory, and an insatiable curiosity. He also did not mince words if he felt some policy or action was wrong. Jim was a journalist and cartoonist who went into a classroom on a career day to discuss his profession. He emerged appalled by the fact that children in this pricey private school could not name a book they had recently read for pleasure. They were so stymied they began pointing to mandatory reading in textbooks. Jim left the classroom determined to do something about it and used the family vacation money to self-publish the first Read Aloud Handbook.

Short story: the book took off, and a new career was born.

Jim became an investigative reporter on education with an emphasis on childhood literacy. His journalistic background made complex research accessible to busy parents and teachers. Throughout his career he had one basic tenet: If you want to raise a reader, you need to motivate them to WANT to read. He acknowledged learning to read comes easier for some children than others but argued that those who struggle need that motivation even more. He offered practical advice for making the reading/pleasure connection for ALL children.

I first “met” Jim Trelease when I called to rent his (reel to reel!) film to show throughout Kanawha County. Shortly afterward he agreed, in a typically generous gesture, to waive his fee and address our fledgling organization while he was in town speaking to teachers. A friendship was born that continued past both our retirements. In recent years, even though he was ill, his interest in education remained constant. He lamented the learning loss he knew was going to result from online classrooms and was hopeful we would emerge from the pandemic with a greater respect and appreciation for educators.

Every visit and conversation with him was a joy – both entertaining and enlightening. He led me to read Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, and I think of that now. Surely, Jim Trelease lived an incredibly meaningful life. His passions were straightforward – his family and raising generations of avid readers. He sought to be a good steward and to leave the world a little better than he found it. Certainly, he did both. 

Thank you, dear friend, for enriching so many lives. You are sorely missed, but your legacy lives on in all those you inspired to follow your footsteps.
—

Mary Kay Bond is a founding member of Read Aloud West Virginia and longtime Executive Director who retired in December 2019.

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Students wrap up school year excited, ready to read

by Book DistributionEnrichment IdeasEventsPartners

By Kristen LeFevers

Students at four schools received some new, special books to enjoy over the summer while they are away from the classroom.

This year, Read Aloud West Virginia offered its Summer Book Binge to schools in Greenbrier, Jackson, and Kanawha counties. The program is based on a Tennessee study showing that giving children about half a dozen freely chosen, high-interest books prevents summer learning loss better than summer school.

A Crichton Elementary student receives his “Binge on Books” tote bag filled with books to read over the summer.

In Greenbrier County, Crichton Elementary students from preschool through fifth grade browsed a sample set of books this spring. Teachers were encouraged to help students find books they would enjoy. Students were able to hold and examine the books before filling out their order forms.

Students received their books at a Memorial Day assembly after a ceremony to honor students’ accomplishments and local veterans.

“It was a moving and reverent ceremony recognizing veterans in the Quinwood community,” said Read Aloud Executive Director Dawn Miller. “The parents’ and grandparents’ presence really shows students that the time they spend reading is important and valued. And it is always good for adults to be reminded what an important influence they are.”

Students walked up one at a time and received a blue Read Aloud tote bag containing their specially chosen books, each plated with the child’s name, an important feature of the project stressing book ownership.

The process was repeated in other schools. In Jackson County that same week, the Jackson County Community Foundation, which funded the project, dressed the Gilmore Elementary School assembly room with festive beach accessories, highlighting the fun, buoyant atmosphere of summer reading.

Jackson County Community Foundation Executive Director Misty Hamon put together a colorful balloon arch for students to walk through as their names were called to receive their personalized Read Aloud book bags.

About 150 third- through fifth-graders at Gilmore and Cottageville Elementary, like their peers in the other counties, browsed sample books ahead of time and chose six books they wanted for the summer, then walked up one at a time to receive their special order.

“We’ve had so much support from the Community Foundation,” said Read Aloud of Jackson County Chapter President Janet McCauley.

“The Foundation really made this book distribution into a special event for these kids,” Miller added, “exactly the message kids need to get from the adults around them.”

A festive balloon arch and beach-themed decorations courtesy of the Jackson Community Foundation for the Book Binge assembly at Gilmore Elementary.

