Ideas & Activities

Add beauty to a classroom and provide an "intergenerational" message about reading from the Children's Book Council. For in­ formation about the four-poster set entitled "Families Reading Together," send a self- addressed stamped envelope to Materials Brochure, CBC, 67 Irving PL, RO. Box 706, New York, NY 10276-0706. Watch for a "Do Not Disturb — Reading Time" door­ knob hanger for a child's bedroom that CBC is sending to member bookstores. • Join in publisher Houghton Mifflin's festivities and wish Virginia Lee Burton's Mike Mulligan A Series of Saturday Morning Animated Specials Bringing Children's and His Steam Shovel a happy 50th birth­ Books to Television and Children to the Brilliance of Books day! Watch bookstores for posters and contests. Invite a local "builder" to conduct Airing during 1989 to honor "The Year of the Young Reader" (check local a reading and honor him or her with a com­ listing for the date, time and channel in your area) memorative scroll. Award certificates to anyone who brings in a "first edition." For more fun, guess who turns 25 years old? For Please share the timely ideas and re­ Publisher Harper Trophy's Amelia Bedelia! sources we have suggested for teachers, Throw her a birthday party or choose Educators, librarians, parents and others. They are another favorite storybook character and designed to enrich both teaching and learn­ make books about them the central theme. Librarians ing to read. Simply photocopy the num­ * & Parents bered panels and pass them along. Privately funded incentives are adding zest to classroom reading programs. Want to get involved or learn more about them? Ask TAKE A CBS STORYBREAK currently airing your reading specialist to contact: Jello™ Saturday mornings on the CBS Television "Read a book and visit Mars in your Reading Rocket Program, M Booth & Asso­ Network. Please check local listings for own spaceship. Read a book and slay ciates, 225 West 34th St., Suite 1500, New exact time. Join youngsters of all ages and a mighty dragon or be one of King York, NY 10001, Pizza Hut's BOOK IT® share the pleasures of children's literature. Arthur's knights. Read a book and tap National Reading Incentive Program, Your host each week is children's advocate dance on Broadway or pitch in the (800) 4 BOOK IT and Time, Inc's "Time To Bob Keeshan, creator and star of the World Series. Make life an adventure. Read," Time and Life Building, New York, award-winning "Captain Kangaroo." Read!" NY 10020. CBS STORYBREAK is a series of half- — Barbara Bush • hour animated specials based on popular Honorary Chairperson Tried and true ideas for teaching reading books. While fun and entertaining, they comes from the U.S. Department of Educa­ open the door to discussion, inquiry and ac­ tion's National Diffusion Network (NDN) tivities that promote reading, language arts that convenes a jury to stamp its approval and writing. CBS STORYBREAK titles were on exemplary programs. Some of those selected in consultation with specialists who include "Learning To Read Through The know good literature and books children Arts," "Cooperative Integrated Reading And like best. Chosen authors, illustrators and Composition" and "Books and Beyond." For those who have adapted and animated the descriptive materials, contact NDN at 555 stories for television are highly regarded in New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington, DC their fields. CBS STORYBREAK is a "Read 20208-5645. More About It" project with the Library • of Congress. Watch for suggestions at the Microcomputers with word processing pro­ conclusion of each program; then, ask grams and special graphics packages offer your local librarian to obtain these lists unique opportunities for storymaking. Try of recommended books. creative expression using high technology The CBS STORYBREAK poster/guide tools. Seek a demonstration of such mate­ celebrates" 1989 - Year Of The Young rials as Bank Street StoryBook (gr. 3-9) Reader" (YYR), sponsored by the Library by Mindscape Educational Software, the of Congress. The original poster art was 1989 YEAR OF THE YOUNG READER Explore-A-Story series (gr. K-5) by D.C. created by Kellie Kramer, age 11, a fifth Heath, Paint With Words (K-4) by MECC, grader from Gresham, Nebraska and LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Storymaker (gr. 2-6) by