Reading is Fun Week: May 12 - 18

How could I resist a press release about something called Reading is Fun Week? Impossible. Here it is:

Kick-Start Summer Reading with Booklist, Tips, and Activities During Reading Is Fun Week, May 12–18

Washington, May 8, 2008—Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation’s oldest and largest children and families’ literacy nonprofit organization, encourages parents to celebrate Reading Is Fun Week with their children May 12–18.

Reading Is Fun Week, started in 1979, is a time to recognize the pleasures found in books and to mark the start of summer reading. With an Olympic summer just around the corner, RIF has put together The World’s Most Athletic Booklist for children of all ages. The list contains books representing Olympic sports, and is available for free at RIF.org.

“Experts agree that children who read during the summer gain reading skills, while those who do not often experience learning losses,” said Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of RIF. “Reading Is Fun Week is the perfect time for parents and educators to encourage children to read for fun during their summer vacation.”

The website RIF.org provides free resources to encourage summer reading and help families celebrate Reading Is Fun Week, including a day-by-day children’s activity calendar for each day of the week. Visitors to the website can also send a children’s art e-card to spread the joy of reading, and explore RIF’s literacy activities, like Reading Is Fun bingo. RIF also provides parents with reading tips, including how to:

• Help children start a reading journal
• Find a fun book series for children to read
• Relate what you are reading to outdoor activities
• Be a reading role-model and talk about books

About RIF
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF’s highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provides 4.6 million children with 16 million new, free books and literacy resources each year. For more information, and to access reading resources, visit RIF’s website at RIF.org.

My thanks to Layla Wright-Contreras from RIF, for sending me the release. And if you haven't acted yet to help save RIF's funding, click here.