“‘I got all the books I wanted!’” McCauley recalled hearing more than one student say. “The kids were so excited and pleased to get their books. It was so, so personalized for them. If they choose their own books, they’re more likely to read them.”

The summer reading fun didn’t stop there, however.

“The state office [Read Aloud West Virginia] are very frugal and are able to order some of their books from their distributors for cheaper than they expected, and get extra copies,” McCauley shared. In this instance, that frugality led to “leftovers,” or extra copies that McCauley was able to present at other schools throughout Jackson County.

“All of the leftover books have been distributed in the county,” McCauley said. “I guess you could call it a book tasting or a mini book binge.”

McCauley distributed the leftover copies at elementary schools in Fairplain, Evans, Kenna, and Ripley. Students were able to pick three books of their own.

“Read Aloud is so good at stretching their money, and other students were able to benefit from the leftovers,” McCauley said.

At Chesapeake Elementary School in Kanawha County, preschoolers through fifth grade followed a similar process, thanks to a grant from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation. At an assembly at the end of the school year, students applauded each child as their name was called to receive their books. That distribution is part of a larger project with Chesapeake that will include another book give away in the fall.

By preventing summer learning loss, Read Aloud helps students to succeed in school and throughout life. Researchers have documented that children who are not exposed to enjoyable books and other summer learning opportunities will lose reading skill during the summer. They gain again when they go back to school, but over time these losses accumulate, so that by 12th grade, children can be a year or more behind their peers and their potential in reading skill, which affects everything else – including school and job prospects.

Giving children books that they are motivated to read during the summer prevents this summer learning loss. As children spend time with books, they practice skills they learned in school. They also build vocabulary and background knowledge, an important ingredient in reading comprehension at any age. They also discover that they enjoy it.

Read Aloud’s first Summer Book Binge was held at Crichton Elementary School in 2016, and within two years, reading scores there rose noticeably, exactly as the Tennessee research predicted.

Read Aloud West Virginia will be looking for opportunities to introduce the Summer Book Binge into other schools across the state in the coming year.

Kristen LeFevers is a graduate of Marshall University and lives in Huntington.

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Book Tasting: Special event links reading, summer book plans for East Bank Middle students

by Enrichment IdeasPartners

By Kristen LeFevers

Sixth graders filed into their first-period English class in East Bank Middle School’s library one morning near the end of the school year.

“I’m your barista today!” called Renita Cook, a reading specialist with Kanawha County Schools. “Coffee or hot chocolate?”

At first hesitantly, and then eagerly, students balanced cups of decaf or cocoa and maneuvered to one of the many high-top tables stacked with Descendants novels, Julius Lester, Rick Riordan, and other volumes.

Cook and fellow Kanawha County English Language Arts Specialist Amy Thompson had put together a special cafe-themed book tasting for students, an opportunity to browse books, sample excerpts, and swap recommendations in a relaxed atmosphere.

They called it Starbooks.

The Starbooks Café at East Bank Middle School’s book tasting.

Thompson reached out to Read Aloud West Virginia a couple months earlier about hosting a book tasting at East Bank Middle after hearing about a colleague who had held a virtual book tasting with Read Aloud Executive Director Dawn Miller.

Like many schools, East Bank is dealing with a shortage of teachers and substitutes. Vacancies are difficult to fill. Teachers are teaching outside their areas of expertise. Recent years have been especially stressful, for both faculty and students.

Thompson and Cook chose to play on coffee chain Starbucks to create an environment of literacy and good reading habits. When forming their own habits, developing readers need good models to look up to.

“We were looking to lifelong readers for examples – how do they behave and interact with other readers? We wanted to make reading fun,” said Miller. “We knew we wanted a recreational atmosphere for them.”

“Amy took this idea and called it ‘Starbooks,’ and made hot chocolate and decaf coffee for the students.”

She and Cook covered the tables and added centerpieces and placemats. Black bulletin board paper became a chalkboard menu sign, tempting students with different “flavors” – mystery, biography, non-fiction, and realistic fiction.

