"Why Stories Matter": Announcing a Research Brief from LitWorld!

“Can literacy, especially storytelling, change lives and the world?”

This is the question posed by Why Stories Matter, a newly-released research brief co-published by LitWorld and the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Literacy Education. The answer? A resounding “Absolutely!”

Co-published by LitWorld Executive Director Dorothy Lee, LitWorld Board Member Ernest Morrell, and Jodene Morrell, this research brief discusses the power of storytelling and how LitWorld has strengthened millions of kids, educators, families, and communities through storytelling.

“By helping kids become powerful storytellers, we also help them to develop positive reader and writer identities, thrive in school, contribute to their communities, and build lives of dignity, hope, and joy.”

Click here to read the brief

Highlighting the ways in which LitWorld’s approach simultaneously embodies evidence-based education best practices and leverages innovative community-driven tools, the brief also touches upon the heart of LitWorld’s mission: sharing the stories of children themselves.

From 9-year-old Rosie who was given the chance to attend LitCamp instead of summer school and emerged as a motivated and engaged learner, reader, writer, and creator, to Adrian from Valle del Cauca, Colombia, who has transformed into a confident and enthusiastic learner thanks to the safe space provided by LitClubs, countless lives have been touched and transformed through the power of stories.

Read the brief now to learn more about the methodology behind our work and for the stories that bring it all to life!

World Read Aloud Day 2020 - Celebrations Around the World

World Read Aloud Day 2020 has come and gone, once again showcasing the power of literacy, community and, you guessed it, reading aloud! With February 5th behind us, the LitWorld team can reflect on this amazing advocacy day that reaches millions of people around the world each year, in over 170 countries! This time, we are focusing on this year’s celebrations from some of our amazing, on-the-ground partners, who always bring immense amounts of enthusiasm, innovation and community organization to this day!

Community read aloud in Uganda.

LitWorld’s long-time partner in Uganda, Art of a Child, celebrated during the week of February 5th with read-alouds, crown making and bringing the joy of the celebration to a variety of communities, reaching over 400 kids and adults! Having been founded in 2010, Art of a Child continues to spearhead literacy through art activities for boys and girls from some of the most vulnerable communities around Kampala. The organization consists of a deeply dedicated team of mentors, who travel to community centers, schools, and neighborhoods, often in a “matata” van, bringing books and art to kids that would not have a way of accessing it otherwise.

Grab a friend, grab a crown and READ!

Meanwhile, one of the newer LitWorld’s partnerships in Morocco, LEAD Morocco Academy, were also busy celebrating their first WRAD. The main event was organized at the local library, “a place that many people from the community have not visited before”, shared Partnership Coordinator Zahra Benfares. The academy staff and volunteers held read-alouds and fun activities for the children and adults during the entire day, while the library staff were busy educating everyone about the ease of accessing the books. Many people were surprised to learn that they can rent out books for free and pledged to keep coming back with their children.

Mentor reading aloud to a group of seniors in Roldanillo.

One organization that always goes above and beyond for World Read Aloud Day is LitWorld’s partner in Roldanillo, Colombia - Museo Rayo. What started out as a one-day celebration back in 2014, has grown to a “Read Aloud Month”, involving the entire community of Roldanillo. It all starts on February 5th, with a siren sounding off in the main square at 10 am, letting everyone know that “Read Aloud Month” has begun. One can see at least 5000 people reading aloud at the same time in different places throughout the city - in schools, in businesses, on playgrounds and public places. The children and mentors from the museum are charged with a special task - carrying suitcases full of books they go out into places in the community that don’t typically enjoy a read aloud - like a local retirement home. According to a local newspaper that featured Museo Rayo in an article about the celebrations, one thing is clear - Roldanillo is now known as “The Town That Reads”!

From Zambia to the Philippines to the United States - we are humbled by the sheer force of joy and powerful advocacy that comes from this day. LitWorld is always thankful to everyone who participates and helps us reach millions of children and people this year, reminding everyone how simple, yet powerful the Read Aloud can be. For more photos from the big day all around the world, scroll down below!

World Read Aloud Day Interview and Giveaway with Author Kathleen Burkinshaw

Kathleen Burkinshaw, author of The Last Cherry Blossom

World Read Aloud Day is a chance for book-lovers everywhere to celebrate, and authors are no exception.

Kathleen Burkinshaw, author of The Last Cherry Blossom and daughter of a Hiroshima survivor, takes a special joy in World Read Aloud Day. The Last Cherry Blossom, which details her mother’s experiences, is now a United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs Resource for Teachers and Students and was recently nominated for an NC School Library Media Association YA book award. Having presented her works throughout middle and high schools for the past 9 years, Kathleen shares with us some of what World Read Aloud Day means for her - as a mother, an author, and a book-lover - as well as an exciting giveaway ending February 21!

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Sara’s favorite story from this book, ‘The Little Airplane’ had to be read to her every night.

“Just one more book, please.”