Scholastic, Comic KOLN-TV in Lincoln. Her young reader and Strip Maker (gr 2-8) by Bantam, Kidwriter rainbow shining in an endless sky won top (gr. I -4) Spinnaker, Story Board (gr. 3-8) honors in a 1988 art contest run by CBS af­ by Data Command, and Story Starters filiate stations. A panel of judges convened The CBS Storybreak viewer's guide was (gr. I -8) by Random House. by CBS favored the unique image Kellie ex­ written by June Behrmann, M.Ed, and • pressed from an unusual vantage point. She produced for the CBS/Broadcast Group by To celebrate YYR, the Public Broadcasting and her school will be honored with gifts of KIDSNET, the computerized clearinghouse System's (PBS) Elementary/Secondary U.S. Savings Bonds. The artistic works of for children's television and radio in Wash­ Services (E/SS) sends free reading lists the merit winners also appear on this poster. ington, D.C Copyright © 1989 KIDSNET. continued on panel 2 —^ compiled by the Library of Congress and Television and radio programs adapted from Weave large string loops on your fingers the American Library Association that children's literature, plays, books and short and learn to tell the ancient stories that can enhance 1989 instructional television stories are tracked through KIDSNET's anthropologists have collected from native programs. Write PBS, E/SS, 1320 Braddock computerized database and provided to peoples all over the world. Learn more PL, Alexandria, VA 223 14 Also request subscribers with detailed program informa­ about woven designs from Camilla Gryski PBS's "Tune In Guide," for children's pro­ tion, grade levels, objectives, awards and whose three books for William Morrow and gramming that this year emphasizes learning available educational guides. Original book Company include her simplest, Cot's Cradle, to read. titles on which programs are based are also Owl's Eyes: A Book of String Games (1984). • provided. For more information, contact: Encourage children to use the facts about Annually, the following organizations publish KIDSNET, Clearinghouse for Children's Tel­ the design to create, record and share lists of recommended books. For copies, evision and Radio, 6856 Eastern Ave., NW, original stories. write: "Chosen by Children," American Washington, DC 20012, (202) 291-1400. • Library Association, 50 East Huron St., • CBS STORYBREAK, like many other Chicago, IL606II, "Booklist for Children" The Master Cat, by Charles Perrault and programs, is closed-captioned, primarily for ($4.50) The Child Study Children's Book Ooka and the Honest Thief, by I.G. Ed­ deaf and hearing-impaired viewers. Cap­ Committee, Bank Street College, 610 W. monds are part of the fun of the Junior tions, however, have the potential to help all 112th St., New York, NY 10025; "Books for Great Books program, a six-year-old liter­ children to improve their reading as they Children," ($1) compiled by the Children's ature-based reading and discussion program watch television. For information about ob­ Literature Center in the Library of Con­ for children in grades two and up. Sup­ taining a decoder that enables a television gress and made available through the Super­ ported by schools or PTAs, trained teachers set to "pick up" the captions, contact: The intendent of Documents, U.S. Government or parent volunteers help children develop a Caption Center, 125 Western Ave., Boston, Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402; or consistent approach to thinking about liter­ MA 02134, the National Captioning In­ "Children's Choices," International Reading ature. Contact Great Books Foundation at stitute, 5203 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Association-Children's Book Council Joint 40 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611, (800) VA 22041, or call (800) 533-WORD Committee, 800 Barkdsale Rd., RO. Box 222-5870. 