A local Starbucks donated cups and supplies. A “Starbooks Cafe” banner hung from the ceiling.

Read Aloud supplied the books, a wide selection casually spread around the tables for students to browse.

“The kids loved it,” said Thompson. “The event helped us to model lifelong behaviors [of good readers]. It was something practical we could do.”

Miller and Thompson each did a couple book talks for the four English classes that rotated in throughout the morning. The rest of the class period, adults and students mingled and chatted about what they had read, and what they were interested in reading.

“We know that students who read for pleasure over the summer prevent summer learning loss,” Miller said. “They can even gain skill. We also know that lifelong readers make plans about what they are reading next. They also share what they are reading with friends. We saw students do that at the book tasting.”

At first, the event was more structured to prevent behavior problems. But as the morning went by and it became clear that students would engage with the books, Thompson said, they let students move about as they wished, as readers do in an actual bookstore or coffee shop.

“They became more relaxed, and conversations became more natural,” Thompson said. “It worked out so nicely.”

“Students were so appreciative,” Miller added. “It was lovely. I had conversations with students about books, careers, and college plans. A couple students even commented on their own behavior. They seemed surprised that their classmates were so well behaved.”

By the end of class, each student was able to choose two books to take home. 

“I look forward to doing it again,” said Thompson. “I’m really grateful for our partnership with Read Aloud and what they do for our schools and teachers and students.”

Kristen LeFevers is a graduate of Marshall University and lives in Huntington, West Virginia.

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10 to Try: Black History Month 2022

by Book Reviews and RecommendationsPartnersResources

Selections by Shanté Ellis, Racial Equity & Inclusion Director of YWCA Charleston

Read Aloud and the YWCA of Charleston partnered to bring you another 10 to Try full of books to help you celebrate and educate this February, Black History Month! Titles in orange are the YWCA’s top picks.

I Am Enough

by Grace Byers | Ages 4-8

The perfect picture book for our times: a lyrical ode to self-confidence and kindness, for girls from every background and every color. 

edited by Ellen Oh | Ages 8 and up

Whether it is basketball dreams, family fiascos, first crushes, or new neighborhoods, this bold short story collection celebrates the uniqueness and universality in all of us.

The Colors of Us

by Karen Katz | Ages 4-8

Through the eyes of a little girl who begins to see her familiar world in a new way, this book celebrates the differences and similarities that connect all people.

All the Colors of the Earth

by Sheila Hamanaka | Ages 4-8

All the Colors of the Earth describes children’s skin tones and hair in terms of natural phenomena and then describes love for these children with rich colors and flavors: A celebration of diversity.

Martin’s Big Words

written by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Bryan Collier | Ages 6 and up

This picture book biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. brings his life and the profound nature of his message to young children through his own words.

I Can Do It Too!

written by Karen Baicker, illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max | Ages 2-4

This heartwarming story reminds us how satisfying it is to grow up surrounded by love. I Can Do It Too! Affirms a little girl’s growing independence as she, too, can begin to do all the things she sees her parents, relatives and neighbors do.

Please, Baby, Please

written by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, illustrated by Kadir Nelson | Ages 2-5

This book presents a behind-the-scenes look at toddlerhood from the sandbox to a high chair to a crib, and families everywhere will delight in sharing these exuberant moments again and again.

The Undefeated

written by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson | Ages 6-9

The Undefeated highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world’s greatest heroes. 

Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem

written by Amanda Gorman, illustrated by Loren Long | Ages 4 and up

A young girl leads a cast of characters on a musical journey. They learn that they have the power to make changes—big or small—in the world, in their communities, and most importantly, in themselves.

The ABC’s of Black History

written by Rio Cortez, illustrated by Lauren Semmer | Ages 5 and up

A beautiful alphabet picture book that presents key names, moments, and places in Black history with text lyrically written with passion, beauty, flow, and style. A celebration of Black history and culture in lively verse, matched with illustrations that are each like a folk painting.

Want more recommendations celebrating Black voices and culture? Check out our Black History Month 10 to Try from 2020 or our Juneteenth 10 to Try.

