WRADvocate Profile: Michelle Breum

Michelle Breum is our WRADvocate from Montana. She's doing so many amazing things to celebrate World Read Aloud Day, among them selling bookmarks to fundraise for LitWorld.

She's also arranged for authors Robert Munsch, Eric Litwin, and A.J. Paquette to sign special books that can be raffled off as prizes. We're excited to have Michelle's energy with us for WRAD this year! You can read more about her below.

1. Can you share some of your earliest memories of reading and how they impacted you?

My childhood memories are few and fuzzy, so I only remember three of the stories my mom read to me. I remember my mom reading The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Velveteen Rabbit, and a poem called The Goops. While reading some fun books with Grover as the main character to my own children some vague memories of a librarian reading some of these books came back to me. It was fun to revisit these books. Our favorite is There's a Monster at the End of This Book. My brother, sister, and I were given time to read in bed most nights. I didn't read very many books. I wasn't a good reader and usually got to the end of a page without knowing what I read and would have to start over trying hard to concentrate. I didn't read for enjoyment until my late twenties. I couldn't connect or pay attention while reading. I avoided most assigned reading all through school. Attending college and my desire to be a teacher forced me to learn to connect to what I read.

2.  Is there a particular book that has changed your life in some way and why?

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is a book that changed me. It showed me how a person can rise above a difficult childhood. Hearing the story of the author's selfish mom made me appreciate my mom's love and the sacrifices she made for her children in a new light.

3. What advice would you give to teachers, parents and caregivers who want to reach their struggling readers?

One of the best things anyone can do to help a struggling reader is to match a reader with books of high
interest at the right reading level and give a reader time to read. Struggling readers also need someone to read to them, someone to listen to them read, someone to talk to them about what they are reading, and someone who knows how to teach the skills a reader may be missing.

4. What do you think is most essential for teachers, parents and caregivers to do in order to nurture a child to become a lifelong reader?

I think parents, teachers, and caregivers should read to kids from birth through the teenage years. Fiction books, non-fiction books, magazines, news stories, and signs or pamphlets when visiting places all help children learn about themselves, about others, and about the world. Reading to a child often will increase a child's desire for knowledge.

5. Will you share with us some final meditations on the power of the read aloud and of reading in general to the emotional lives of children and for all people?

I am so happy to be a part of LitWorld's World Read Aloud Day! Reading aloud is something that brings people together. I still read aloud to my children. They are 8, 8, and 10 years old. Thinking about the power of reading aloud got me to encourage my husband to choose and read a book to our children. He read The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop. I loved watching them interact during the story.They now have this shared experience. My husband used to read picture books to our kids before bed, but he stopped as they got older. I have a friend whose parents read aloud to each other. One puts together a puzzle while the other reads. How beautiful is that!

To learn more about Michelle, you can follow her work here:

Author of Blog, Beginning Reading Help
Owner of Parent and Child Reading Assistance
Moderator of Beginning Reading Help BlogFrog community

WRADvocate Profile: Madeline Boskey

It is our pleasure to introduce you to Madeline Boskey, our WRADvocate from New Jersey. She's got so many great plans to celebrate World Read Aloud Day, and we're thrilled that she's on board.

On February 2, she'll be hosting an event in her home for her local friends, asking them to do a book exchange to share thoughts and books with each other. She'll also be visiting a local nursery school at the Central Presbyterian Church in Summit, New Jersey on March 7. There she will read aloud to a class of children.

To learn more about Madeline, read on below:

1. Can you share some of your earliest memories of reading and how they impacted you? Do you have a memory of someone reading aloud to you that changed you in some way? How did that change you?

I have a very specific early memory—probably from my nursery school years —of my mother reading to me. She introduced a new book—The Little Read Hen. When she finished, I immediately asked her to read it again. She seemed a bit surprised but complied. My mother had been a teacher and I think she must have recognized the importance of what was happening—that I felt such a strong interest or delight in the story that I wanted to repeat the experience.  Tuned in to that instinct, she made me—as a young child—feel powerful. Somehow I think that interaction stayed with me because it communicated a subtle, but powerful message. This reading aloud thing was about more than the book and its storyline. It was also about the relationship between the participants. There is a bond, a relationship that builds between readers and those being read to. I see it now as some kind of power that is communicated through books and reading. Looking back at that interaction, I think that when my mother granted that simple wish, something larger than a rereading took place.

