Share a Story

By Diane Forrest

Last night I was talking with a friend of mine who was having trouble sleeping.  I asked him if he wanted me to tell him a bedtime story to help him sleep.  Then I started thinking of some of my favorite stories.  One of my favorite ones is about the 7 Chinese Brothers.  It is about these seven brothers, who all look alike.  They all have a special talent, and they help get each other out of a certain problem that would cause their death.  The story ends on a happy note, and everyone is saved.

May is National Share a Story Month.  The month is organized by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups. The charity was founded in 1965 with the aim to promote children’s interest in books and reading, getting involved with libraries, schools and playgroups.

The main aim though, is to form book groups for parents and children to meet, discuss books, hear from visiting authors and just enjoy some good old-fashioned story telling!

Words for life.org offers some suggestions on how to celebrate this month.  They include:

1.    Share your favorite childhood stories

Think back to when you were a child and the stories that have stayed with you throughout the years. One will probably have had a big impression on you, so why not share it with your child? It might be something completely new to them or it could be a book that they love too, a classic such as Where the Wild Things Are. You don’t need to have a copy to hand either; you could tell it from memory and have some fun making it exciting, funny, sad or intriguing.

2.    Ask your child what their favorites are

Most children have at least one book that will have made an impression on them, whether it was one particular story or a series involving the same character or even a non-fiction title. (You may know before you ask your child which is their favorite story if you have had to read it time and time again!) Discuss what makes the book so special and why they like it. This helps your child think about books in a more analytical way and helps them form opinions that they know you respect.

3.    Read a bedtime story

Most children love being read to. It’s not just about the story; it’s also about curling up and spending special quiet time with you, without interruptions. You can enjoy board books with babies and younger children, and longer stories with older kids. By taking ten minutes or more out of your busy day you are not only helping them with their literacy but are also telling them that you love them and that spending time together matters. What a lovely thought before going to sleep!

4.    Create your own story

For thousands of years there were no books and, even if there were, most people couldn’t read. Instead they gathered to listen to storytellers for entertainment. It’s still a popular way to spend an evening now – think of ghost stories around a campfire or listening to a stand-up comedian talk about their life – so why not have a go at making up your own story? If your child can talk, involve them in it too. This is a fun way of passing the time when travelling and on rainy days and is more interactive than solitary reading. If your child gets really involved, you could always write your story down together and illustrate it with pictures or photos.

5.    Visit your local library

One of the best ways of getting your children and yourself into reading is by joining your local library. They usually have all the latest bestsellers, as well as old favorites, and you don’t have to pay a penny to borrow them. Many libraries have special children’s sections, with regular story times and music sessions, so you can sit and relax without worrying about making noise. The only trouble you may have is when it’s time to leave!

So this month.... stop by your library and stock up on some good stories or make some up on your own.  Some of the best ones come from your own life.

(All images from Google)

Young Reader's Day

 "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go." ~ Dr. Seuss, "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!"

By Diane Forrest

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As I was preparing for this article - this joke came to mind...

The new school librarian decided that instead of checking out children's books by writing the names of borrowers on the book cards herself, she would have the youngsters sign their own names. She would then tell them they were signing a 'Contract' for returning the books on time.

Her first customer was a third grader who looked surprised to see a new librarian. He brought three books to the desk and shoved them across to the librarian, giving her his name as he did so.

The librarian pushed the books back and told him to sign them out. The boy laboriously printed his name on each book card and then handed them to her with a look of utter disgust.

Before the librarian could even start her speech, he said scornfully, "The other librarian we had knew how to write."

Working with young children first learning to read can be a very rewarding time.  When my son was born, my aunt, who is a school teacher, told me right off to read to him every day.  So I started reading to him when he was just a few days old.  I didn't have a big supply of children's books at the time, so I just read the same book over and over again, until I was able to get more.  I would make weekly trips to the store and buy a few baby books at a time.  These were mostly small books with plastic pages with colorful pictures on it.  The selections were very limited, so I ended up writing my own stories and coloring pictures for him to look at.  As he got older, I would take him to the library every week.  I had a large tote bag that we would fill with dozens of books at a time, and come home and read them all over and over again.  By the time he started preschool he had already been introduced to thousands of books and this made his transition to school much easier for him. He continued through school reading and learning, and still to this day he will read books to increase his knowledge.

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Today is Young Reader's Day. It is so important to encourage reading while children are still young.  When I was in school, each day after lunch my teacher would read a chapter of a book to us.  I still remember those stories today, and how she made those books come alive.  Now when there is a gift giving occasion for the children I know, I always send books so they can enjoy them over and over again, and expand their knowledge.   If you have any kids in your life, consider getting them a book for Christmas or just because.  If you don't have any young readers, you might want to volunteer at a local school, library or even church and read a story to them during story time.  Not only will you be rewarded by the smiles and excitement in their faces, but you will get the satisfaction of knowing that for brief time, you made a difference in someone else's life.

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National Friends of Libraries Week

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By Diane Forrest

When my family relocated to another town, my mother found a job working in the school library at the junior high school.  That was in 1976, 36 years ago.  Since that time her involvement with libraries has continued to grow.  When they were transferred to this town, she continued working for the school library, this time graduating to the high school.  Today, even though she has retired from the school system, she continues working as a volunteer at our church library.  She designs the display windows, helps in checking out books and with the orders of new books.  Each year she attends a library conference to learn new and improved methods.

This week is National Friends of Libraries Week.  This is to show gratitude to all those who support the libraries, either by volunteering or donations. The Public library provides a host of information and resources, most without charge.  They also have access to internet usage and videos, and even some books.  Libraries are funded through the government and state taxes.  With the funding being cut in so many areas, it is hard to keep the hours open for operation.  This is where the friends come in.

Friends of the libraries provide additional funding, as well as hold fund raising events.  They can also make provisions in their will to continue to support the library.  There was a cardiologist here in my town that was an avid contributor, and after he passed away a few years ago, he left provisions for their funding.  They have since honored his support by naming a reading room after him.

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Some tips from the American Library Association on ways to assist your library can be found on www.ala.org, and they include:

• Assist the Friends in getting the proclamation signed by your city or campus official.
• Offer a prominent location in the library where the Friends can coordinate a display and/or a membership table during National Friends of Libraries Week.
• Include information in the library's newsletter.
• Use this opportunity to evaluate how the library currently helps promote the Friends. Look for additional opportunities to promote the Friends on an ongoing basis, including membership, programs, and fundraisers. Consider a bulletin board in a prominent location, brochure holders at the circulation desk, bookmarks distributed by the circulation staff, and other simple ways to promote the Friends to all patrons.
• Tell your city or campus officials how important the Friends are to the ongoing success of the library. Use this opportunity to convey to officials how the Friends raise money, promote the library, and volunteer in many ways.
• If you submit a monthly article or information to the mayor, city council, or college officials, be sure to talk about the contributions of the Friends. Make it personal and quantify the support whenever possible (amount of money donated, number of volunteer hours, number of programs supported and number of people who attended, etc.).
• Submit an article to a citywide or campus-wide publication. Tell the personal story of a longtime volunteer with the Friends, the impact of Friends support on programs, services, and/or collections, or how the Friends supported the library in another way.
• Create a large "Thank You" card to post near the display or membership table coordinated by the Friends (if they decide to do this). Ask staff to personalize the card and/or sign their names.
• Ask staff to write "Love Letters" to Friends that can be posted throughout the library showing their support. Include quotes in the library's newsletter and/or on the library's website. Personal recognition makes volunteers feel appreciated!

So this week take some time to visit your local library, and find out what you can do to help support them.