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What next?

by Book DistributionChaptersNewsPartnersVolunteer Readers

Do your best to stay on mission, while keeping yourself and your communities safe. That is the advice Read Aloud volunteers, chapter leaders and colleagues have traded back and forth since spring. Keep up the good work.

By Dawn Miller

Read Aloud West Virginia continued to work all spring and summer toward the mission of motivating children to read for fun, to nourish their reading skills for life.

Here’s how we’ll keep doing it.


Classroom readers
Brooks Bower tries out one of the new reading hammocks on the first day of Coda Engage, a project of Coda Mountain Academy in Fayette County. Read Aloud West Virginia is a partner, offering books for children to choose and to keep, and for the academy’s growing library.

In our regular end-of-school survey, teachers overwhelmingly said that they would welcome live, virtual read alouds from a dedicated volunteer, if in-person visits were not possible. Most often, these would occur via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, though individual schools or counties may have other preferences.

To assist returning readers, Read Aloud chapters have been working on their own video-conferencing skills, and developing an updated orientation (delivered virtually, of course) to help readers grow confident for reading this fall.

Virtual orientations can also be scheduled for new readers. Anyone interested in attending either type of orientation may call 304-345-5212 or email stateoffice@readaloudwv.org. Registration is required.

Some readers and teachers have favored pre-recorded videos. The Fayette County Chapter is establishing a studio for making read aloud videos, but most readers simply use their smartphones. (See tips, right)


Book distribution

Schools closed just when it was time to start one of our most important efforts, a distribution project called Summer Book Binge. Based on research that shows a bag of freely chosen books given at the end of the school year does more to prevent summer learning loss than summer school, Read Aloud has developed this project over years, starting in Greenbrier County, and then Raleigh and Fayette and this year Wood and Berkeley. The pre-pandemic model relied on multiple visits to schools and much in-person contact, including a school assembly where the books were delivered with great activity and enthusiasm.

With those options closed, Read Aloud quickly reorganized an order process by mail. A $10,000 in-kind matching grant from First Book made it possible for Read Aloud to send more than 7,000 books to the homes of 870 children in the five counties. Children got to choose their books, a key ingredient in motivation, according to research.

Lessons from that project, combined with the prolonged interruption to school and uncertainty about fall, suggested a way to serve children and their families this summer and beyond.

In July, we softly launched Read Aloud Families (with the help of partner Energy Express). Based on the same data and methods as our Book Binge, combined with research on habits and motivation, Read Aloud Families delivers monthly books — that children choose — and materials to motivate families to read together through the pandemic and beyond.

Membership is by invitation only for now, but we plan to expand it as capacity allows. Each chapter identifies groups of families to be invited, through schools or other organizations they work with. At this writing, more than 125 families had joined, with more than 250 children, all over the state.

Marion County chapter president
Beverly Richards, loads her car up with magazines to distribute via local feeding sites.

In the future, chapters will organize events for members, virtually, as necessary, but perhaps outdoors if it can be done safely. These events will be opportunities for children and their families to share the books they love, recommend and receive recommendations, and grow their reading communities.

Meanwhile, chapters are distributing books by other means. Jefferson and Marion are among those providing books for families when they collect school meals. Nicholas and Jackson are making plans to restock Little Free Libraries or other community bookshelves.


Partnerships

Even before the pandemic WVU Extension and Read Aloud were exploring ways to work together on Energy Express, the federal program that provides both literacy opportunities, including reading aloud, and nutritional meals to children during summer break.

This summer, Energy Express staffers attended Read Aloud orientations (virtually, of course). Read Aloud offered the first memberships to Read Aloud Families to Energy Express participants. Families have joined from all over the state, even in counties where Read Aloud has no active chapter. Each one affirms their intention to read with children, just for fun, most days of each week. They agree to give children a choice of books to read and to protect children’s reading time.

In Fayette County, thanks to Fayette Chapter President Marion Tanner, Read Aloud has partnered with the Coda Mountain Academy. About 25 children had the opportunity to choose Read Aloud books of their own.
Coda started as a music camp, but has grown into many fields, including science and art. This summer the academy completed its outdoor classroom, just in time for the need for physically distanced and outdoor learning spaces.

