Children's Literacy and Reading News Roundup: Mid-November Edition

Welcome to the mid-November Children’s Literacy and Reading News Roundup brought to you by Jen Robinson’s Book Page and Rasco from RIF. Over the month of November so far Carol Rasco and I have collected content for you about literacy & reading-related events; literacy and reading programs and research; and suggestions for growing bookworms. Carol has the full roundup at Rasco from RIF, but I've shared a few highlights and added a few extra tidbits below.

As Carol said, she and I wish "to honor the memory of our colleague Terry Doherty’s father who was “called Home” over the weekend. Clearly he was among many things a man of literacy who instilled in his daughter and those he taught within a classroom a love of words, books, and story. Terry has paid tribute to him in a beautiful, personal posting. Our thoughts are with the family as they mourn his loss and celebrate all that he brought to their lives. Indeed, we are thinking about you and all your family, Terry."

We missed Terry's wisdom as we compiled this roundup, and look forward to the time when she is able to rejoin us.

In other news, Carol passes along some insightful thoughts from child psychiatrist Dr. Harold Koplewicz on the reason for the popularity of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books (Book 6 was released this week), and a heartwarming piece about 76-year-old Betty the Reading Buddy, who has been reading to second graders at an elementary school for 15 years. And worth clicking through for alone, a great little cartoon featuring Santa handing out a library card to a child.

Now, for my additional links, which I wasn't able to share with Carol in time for the roundup (I've been traveling since last Wednesday, and am very much looking forward to getting home tonight):

• Read Aloud Dad shares his hyper-enthusiastic thoughts on "the explosive power of reading aloud." This is a post to brighten the day of any children's literacy advocate, and, hopefully, one that will convince other parents to set out on the read-aloud journey. 
• I just learned via The Greedy Sparrow (a Cybils nominee!) author Lucine Kasbarian that Yerevan, Armenia was named World Book Capital for 2012 by UNESCO. I am Armenian-by-marriage, and am happy to see this honor accorded to Armenia (particularly when it intersects so well with my own interests).
• A special treat for children's literature fans. Colleen Mondor and her Blog Blast Tour Team this week bring us a One Shot World Tour of books celebrating City Living. It's worth clicking through for the gorgeous logo alone. See also the related Guys Lit Wire announcement about a holiday book fair for Ballou Sr High School.
• As the holiday season approaches, I'd like to point out a company that features gifts for book-lovers. Gone Reading International (via Cafe Press) sells beautiful mugs, t-shirts, bags, etc., all with logos that celebrate reading. I bought myself a coffee mug that shows a person reading in a hammock, and a shirt for Baby Bookworm showing a turtle that says "Slow Down and Read to Me." They donate 100% of their profits to other nonprofits that fund libraries and literacy projects in developing countries.

That's all I have for you today. Please do click through to read more literacy and reading news at Rasco from RIF. Thanks for reading, and for caring about children's literacy. We'll be back with more news at the end of the month. Happy Thanksgiving to all in the meantime!