First Five Mendocino recently announced a significant milestone: since April 2009 it has distributed more than 50,000 books free of charge to children ages 0 to 5 through its role as fiscal champion for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Parton launched her Imagination Library in 1996, to benefit children in her home county in East Tennessee. According to www.imaginationlibrary.com/, Parton’s vision was “to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families by providing them with the gift of a specially selected book each month. By mailing high quality, age-appropriate books directly to their homes, she wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she could insure that every child would have books, regardless of their family’s income.”
According to the website, Imagination Library became so popular that in 2000, Parton announced that she would make the program available for replication to any community that was willing to partner with her to support it locally.
“Since the initial program launch in the United States, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has gone from just a few dozen books to nearly 40,000,000 books mailed to children in the United States, into Canada and across the proverbial pond into the United Kingdom.”
According to the website, more than 1,600 communities provide the Information Library to almost 700,000 children every month. One of these is Mendocino County thanks to the fiscal championship of First Five Mendocino County in partnership with the Mendocino County Public Library and the Community Foundation of Mendocino County. United Way of the Wine Country is serving as 2012 sponsor as are individual donors.
What a great program this would be, to be duplicated locally.
In an article published this week in the Ukiah Daily Journal, Americorps volunteer Pheriche Robinson cites studies that emphasize early and frequent exposure to the written word: “Children who are read to learn 250 percent more words than those who are not exposed to reading with their parents.”
Imagination Library would be an excellent supplement to our libraries’ preschool storytimes, which take place from 10:15 to 11 a.m. Fridays at the Lakeport Library and from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Thursdays at Redbud Library in Clearlake.
Imagination Library would bring age-appropriate books into Lake County children’s homes where they would be familiar and accessible things. I believe that I read as much as I do today because I grew up surrounded by books.
As explained by Robinson, within a few weeks time after a child’s parents have signed the child up, one book per month will be mailed to the child free of charge from the time of sign-up until the child reaches their fifth birthday.
Each book that is mailed costs $2.50 including postage thanks to Parton’s relationship with Penguin, USA.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library offers a variety of resources to help start a program locally, including a “personal trainer” or regional director. It also provides a step-by-step replication process.
For more information about Information Library visit www.imaginationlibrary.com/.
Published Jan. 31, 2012 in the Lake County Record-Bee
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
New bowling high of 98
Last night @JeremyDWalsh, Kelly Thorn, Shawn Garrison and I bowled for @RecordBee Killer Bees.
— Cynthia M. Parkhill (@CynthiaParkhill) January 25, 2012My first two games bowling last night for the @RecordBee were 51 and 50, well below my 69 average. New high of 98 last game. Handicap 126.
— Cynthia M. Parkhill (@CynthiaParkhill) January 25, 2012Tuesday, January 24, 2012
‘Trueman Bradley’ advocates, entertains
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| Cover art: “Trueman Bradley: Aspie Detective” by Alexei Maxim Russell (Jessica Kingsley Publishers) |
In my desire to curate a definitive collection of books for people on the autism spectrum, I enjoy learning of and reading new titles.
Among the books I recommend is a growing list of fiction in which the main character has Asperger’s syndrome. Because they focus upon the experiences of one or few primary characters, I think they best illustrate what I and others say who are on the spectrum: “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.”
“Trueman Bradley: Aspie Detective” combines detective fiction and fantasy to advocate for the abilities of people on the autism spectrum. It’s a welcome addition to my recommended stories that feature an Aspergian protagonist.
I enjoyed this book, which is written by Alexei Maxim Russell and is published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. It presents characteristics of Asperger’s syndrome as assets in a professional career. It uses dramatization to illustrate prejudice and misconceptions about people who are on the spectrum.
The protagonist, Trueman Bradley, has come to New York City in order to be a detective. He models himself after a detective he has read about in comic books.
I enjoyed the characterization of Bradley, especially the way he exhibits traits reminiscent of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic detective Sherlock Holmes — a character who struck me as Aspergian.
Bradley is unfamiliar with Holmes but he has followed a comic book detective, reading every issue of the Slam Bradley comic book series. He leaves his small town and comes to New York City because it is where the Slam Bradley adventures are set. He later models himself after Dick Tracy.
When people remind Bradley of characters from the detective comic books, he gives them the names of those characters.
The fantasy aspect of the book is Bradley’s invention of equations that can direct him to pieces of evidence, identify suspects and eliminate unpleasant surprises. He programs his equations into a Dick Tracy-style wrist TV.
Bradley’s literal interpretation of expressions is an ongoing recurrence and it is a characteristic I relate to. Even when someone uses an expression with which I am familiar, I often consciously have to process what is said in order to arrive at the meaning.
I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to combine an entertaining storyline with advocacy and positive role-modeling of a character with Asperger’s syndrome.
Disclosure of material connection: I received a review copy of this book.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Curated with Storify: World Book Night USA
One million books will be given away April 23, 2012 by 50,000 passionate readers. CEO Carl Lennertz makes a presentation during ALA Midwinter ’12.
Teen website recommendation: Youth Journalism International
My distance-ed class through Cuesta College, LIBT 118, engaged in a semester-long discussion of websites that library workers could recommend for teens:
Youth Journalism International values a free and open press. Its Jan. 18 posting urges readers to push back against proposals in Congress “that would restrict the net.”
YJI believes that “The key to a better world lies with global understanding and truthful, effective communication.”
“Founded by two veteran reporters, Youth Journalism International works with more than 200 students across the globe, ages 12 to 24.”
While teaching students about writing, press responsibility and ethics, YJI also helps them become world citizens. This website would be a good resource for empowering teens to create journalism and to develop a world view.
Youth Journalism International values a free and open press. Its Jan. 18 posting urges readers to push back against proposals in Congress “that would restrict the net.”
YJI believes that “The key to a better world lies with global understanding and truthful, effective communication.”
“Founded by two veteran reporters, Youth Journalism International works with more than 200 students across the globe, ages 12 to 24.”
While teaching students about writing, press responsibility and ethics, YJI also helps them become world citizens. This website would be a good resource for empowering teens to create journalism and to develop a world view.
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