2. Is there a particular book that has changed your life in some way and why?

The books that most affected me as a child were biographies. I devoured them. I loved reading about the simple and personal details of people’s lives—from Davy Crockett to Joan of Arc. I can still remember Louisa May Alcott’s “inordinate love of cats” or the fact that Jane Addams had a skeletal infirmity. I also learned a lot about history through these books. Reading about the lives of real people inspired me and made me want to do important work when I grew up. I like to think that I do!

3. What advice would you give to teachers, parents and caregivers who want to reach their struggling readers?

For parents of struggling readers, I would say first, try to introduce reading material that may spark an interest. If your child doesn’t think he likes to read books, but loves sports, read a sports column with him. Find a particularly good writer so the words will captivate him. Or read aloud jokes and riddles. The silliness will make your child laugh—and is proof that reading brings pleasure. You never know what might be the right hook. Second, if your child is a struggling reader, experiment to find the right level of difficulty. There are resources available to help you choose appropriate books. Try to avoid adding to her frustration by introducing books that are too difficult.  And avoid babyish books that emphasize a feeling that your child is lacking in some way. Struggling readers are all too aware that they are struggling. So be sensitive. Finally, please don’t give up. Keep trying. Be subtle, but be consistent in your efforts. Keep searching to find the books or reading material that will hook your child.

4.  What do you think the future holds for readers?

The changes in technology today are phenomenal. Personally I have embraced many of the new technologies and I enjoy the advantages say of the portability of a book on a digital reading device. I appreciate the ease of instantly downloading a book to read, without traveling to a bookstore or library. Despite the loss of the tactile experience of turning pages, I do consider these advances positive. Do I prefer to read and handle a real book rather than scan words on screen? Absolutely. But I believe there is room for both options.

I think there will always be books. And as educators, parents, and caretakers, we should be sure to instill a love and appreciation for real books and the pleasure they bring. It is up to us to pass along that knowledge so the next generations will enjoy the experience of reading books. There is a role for the low-tech even as technology advances. Think about it: People still ride horses or bicycles even though there are far speedier means of transportation! I think there will always be room on our shelves for books.

5. Will you share with us some final meditations on the power of the read aloud and of reading in general to the emotional lives of children and for all people?

Reading aloud is a powerful experience that can bring people closer and make a unique human connection. I think back to my early memory of reading with my mother—and the unspoken but strong knowledge I took away. It makes me think about how the act of reading together is about more than the book being read. The experience is more than a “senior” person—a parent, caregiver, or teacher—pouring words into the young vessel—the child. The act of reading together is one of communication and sharing. In some ways the book is simply a vehicle for that interaction. Discussion, questions, rereading may take place. And beyond that there is a very human, emotional connection. The power of words and human contact is amazing.

To learn more about Madeline, follow her on Twitter @madforreading and visit her blog below:

Mad for Reading

WRADvocate Profile: Nili Yelin

Meet Nili Yelin, our WRADvocate in Chicago, Illinois. One of the city's best storytellers, she will be hosting a 10:30 am children's storytime at Psycho Baby in Chicago. She's also raising funds on behalf of LitWorld's cause, raffling off a children's private story event. Read on to learn about Nili!

1. Can you share some of your earliest memories of reading and how they impacted you?
My Dad read to me a lot as a kid. I was born in Israel and moved to New York at 4 years old and learned English through books and listening to Broadway musical albums--I definitely learned that words were my friends at a very early age and I learned a whole new language and culture through books. My dad read every day and I picked up that love of books and learning through seeing him read all the time. 
   

2. Is there a particular book that has changed your life in some way and why?

I love the books by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, especially Little Pea. That book is perfection to me. It's funny, clever, quirky, teaches great concepts while playing with the reality of a child's world. This book allowed me to open up and be more playful in my storytelling and I never get tired of reading and performing it. I love sharing this book with a group of children and I get a kick out of their reactions and comments.

3. How has what you've read influenced you professionally?

I became a children's storyteller after reading Esme Codell's book, Educating Esme. I was enthralled by her love of kids and books and used many of her creative ideas to guide me when I first began. We met by accident years ago in a store and are now friends. Her encouragement and positive spirit have been with me every time I perform and I use her as my "muse" to challenge myself and discover new things every time I engage with an audience.