Ten new reading hammocks invite elementary-age children during Coda Engage, a summer day camp run by Coda Mountain Academy. Elsewhere, masked and physically spaced, children engage in other activities, including robotics and violin lessons.

Coda President Esther Morey said children were happy and relieved to be outside and to be together, even with modifications and safety rules.

As they were walking toward the first circle game, Morey told us one girl said, “That looks funner than being on my iPad and phone all day.”

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To nonprofit volunteers and employees who are struggling during COVID-19

by PartnersSocial MediaVolunteer Readers

By Amanda Schwartz

This morning, I woke up to news of another cancelled event in my future. The 4-H camp I volunteer at every year in June will not be happening. I knew this was a likely possibility, and in this landscape of physical distance and overtaxed healthcare systems, I know it’s the right call, but that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.

As a long-time community volunteer and nonprofit employee, I know the secret to this work – you get back more than you give. The joy of the children I serve yearly at this camp recharges and restores me so I can keep giving myself to the cause.

In my case, my day job is all about literacy. My work helps motivate children to read for fun and build foundational skills that will serve them their entire lives. But Read Aloud WV is just a thread in a vast array of nonprofits that interweave across our state and our nation to serve a collective goal: a better educated, healthier, happier society.

I am in good company, among thousands of people who have also devoted their lives to helping.

So now, I’m speaking to you, my fellow volunteers and nonprofit workers. Because surely some of you are also feeling sad, lost, and/or overwhelmed during this COVID crisis. Surely some of you are also wondering why there’s suddenly a deficit in your work, why you feel like you’re giving more than you’re getting back, when the work once gave your life so much purpose.

I have no elevated wisdom to give nor easy fixes. There is no easy solution for grief, which expert David Kessler says we’re experiencing. He says it helps to name it, so I thought we could do that together, since “together” is feeling like such a foreign sensation nowadays.

On a large scale, we’re grieving the loss of the world as we know it, but on a more individual level, we’re grieving for all the events and programs where we were going to do work we love. We’re grieving for conferences where we were going to connect with fellow changemakers and the fundraisers that were going to sustain our work and potentially our paychecks. We’re grieving for the children who are stuck at home – the ones so many of us are still trying to serve with food, books, education, and other necessities.

Maybe we tell ourselves we’re lucky, when so many have already lost loved ones to the coronavirus, that we don’t have more to grieve for, and yes, those of us who haven’t lost someone are fortunate. Yet all of us are still likely experiencing what Kessler calls “anticipatory grief,” fearing for the safety of our families and communities, and that too is valid grief.

We’re grieving in our separate little circles of physical distancing, and sometimes it feels like we’re all alone carrying this weight. But I’m here too, struggling and taking steps forward anyway with you. Read Aloud WV is here, working alongside you to improve lives through literacy.

You are not alone.

When I get overwhelmed, it helps me to remember that you’re out there, fighting the good fight. Hopefully, thinking of me will do the same for you.

—

Amanda Schwartz is the Communications and Development Director for Read Aloud West Virginia, as well as a long-time volunteer with Putnam County 4-H Camp.

Photo by Kristina Tripkovic on Unsplash

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10 to Try: Black History Month

by Book Reviews and RecommendationsBooksEnrichment IdeasPartnersReadingResourcesVolunteer Readers

Read Aloud teamed up with the YWCA Charleston Racial Justice Program to bring you ten children’s books to try for Black History Month. Whether you’re a classroom reader, a teacher, or a parent, these books are a great way to celebrate the rich culture of America and the lasting impact of leaders of color! We encourage you to not only use titles like this in honor of Black History Month, but to incorporate texts with diverse characters into your reading all twelve months of the year!

A huge thanks to the YWCA for pulling this compelling list of titles together.

If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks by Faith Ringgold (Grades K -5)

Marcie, a young black girl on her way to school, gets picked up by a strange bus. She later finds out this is the famous “Rosa Parks bus”. This bus ride with Marcie will leave listeners interested and engaged in the rich history behind civil rights leader, Rosa Parks.