“That was my daughter’s beloved nightly mantra as a child. My husband and I enjoyed every moment reading to her. I loved how she would look at the pages in the book and pretend to be reading by explaining what the pictures portrayed. Although, she’d eventually have most of the words memorized because we had read the book to her so often! Once she could read, it was so touching when she insisted to read to us after we read a book to her. That memory still makes my heart swell.”

“Starting with kindergarten, I volunteered to read a book to my daughter’s class at least once a year. I thought it would be a fun way to also discuss our Japanese culture. I enjoyed finding various books for each grade level along with a craft. I still remember the first book I read to her class in kindergarten – HOW MY PARENTS LEARNED TO EAT by Ina R. Friedman/illustrated by Japanese American author/illustrator, Allen Say. I brought in wooden disposable chopsticks and taught her classmates how to use them by picking up Cheetos and fruit.”

The Last Cherry Blossom by Kathleen Burkinshaw

“I think way back(well not too far back)  to when my elementary teachers read a book related to the chapter we were studying in history. It truly made me think beyond just memorizing dates and names. The characters in those books breathed life into that time period for me. I think that’s one of the reasons I have always loved reading (and now writing) historical fiction.”

“So, as I wrote The Last Cherry Blossom (TLCB) and I visited a class to discuss my mother’s experience in Hiroshima, it was a no brainer that I’d read some of my draft chapters to them and ask for their feedback. Now that TLCB has been published and I read either my favorite scene or the most difficult scene, I can’t help but feel a special connection made between myself, the students, and my mom’s story.”

“Reading out loud brings the story to life in the listeners’ imagination, no matter what the age.”

“It’s such an amazing compliment to me as an author when I’m told that a teacher has read TLCB to their class. Reading a book aloud is a fun and lovely way to open a reader’s heart as well as their minds. That is why I’ve enjoyed participating in World Read Aloud Day (WRAD), since TLCB published.”

“For this last World Read Aloud Day I enjoyed the opportunities to read and virtually meet so many students and teachers! To continue my celebration, I am doing a special TLCB Rafflecopter Giveaway  going ending February 21. Prize package includes what’s pictured here and some some surprise swag  Good Luck!

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Learn more about Kathleen Burkinshaw by visiting her site or reading her blog, and enter her giveaway by clicking here.

A Message About Reading Aloud from our Friends at Worldreader

With World Read Aloud Day less than 24 hours away, millions of communities near and far are preparing for an incredible day of celebration!

At LitWorld, we understand the incredible importance of reading aloud and the profound impact it has on development; that is what fuels our work to spread the joys of storytelling and literacy in communities across the world. Joining us in that mission is our friends at Worldreader, a global nonprofit that brings digital reading to underserved communities where paper books are scarce. Read on to learn more about Worldreader and why World Read Aloud Day is so important to their mission and their work!

According to our friends at Worldreader:

“Reading aloud to a child has a vital impact on their future. In the earliest years of a child’s life, the brain forms new connections at an astonishing rate. This gives shape to the child’s cognitive, emotional, and social development. LitWorld’s #WorldReadAloudDay on February 5th, 2020 draws crucial attention to the importance of reading aloud to children.”

“Sadly, millions of children are not able to enjoy read-alouds due to challenges that parents and caregivers around the world face, making the daily habit of reading to their children impossible. One of the biggest barriers is a lack of access to reading materials.”

“That is why Worldreader is bringing digital reading to underserved families, working with parents, caregivers, and schools to normalize a culture of reading and storytelling.”

“Affordable technologies provide an unprecedented opportunity to scale reading aloud. Simple devices, such as a mobile phone, provide unique opportunities to reach children in ways previously not explored. One example of this is Ms. Sapna, an Anganwadi trainer, who talks about how digital books have enabled a reading culture in her classroom.”

“This World Read Aloud Day, thousands of parents and caregivers across India and Jordan will be reading digital books with their children thanks to LitWorld and Worldreader. Together, we can stand up for the importance of reading aloud, sharing stories, and the idea of literacy as a human right for all - on World Read Aloud Day and beyond.”

To learn more about Worldreader’s work visit www.worldreader.org. We encourage you to join us this #WorldReadAloudDay, February 5, to celebrate the power of reading aloud!

Students, Authors, Illustrators and More Prepare to Celebrate World Read Aloud Day Online!

What’s the only thing more wonderful than a read-aloud of your favorite book? How about a read-aloud led by the actual author - all through the power of the internet!

Students enjoying a read-aloud with an author through Skype in the Classroom.

One of the most wonderful parts of World Read Aloud Day is seeing people of all different backgrounds and communities join together to celebrate the sheer joy of reading aloud. Now, as we approach our 11th annual World Read Aloud Day, there are more ways to connect with other readers than ever before.

For teachers and students, one particularly exciting way to celebrate World Read Aloud Day is by hosting a virtual read-aloud in the classroom with authors, illustrator, educators, or others!

Thanks to resources like Kate Messner’s Author List or this Google Doc (courtesy of Shannon McClintock Miller, Andy Plemmons, and Matthew Winner), thousands of students from around the world are able to to connect with new people - including their favorite authors and illustrators - to enjoy read-alouds, ask questions, lead discussions, and have a truly magical World Read Aloud Day!