8139, Newark, DE 19714-8139. • Reading takes on new meaning when the experience includes children who are blind or visually impaired. A special education teacher or local library can provide "twin vision" and "talking" books that make shared story times possible. Try Orchard Books' innovative Redbird, by Patrick Fort (1988). Children can actually feel the air­ plane adventure on its molded plastic pages as they read along in braille or black type. • Oversized "big books""with large pictures and text often draw students close to the action, invite choral and unison reading and inspire dramatization. The CBS STORY- BREAK special How To Eat Fried Worms, by Thomas Rockwell, for example, is available as a large print, read-along with audio tapes from Cornerstone Books. Even larger "big books," for younger children often come with identical smaller versions for reading later. Big book publishers include Children's Press and Grey Castle Press. • Contact your local newspaper's "News­ paper in Education" program or educational services division for an array of ideas from the American Newspaper Publishers Asso­ leadiriQ . ciation Foundation. One of these is "Family Focus: Reading and Learning Together," a Anthony Dellaventura • Grade 6 • WCBS-TV. NY. NY joint effort for grades K-3 between that "Dialogue Journal Writing with Limited- group and the National Association of Ele­ English-Proficient Students," (1987) is one • mentary School Principals, International of many no-cost publications provided by "Helping Your Children Use the Library" Reading Association and the National PTA. government-funded ERIC clearinghouses and "Check This Out, Highlights of Model Watch for a new edition for grades 4-6. that will stimulate teaching ideas. Write to: Library Programs" are free booklets from • ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Lin­ the U.S. Department of Education's Office Examine new magazines for children. guistics, Center for Applied Linguistics, 1118 of Educational Research and Improvement. "Sports Illustrated for Kids," is Time, Inc.'s 22nd St., NW, Washington, DC 20037 for They are filled with information and ideas, latest offering. "U.S. Kids," is created for copies and titles of other digests, "Q & As" such as reading projects for disadvantaged home reading by "Weekly Reader" pub­ and news bulletins. Also contact ERIC's and other special populations, tips on teach­ lisher, Field Publications. "Hidden Pictures Clearinghouse on Reading and Commu­ ing kids to do research, learning through the Magazine" comes with object searches from nication Skills, National Council of Teachers arts and more. For copies, call the toll-free the editors of "Highlights." Encourage par­ of English, 1111 Kenyon Road Ave., Urbana, telephone (800) 424-1616 or in Washing­ ents to place reading materials in several IL 61801 for a listing of similar no-cost ton, D.C, call (202) 626-9854. places throughout their homes. publications. 4?~ continue on panel 3 Over the summer, urge parents to check out tions of best teaching ideas. Watch for ways Calendar books on the library's recommended read­ that your governor, public transportation ing lists, as well as the videos and books spe­ authorities and local libraries plan to join in Spring/Summer cially selected for the public television show the fun. April is School Library Media Month. Sug­ "Reading Rainbow," hosted by a YYR gest parents and the school librarian plan a spokesperson, LeVar Burton. new annual reading event. Ask your CBS-TV • Program Summaries station, for example, to send a personality The Columbia University Children's Liter­ to read to your students. ature Institute (July 3 I -Aug. 11) delves into The following program summaries are children's picture books, multi-cultural ap­ provided to help tie the CBS STORYBREAK 4/2 International Children's Book Day. En­ proaches, keys to skillful booktalking and specials into ongoing language arts, reading joy stories by authors from foreign lands, more. Contact: School of Library Service, or writing experiences. Be sure to watch for such as CBS STORYBREAK's Yeh-Shen: A 516 Butler Library, Columbia University, the Library of Congress "Read More About Cinderella Story from China, by Ai-Ling New York, NY 10027, (212) 854-7895. It" recommendations at the conclusion of Louie. A new book, Here Comes The Cat, each show. by American author Frank Asch and Soviet "Integrating Reading, Writing and Oral • artist Vladimir Vagin, (Scholastic, 1989), de­ Language Across the Curriculum" is one of Arnold Of The Ducks, by Mordecai Gers- buts soon as the first-ever storybook with many summer courses offered by the Asso­ tein. Harper Junior Books, 1985. Two-year- Russian and English text. In few words and ciation for Supervision and Curriculum De­ vivid colors, they convey a strong, but velopment. hardly predictable message of peace.