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterfly (Grades PreK – 3)

Hidden Figures shares the story of four African American, female mathematicians working at NASA. While facing racial and gender bias, they prevailed by participating in some of NASA’s greatest achievements. This book features a local legend Katherine Goble Johnson, a native of West Virginia and a West Virginia State University alumna.

Be A King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream and You by Carole Boston Weatherford (Grades PreK – 3)

This dual narrative shares moments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, while also sharing the strong principles of equality he stood by. Students, performing a Dr. King inspired school project, learn about the adversity Dr. King faced and his hope for an equal society. This book encourages children to enact the principles of Dr. King’s legacy into their own lives.

Firebird by Misty Copeland (Grades PreK – 3)

Firebird showcases the story of a young dancer who is questioning her own ability. Misty Copeland, the first African American woman to become a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, uplifts this young protagonist by sharing her experiences.

What Color is My World: The Lost History of African American Inventors by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld (Grades 3-7)

This book uplifts the stories of little-known African American inventors. What Color is My World honors the ingenuity and determination shown by these inventors to make our world a better place.

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford (Grades 1-3)

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom is a poetic tribute to the strength and devotion of Harriet Tubman. Through prayerful dialogue, Harriet Tubman shows determination and perseverance to free her people.

Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o (Grades 1-3)

Sulwe is a heartwarming story that inspires children to see their own unique beauty. Sulwe has trouble accepting her darker skin, but she’s reminded that her skin is just as beautiful and valuable as lighter skin tones.

I Love My Hair by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley (Grades K and Up)

I Love My Hair is a story about a African American girl celebrating her beautiful natural hair. This imaginative book highlights the significance and versatility of African American Hair.

Mixed Me by Taye Diggs (Grades 1-3)

The main character, Mike, learns to embrace and celebrate his mixed racial heritage. This delightful, textured, fun-filled picture book takes on the questions children of mixed races face with humor and offers a strong, positive message of self-love. 

Same Difference by Calida Garcia Rawles (Grades 4-6)

This charming, upbeat books begs to be read aloud! Two cousins find themselves at odds over their physical appearance. This book reminds us that you can find beauty in any shade of brown and that we are much more alike after all.

Message from the YWCA Charleston Racial Justice Program

We hope that you love these books as much as we do! Thank you to Read Aloud West Virginia for this amazing opportunity. We would also like to thank our amazing Racial Justice Committee Members for suggesting such good reads. We hope that these books share important pieces of Black History and highlight the beauty of the black experience.

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Roofing company expands Summer Book Binge to Wood

by Book DistributionDonorsPartners

Wood County’s Jefferson Elementary School is getting its own Summer Book Binge and a Snuggle & Read event, thanks to a $20,600 grant from Tri-State Roofing & Sheet Metal Company.

Read Aloud’s Summer Book Binge is based on research at Vanderbilt University that found about half a dozen freely chosen books given to students at the end of the school year was more effective at preventing summer learning loss than $3,000 worth of summer school.

Each of Jefferson’s 400 students will browse and “order” six books this spring, which will then be personalized, packed and delivered in a book bag at a festive event at the end of the school year.

Read Aloud’s Summer Book Binge was started at Crichton Elementary School in Greenbrier County, where reading scores jumped from the bottom in the county to the top in four years.

Children who have high-interest books and adults to make a big deal of reading for fun, will read for pleasure and maintain or even gain skills over the summer.

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Updates on our chapters

by ChaptersEventsPartnersUncategorized

Harrison

Read Aloud West Virginia has been granted funds from Dominion Energy Foundation to cultivate a new Read Aloud chapter in Harrison County. During our Books-A-Million fundraiser a few months ago, Marion County volunteers who crossed county borders to help out received frequent questions about the fledgling chapter. To get involved, email stateoffice@readaloudwv.org.

Preston

Preston County chapter members gave out children’s magazines and encouraged parents to read with children at a Lights On! event in Kingwood.