4. Do you have a memory of someone reading aloud to you that changed you in some way? How did that change you?  

My Grandfather who came to New York from Russia used to read me old folk tales that he was read as a child when I would visit him on the Lower East Side of New York. He had a thick accent and would sing some of the songs in the stories which I loved. He had such a good time revisiting the stories of his childhood and his joy came through to me and I felt happy as well. I can still hear his voice in my head and he has been gone since 1980. I got the chance to see the little boy inside the old man and feel a connection to my heritage and Jewish background and that has influenced me to this day. Plus he was very funny and I use humor as the foundation for most of my work.

5. Will you share with us some final meditations on the power of the read aloud and of reading in general to the emotional lives of children and for all people?

I am amazed on a daily basis by the observations and truths of children and group interaction. There is an organic and natural pull to a group gathering and listening to a story and the feeling of being totally engaged in the moment. Words and pictures stir the imagination and the power of recognition that we all have similar feelings and experiences create a bond that is stronger than many other experiences. You can explore the whole world and various situations in the safety of a book. The simple act of reading can make you feel part of something bigger than yourself and empower you to soar as high as you want to go and land safely.

To learn more about Nili, visit her website here:

The Story Book Mom

and for the latest updates, keep up with her on Facebook here.

WRADvocate Profile: Nikki Etolen

Nikki Etolen is one of our amazing World Read Aloud Day Advocates (WRADvocates, for short) who will be rallying for WRAD this year. Based out of Pennsylvania, she's got some amazing things planned to contribute to this exciting day. Read on to learn more about Nikki:

 

 1. Can you share some of your earliest memories of reading and how they impacted you?

I remember reading in my room at a relatively young age. By around eight, I was reading mystery and horror books, which was funny because I couldn’t stand scary movies. I lived in an area where there weren’t a lot of kids, so after school and weekends I was pretty much on my own for entertainment. Reading opened up whole new worlds to me and made me feel less lonely.

2. What advice would you give to teachers, parents and caregivers who want to reach their struggling readers?

Let them pick their own books. I think that is the single most important thing anyone can do for a kid. We’re expected to read so many standard books throughout our school years, and while they may be “classics,” not every kid is going to be interested in every book put in front of them. Forced reading is a bane to encouraging lifelong reading habits.

3. What book do you think young people should not miss?
This is difficult to answer because there are so many books for young people that are just incredible, and the “should not miss” book really depends on their age. For me, I’d have to say “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” because it really expands the imagination and teaches important lessons. I also think kids can really relate to Alice, who is often too big or to small to do something, but never quite just right. We always tell our kids “you’re too young to do that” or “you’re old enough to know better,” but never “you are exactly the right age for this.”

4. What do you think the future holds for readers?

I think with all the choices in formats, now is a great time to be a reader. I know a lot of readers are wary of the e-book, but it has opened up a whole new world of literature as more people can self-publish. Kids have more choices than ever before, and I think this trend will continue for a long time. Books like Harry Potter,  Artemis Fowl, Inkheart, and other adventures are inspiring a whole new generation of readers who may grow up to write their own epic adventures.

5. Will you share with us some final meditations on the power of the read aloud and of reading in general to the emotional lives of children and for all people?

 I think reading aloud to your children is an incredible way to bond with them at an early age. I’ve been reading to my son since before he was even born, and now that he’s getting older, he enjoys reading to me. Hearing him progress and read passages that are more complicated makes me so proud because I know that while his teachers are responsible for instilling the basic skills necessary to read, I laid all the groundwork to make sure he actually enjoys it.

To learn more about Nikki, follow her on Twitter on @prettynameless and visit her blog:

Pretty Opinionated

FreeBalance Celebrates World Read Aloud Day 2011

What a great event. On behalf of the employees at FreeBalance, we would like to thank the people at LitWorld who made World Read Aloud Day 2011 possible. The feedback from the employees was very positive. And the feedback from the children was especially enthusiastic. This event is such a special way to get involved in the local community in a meaningful way. And it was great that FreeBalance could demonstrate its commitment to literacy in such a fun and engaging manner.

This is the second year FreeBalance participated in World Read Aloud Day. This year, 12 offices around the world read The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle at local schools, an orphanage, and a children’s cancer centre. The offices that participated included: Antigua & Barbuda, Canada, Guatemala, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Mongolia, Palestine, and Uganda. Text and activities, including the certificate, were translated to the local language to encourage understanding and participation.

Here are images from some of the FreeBalance participation around the world:

 - The FreeBalance Team