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old Arnold is snatched and deposited in a nest by a pelican where he happily lives a For more information, contact duck's life for five years until, by accident, National Curriculum Study Institute Pro­ he is reunited with his human parents. Re­ gram, ASCD, 1250 Pitt St., Alexandria, VA adjusting is fun, but first, Arnold must bid a Jackie Masephol • Grade 4 22314, (703) 549-9110. touching good-bye to his adoptive "mom." WSAW-TY Wausau, Wisconsin • • September is Library Card Sign Up Month. Chocolate Fever, by Robert Kimmel Smith. 4/9 National Library Week. Parents and Read Harry In Trouble, by Barbara Ann Dell, 1972. Henry was an all-out chocolate teachers, here's an opportunity to influence Porte. Greenwillow Books, 1989. Poor Harry lover whose cravings lasted from morning the next round of purchases made for the has lost his library card again! Whatever will until night, until one day strange things children's collection at your local public li­ his librarian, Mrs. Katz, do? Learn together started happening to him. His cocoa-related brary. Browse through the shelves and card about the responsibilities of holding a per­ condition made medical history as the first- catalogue. Suggest the next orders include sonal library card. ever case of Chocolate Fever, a mysterious the kinds of books you hope to see your • affliction that leads him into a wild chase and children read. 9/8 International Literacy Day. Explore unusual hijacking. • cultural diversity. Invite guests to read • 4/23 Reading Is Fun Week. Contact Read­ translated versions of children's books from CLU.T.Z. by Marilyn Z. Wilkes. Dial ing Is Fundamental, Inc. for information foreign lands. Make a calendar of special Young Books, 1982. Imagine the future, about that nationwide program, Reading observances in which children's literature, when families have robots as servants. Is Fun Week, various pamphlets and a tip poetry and song can be studied throughout When the Pentax family can't afford the sheet on how to enliven reading. RIF, Inc., the year. Some of these are Black History latest mechanical butler, they settle for an PO Box 23444, Washington, DC 20026. Month (February), Asian/Pacific American older model, a comical robot with a good • Heritage Week and St. Patrick's Day soul whose clumsiness earns him his name. 4/30 Bicentennial of George Washington's (March), Cuban May Day, Mexico's El Cinco * oath of office. The CBS Television Reading de Mayo, Canada's Victoria Day (May), The Double Disappearance of Walter Program has produced materials on the Hawaii's Kamehameha Day (June) and Fozbek, by Steve Senn. Hastings House, Constitution as well as "This Is America American Indian Week (November). 1980. To his surprise, Walter one day Charlie Brown." Read stories about the awakes to find dinosaurs are running the presidency and constitution by well-known 11/13 Children's Book Week. Plan a cos­ world and humans are extinct! Learning to children's historical biographers such as Jean tume party. Come dressed as your favorite cope with his new surroundings also teaches Fritz (G. R Putnam's Sons). Also request character depicted in any CBS STORY- him about what it really means to be human. free and low-cost educational materials BREAK special. Be sure to read or drama­ • from the Commission on the Bicentennial of tize selections from the book on which the Dragon's Blood, by Jane Yolen. Delacorte the United States Constitution, 808 Seven­ CBS animated specials are based. Try to Press, 1982. In a prison-like, far away world, teenth St., NW, Washington, DC 20006, share stories in a new way this week. Gather a young boy can free himself only if he finds (202) USA-1787 or call their speakers bur­ donated children's books or make your own. a way to kidnap and train a baby dragon to eau at (202) 653-533 I for a storyteller Deliver the special library to a shelter for become champion of the fighting pits. How near you. homeless families with children. quickly he learns that money can buy a life, • but daring and loyalty are valuable beyond Summer/Fall 11/15 National Young Reader's Day, orga­ price. Steer your students toward Garfield