Logan

Communications & Development Director Amanda Schwartz attended a Logan County Community Baby Shower hosted by Mountain State Healthy Families. This event not only allowed us to reach new and expecting parents in Logan County about reading together from birth, but also connected us with new potential partners in Logan County, like their local Headstart and WIC offices.

Greenbrier

Read Aloud of Greenbrier County is getting ready to put on several Snuggle & Read events with local PreK students.

Marion

Marion County chapter board member Nicole Walls attended a Marion County Family Resource Meeting and met Pam Nolan of Marion County Headstart. This led to interest from the North Central West Virginia Headstart centers in enrolling with Read Aloud’s programs. Rivesville and West Fairmont Headstart centers have already enrolled.

Jennifer Foster prepares blankets for the Berkeley County Chapter.

Berkeley

The Berkeley County chapter is gearing up for their series of Snuggle & Read events funded by Procter & Gamble. They recently had a blanket making party to prep the two-sided fleece tie blankets for the parents and children to complete at the events. Special thanks to participating volunteers, the local MOMS Club, and Jessica Ramey for helping make this possible.

Raleigh

Raleigh County just had their first Reader Appreciation event of the year, and it looks like it was a success! We’re happy for any opportunity to say thank you to our wonderful readers who change the lives of kids across the state.

Kanawha

Preschoolers at Bream Preschool in Charleston show off their bookmarks and magazines with volunteer reader and Kanawha chapter board member Raney Exline, an education major (rear).

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James Patterson: ‘It’s not the school’s job to get our kids reading’

by NewsParents and FamiliesPartnersReading

To prepare for James Patterson’s appearance at the West Virginia Book Festival in October, Kanawha Circuit Judge Carrie Webster printed a letter the bestselling author had written to his son Jack back in 2007. It was a loving letter at Christmas, urging his son to read for the joy of it, not just to get into Harvard. Patterson promised to give his son at least one book every Christmas and several for the summer.

Webster served as host and moderator of the author Q&A, and confided to him that she wished her own daughter read more.

“It’s your moms’ job,” he said to the judge’s daughter and to the crowd. “She says you are smart, but you could read more.

“It really is,” he said. “It’s not the school’s job to get our kids reading. It’s our job. It’s on the parents, the grandparents, aunts and uncles, all that stuff.”

Patterson didn’t read much as a kid. He thinks it is because his parents and the nuns at his school did not put enticing books in his hands. He discovered reading as a young adult working night shifts at a mental hospital.

Then years later his own son was uninspired by books.

“I said, ‘Jack, you have to read over the summer.’

He said, ‘Do I have to?’

I said, ‘Yeah, unless you want to live in the garage.’”

But the key thing is, he said, kids must have books they really enjoy.

“We went to the local library and got about a dozen books, and by the end of the summer he had read 12 books. It’s going to vary with your kids. He went from being not very interested to going to the library in his school.”

A reader told Patterson that her 7-year-old came running in after a visit to his school library saying: “Nana! Nana! Look what I found. It’s James Patterson!”

“He didn’t know you were a children’s book author,” she said.

Many people don’t know it, he said. One reason he writes for kids: to give them the kind of page-turners that keep them coming back.

“As I say, I think the important thing is if you are a mom or dad or whatever, it really is your job. We’re the ones who are responsible. It’s great to teach your kid how to ride a bike and how to throw a ball, but if they’re not at least competent readers, we’re putting them behind the eight-ball.

Patterson’s son Jack, now 21, is a reader and has since collaborated with his dad on a picture book, Penguins of America.

“Look. We have rules in the house. You can’t come in and track mud on the rug. You’ve got to show up to meals. It just needs to be a rule,” Patterson said.

Afterward, Webster thought back. “I loved reading as a child — Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden,” she said. As an adult, she enjoyed Patterson’s Alex Cross series, though thanks to her phone, she doesn’t read like she used to.

Her daughter loved reading in the early grades (and was a big Accelerated Reader fan). “Now she reads only when she has to,” Webster said.

Around the time of Patterson’s appearance, her daughter asked if they could read together like they used to.

“We need to do that,” Webster said. “I’m going to take her to the bookstore.”