Marilyn Binkley of OERI provided a thoughtful review of the manuscript. The book she prepared entitled BECOMING A NATION OF READERS: WHAT PARENTS CAN DO gave inspiration for a number of the activities and was the basis for the section on parents and schools.
Ray Fry, director of OERI's Library Probrams, provided invaluable support and guidance in developing this book. Nancy Floyd managed the production of the book, assisted by Torey Evans. Also, our special thanks go to Leo and Diane Dillon for their advice on how to work with illustrators.
Bernice Cullinan is professor of Early Childhood and Elementary Education at New York University and a highly acclaimed reading specialist. She has authored numerous books about children and reading, most recently READ TO ME: RAISING KIDS WHO LOVE TO READ.
Brod Bagert is the author of several books of poetry for children to read out loud. Mr. Bagert visits dozens of American cities as a keynote speaker for Bill Martin, Jr.'s Pathways to Literacy. During the school year he is invited to schools across the nation to read his poetry aloud as a way of motivating children to read.
Darlene Marie Francis is a 20-year-old Guild Member of YA/YA Gallery and an art student at Delgado Community College in New Orleans, Louisiana. She has also studied at the Accademia Di Belle Arti, Perugia, Italy. Her work has been displayed in galleries in New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Memphis in the United States, as well as Paris, London, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Tuscany. Best known for her whimsically painted chairs, her work has appeared on Sesame Street, MTV, the Today Show, and on Japanese TV.
Listen to them and pay attention to their problems.
Read with them.
Tell family stories.
Limit their television watching.
Have books and other reading materials in the house.
Look up words in the dictionary with them.
Encourage them to use an encyclopedia.
Share favorite poems and songs with them.
Take them to the library—get them their own library cards.
Take them to museums and historical sites, when possible.
Discuss the daily news with them.
Go exploring with them and learn about plants, animals, and local geography.
Find a quiet place for them to study.
Review their homework.
Meet with their teachers.
Do you have other ideas?
This book is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part for educational purposes is granted.
Publication of this book was managed by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education. Listing of materials and resources in this book should not be construed or interpreted as an endorsement by the Department of any private organization or business listed herein.