the nized by the Library of Congress in cooper­ • Cat, Paddington Bear or a local hero who ation with Pizza Hut. Celebrate reading The Great Ringtail Garbage Caper, by may be waiting at area libraries to entice activities and achievements today. Teachers Timothy Foote. Houghton Mifflin, 1980. youngsters to join a summer reading club. in the BOOK-IT program will receive collec- continued on panel 4 —^ I1 The raccoon community is in real danger dare, Billy bets he can eat a worm a day Ratha's Creature, by Clare Bell. Dell, 1987. when humans cause a garbage shortage and for 15 days. After feeling squeemish on day In an imaginary prehistoric world, Ratha is a otherwise threaten the animals' food supply. one, he finds he actually likes the worm diet. young female in a clan of intelligent large This could mean war — until one raccoon Meanwhile, after his opponents begin to cats that nearly face extinction after an en­ finds a solution based upon sharing and cheat, the issue changes from worm-eating emy raid. But when she learns to tame fire, cooperation. to one of fair play. the most dangerous force of all, she learns • that knowledge is the key to survival. The Gammage Cup, by Carol Kendall. Hugh Pine, by Janwillem van de Wetering. • Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1959. (Out of Houghton Mifflin, 1980. The smartest por­ Robbut: A Tale of Tails, by Robert Lawson. print but available at libraries.) The sober cupine in the woods, Hugh Pine, knows the Viking, 1948 (Out of print but available at and sedate Minnipins live as conformists in secret of crossing roads without getting run libraries). Robbut Rabbit is dissatisfied with an isolated mountain valley, until a handful over. In his floppy red hat and a coat, he his small tail. When a magical friend offers of their exiles learn that the enemy Mush­ looks just like a man! But, when his not-so- him a chance to trade his for those of other rooms are heading their way and soon will wise buddies ignore this wisdom, he must animals, Robbut grabs the chance and learns launch an attack! Not until the Minnipins concoct another way to help his friends the hard way that being yourself is best. rediscover traditional values and think for survive. • themselves can they hope to win their • The Roquefort Gang, by Sandy Clifford, struggle for survival. Jeffrey's Ghost and the Leftover Baseball Houghton Mifflin, 1982. When twin mice, • Team, by David A. Adler. Holt Rinehart & Tim and Tom, disappear into the perilous Grinny, by Nicholas Fisk. Heinemann, Winston, 1984. (Out of print but available Wildberry Lot, their nanny, Nicole, must 1974 (Out of print but available at libraries). at libraries.) Jeffrey is crazy about baseball, persuade the dashing Roquefort Gang to Suddenly, after Great Aunt Emma comes to but only luck will get him a place on the come to their rescue. But, even these street- visit, the children become aware that odd "leftovers" team. With help from an impish smart mice are stymied by an evil poetry- things are happening, things their parents ghost named Bradford, Jeffrey and his team­ spouting cat named Keats. Disaster is only a don't notice. Soon, they discover a horrible mates get a chance to play outstanding ball. whisker away . . . until help arrives from an truth — that "Grinny" is an alien being who But can winning really be that simple? unexpected direction! must be stopped from carrying out a plan • • that threatens the world! Mama Don't Allow, by Thacher Hurd. The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek, by • Harper Junior Books, 1985. When some Evelyn Sibley Lampman. Doubleday, 1955 Honk the Cowdog, by John R. Erickson. wily alligators invite Miles the possum, who's (Out of print but available at libraries). Maverick, 1985. Hank the Cowdog, head of got a jazzy new sax, and his musical friends George the stegosaurus is so shy that no Ranch Security, faces danger when he must from the swamp to play a gig on their river- one has spotted him in 60 million years until solve a series of coldblooded chicken mur­ boat, little does he know that the all-night he meets Joan and Joey, and it is instant in­ ders. In the process, he learns the impor­ celebration