Make your World Read Aloud Day extra special this year and connect online through Kate Messner’s Author List, visiting the Google Doc, or by contacting an author directly through social media. Spots fill up quickly, so start planning today!

Nal'ibali Prepares for World Read Aloud Day

World Read Aloud Day, held annually on the first Wednesday of February, is celebrated by thousands of communities across the globe, in thousands of different ways.

In South Africa, one organization in particular works to ensure that World Read Aloud Day is a nationwide success. Nal’ibali, a South African reading-for-enjoyment campaign that launched in 2012, seeks to spark and embed a culture of reading across South Africa. Their mission is to ensure that reading, writing and sharing stories – in all South African languages – becomes a regular part of everyday life for everyone. As such, World Read Aloud Day presents the perfect opportunity for Nal’ibali to unite communities through power of reading aloud.

Close to 1,000 children gathered in Mofolo park, Soweto, to listen to Nal’ibali’s World Read Aloud Day story in 2018.

As South Africa has 11 official languages (many of which have been marginalized in favor of English and Afrikaans), each year Nal’ibali translates and prints a copy of a specially-selected World Read Aloud Day story in all 11 languages. “The thought of thousands and thousands of children across our nation all hearing the same story in their language, on the same day, is a magical one that brings a tremendous sense of unity and joy,” says Sally du Perez, senior communications officer at Nal’ibali. “We have started to see the day as a beacon of hope for what can be achieved in terms of our country’s literacy crisis.”

Nal’ibali’s 2019 World Read Aloud Day ambassador, author and literacy activist Lebohang Masango, reads the official story aloud to over 200 children at Sandton Library, Johannesburg.

Nal’ibali’s first World Read Aloud Day celebration was held in 2013, reaching 13,000 children. By 2019, that number grew to almost 1.6 million participants, making it one of the largest national World Read Aloud Day celebrations in the world. “We had no idea how much support would grow and grow,” says Sally. “The fact that the event is spreading across the country and that people are owning it is exactly the type of change we’ve been working toward.”

Nal’ibali promotes not just literacy, but unity as well. They aim to connect different readers of all ages, backgrounds, and languages, creating a breathtaking example of the joy that World Read Aloud Day and the sharing of stories can bring.

In the coming years, Nal’ibali hopes to continue growing and involving readers from more diverse and far-reaching communities. “What we’d love to see in the future is a pan-African World Read Aloud Day celebration where countries across the continent join together to read a single story in all our languages,” says Sally. Stay tuned to see how they will celebrate the next World Read Aloud Day 2020, held on February 5, along with all the other millions of participants across the world!

To contact Nali’bali, please email info@nalibali.org. To learn more about the organization, visit them at their site or via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

"Education in 2030: The Fourth Industrial Revolution" - Reflections

Conference participants celebrate a successful and inspiring time together on the last day in Guatemala.

From November 4th to November 7th, 2019, LitWorld Program Coordinator, Mariya Ohulchanska, was honored to attend the "Education in 2030: Preparing for the near future" conference held by the Strachan Foundation in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.

The conference was hosted on the grounds of a local, privately-owned voluntary foundation, FUNDAP, seeking to promote the development of low-income areas in Guatemala, especially for those people who live in the rural areas of the highlands.

Gerson Gonzales from Un Mundo, Jhoanna Gomez from Museo Rayo, LitWorld’s Mariya and Gertrudis Mayorga from Fabretto enjoying last lunch together.

Invited to the 3-day-long event were 50 representatives from various education and social-action based organizations in Central America, including Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama.

LitWorld is a proud partner of three organizations that were present at the conference - Fabretto in Nicaragua, Un Mundo in Honduras and Museo Rayo from Colombia. This time spent together was a helpful way to connect with the Partnership Coordinators and mentors from these partner organizations and brainstorm ways to sustainably grow and support each other in the future.

The overarching topic of the seminar - the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is a theme that is unequivocally important to everyone living in today’s interconnected and quickly shrinking world. This revolution promises to fundamentally alter the way we live and work, connect with each other and educate our children. The way today’s parents, educators, and communities relate to these impending changes will define the future generation’s successes and failures and teach them how to operate in this changing world.

Participants saying goodbye

The Seminar not only provided excellent resources to learn about these changes and how we can best prepare for them but also facilitated conversations, where the participants could connect to each other and brainstorm problem solutions and new ideas. During the discussions, educators brought up issues of inter-connectivity, usage of technology and how we can best adapt to make education dynamic and accessible for all communities. The problems discussed were applicable to many contexts, from rural environments to urban communities, from classroom spaces meant for students with disabilities to workshops designed for single-mother households. Throughout the sessions, the seminar participants explored leadership and tactics to lead their teams to success during this time.

While none of these topics had easy (or fast!) answers, it was apparent that everyone was determined to continue learning and growing in order to serve their communities in the best way possible. According to Mariya: “It was a humbling experience to be working together with such a large group of like-minded, kind and inspiring individuals!”

To learn even more about the Fourth Industrial Revolution, check out “The Fourth Industrial Revolution: what it means, how to respond” by the World Economic Forum.