includes plans for cooking a fatuation. When dangerous visitors arrive in tance of placing responsibility before ego. savory Swamp Band Soup! the desert, George comes face to face with • • his worst fear, being discovered, unless the Harry, the Fat Bear Spy, by Gahan Wilson. Max and Me and the Time Machine, youngsters can cook up a plan to save their Dell, 1978. When Harry the Spy is ordered by Gery Greer and Bob Ruddick. Harper big, talkative friend. to find out why all the macaroons in Bear- Junior Books, 1988. When Steve brings • mania are coming out green, his search home a time machine from a garage sale, he What Happened in Hamelin, by Gloria brings him face to face with the Terrible and his best friend Max are suddenly thrust Skurzynski. Four Winds, 1979. As legend Green Bear himself. ill-prepared into 13th century England. and fact have it, a colorful fellow in the year • With their lives on the line and a pretty 1284 rid Hamelin, Germany of rats by play­ How to Eat Fried Worms, by Thomas princess to rescue from the evil Hampshire ing a haunting tune and luring the awful Rockwell. Franklin Watts, 1973. On a Mauler, will they ever come out alive? pests to the Weser River where they drow­ • ned. When the mayor refused to pay him as The Monster's Ring, by Bruce Coville. Min­ promised, this "Pied Piper" sought revenge strel Books, 1987. Russell thinks his troubles and enticed 130 of the town's children to with school bullies are over when he finds a follow him out of the city, never to be seen ring in a magic shop that will turn him into a again. © monster. But he learns quickly that magic • alone won't solve his problems. Witch Cat, by Joan Carris. Harper Junior • Books, 1984. When 12-year-old Gwen The Pig Plantagenet, by Allen Andrews. adopts a stray cat, little does she know that Viking, 1980 (Out of print but available at the feline is a witch's "familiar" on a mission libraries.) When the evil lord of a 13th cen­ to train the only "good" witch born in this tury French manor decides to exterminate century — Gwen! the forest animals, a heroic pig named Plan­ tagenet organizes fellow creatures into a Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China, stampede for safety. by Ai-Ling Louie. Philomel Books, 1982. • Here is a beloved tale of a poor, mistreated Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Camel stepchild whose goodness and beauty bring with the Wrinkled Knees, by Johnny her eventual happiness. It is based upon an Gruelle. Dell, 1977 When these favorite Eastern version which precedes the Euro­ dolls come alive and meet a camel with pean counterpart by 1,000 years. wrinkled knees, they marvel that even • though he is specially designed, nothing Zucchini, by Barbara Dana. Harper Junior about him works correctly. Truly uncoordi­ Books, 1982. Zucchini is a rare black-footed nated but lovable, he proves his loyalty dur­ ferret who was born and raised in a zoo. ing their travels on a mysterious walking ship After he successfully escapes and seeks his Hong Truong • Kindergarten • KXTV-TV, in the underground world of the pirate-filled roots, he learns quickly that he carries his Sacramento. California Loonie Land. true identity within himself. •' a... *

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A series of Saturday morning animated specials based on favorite children's books. Watch for: \ The Time Machine • The Monster's Ring • The Pig Plantagenet • Raggedy Ann And Andy And The Camel With The Arnold Of The Ducks • Chocolate Fever • C.L.U.T.Z. • The Double Disappearance Of Walter Fozbek • Dragon's Blood Wrinkled Knees • Ratha's Creature • Robbut: A Tale Of Tails • The Roquefort Gang • The Shy Stegosaurus Of Cricket Creek The Gammage Cup • The Great Ringtail Garbage Caper • Grinny • Hank The Cowdog • Harry, The Fat Bear Spy • How To What Happened In Hamelin • Witch Cat • Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story From China • Zucchini • This drawing was created by Kellie Eat Fried Vv'orms • Hugh Pine •Jeffrey's Ghost And The Leftover Baseball Team • Mama Don't Allow • Max And Me And Kramer, a fifth grader from Gresham, Nebraska. Saturdays 12:30-1:00 pm ESI. on the CBS Television Network