Books change children's lives... for good!
Pam Leo's Recommended Books for reading aloud
The Read Aloud Family
Talking With Your Baby
Talking With Your Baby
"I am very excited about this brand new book. Sarah Mackenzie joins Mem Fox and Jim Trelease in writing read-aloud excellence!" – Pam Leo
Talking With Your Baby
Talking With Your Baby
Talking With Your Baby
"Talking to babies, as much as possible, is even more important, and even easier than reading to them. They need both." – Pam Leo
Every Word Counts
Talking With Your Baby
The Read Aloud Handbook
"Reading to infants and babies is a new idea for many new parents, grandparents, and caregivers. This book makes a strong case for the bonding and reading readiness preparation that is happening when we read to our babies." – Pam Leo
The Read Aloud Handbook
The Read Aloud Handbook
The Read Aloud Handbook
"I call Jim Trelease the 'King' of citing the vast benefits of reading aloud to children. I have learned so much from him." – Pam Leo
Born Reading
The Read Aloud Handbook
Connection Parenting
"Born Reading has some of the most creative book sharing ideas I have seen in any book." – Pam Leo
Connection Parenting
The Read Aloud Handbook
Connection Parenting
"Connection Parenting is the book I wrote, based on my seven week parenting series, Meeting the Needs of Children. It is filled with resources to support parents and caregivers in building the bonds of connection families need to thrive."
Reading Magic
Thirty Million Words
Thirty Million Words
"And, I call Mem Fox the 'Queen' of the art and magic of reading aloud to children. She inspires me." – Pam Leo
Thirty Million Words
Thirty Million Words
Thirty Million Words
"This book is important for far more reasons than literacy. What Dr. Suskind reveals in this book is information that needs to be read by every parent, professional, and policymaker who cares about a better future for all children. We know how to bridge the thirty million word disparity, between what children in impoverished language environments hear, and what the children in language rich environments hear. To equalize the language environments for all children is free, and all parents have the ability to do it. If ever there was a must read book...I pick this one." – Pam Leo
The Book Fairy
Thirty Million Words
The Book Fairy
"The first inspirational story I want to share is the story of two 'book fairy helpers' in Meeker, Colorado. Bookstore owner, Avis Loshbaugh, became a book fairy helper when she began presenting and reading a beautifully wrapped book each month to the first grade class of teacher, Becky Hughes. Becky became a book fairy helper when she and her first grade class wrote and published, The Book Fairy in 2008 as a thank-you present to Avis. They show us that one person can make a big difference and more than one can make an even bigger difference. Thank you, Becky and students, and Avis. You inspire us, and we honor you." – Pam Leo
resources
Family Literacy Resources
Read Aloud 15 Minutes. BFPP is a partner with Read Aloud 15 Minutes and this link to their Why Read Aloud page reminds us why it is so important to read aloud to our children and to all children.
Every Child Read To Read. "I believe that SO many more children would arrive at school ready to learn to read, if every library would offer this exciting early literacy resource to the parents of babies and young children in their community. Will YOU help the Book Fairy and ask YOUR library to offer it?"
Read To Your Baby. "Reading to infants and babies is a new idea for many new parents, grandparents, and caregivers. This site makes a strong case for the bonding and reading readiness preparation that is happening when we read to our babies." Find 10 Benefits of Reading to Your Baby and 10 Websites Supporting Reading to Babies.
Trelease on Reading. "I call Jim Trelease the 'King' of citing the vast benefits of reading aloud to children. I have learned so much from him."
Mem Fox. "And, I call Mem Fox the 'Queen' of the art and magic of reading aloud to children. She inspires me."
My Parent and Family. "My Parent & Family is my hometown parenting paper. You can read my 'Recipes for Reading' column in each bi-monthly issue."
Best Beginnings Handout on Dialogic Reading. "This site has one of the best descriptions and explanations of dialogic reading. Look for my upcoming, 'Sharing Stories' article, inspired by Grover Whitehurst's dialogic reading work."
Dolly Parton Imagination Library. "I so admire what Dolly has done for so many lucky children. Imagine, a children's library in your own home. You can check her website to see if her program is sponsored in your area. "
PJlibrary.org "PJ Library mails some of the finest children's books I have seen, to children enrolled in their generous program."
"These next four websites have a wealth of family literacy resources and were very useful in developing this project:"
- ReadingRockets.org/books/fun/quotable
- RaisingReaders.org/promoting-a-love-of-reading/parents-families
- Rif.org/books-activities/tips-resources
- Barbara Bush Foundation
Born-Reading.com "Born Reading has some of the most creative book sharing ideas I have seen on any site."
Rosemary Wells, Read to Your Bunny "This link is to Rosemary Wells' Letter to Parents, that really inspired me."
Early Literacy for Preschoolers Brochure from the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library "This is the most parent friendly description I have seen of the five early literacy activities from the Every Child Ready to Read @ your library program."
ConnectionParenting.com "Reading aloud to our children builds the foundation of literacy they will need to learn to read and it builds the parent-child bond children need to thrive. The Connection Parenting website is a wealth of resources on building the parent-child bond."
International Children's Digital Library "Children learn best from stories in their mother tongue. This website gives parents the resource to provide that for their children."
SingWithOurKids.com "Singing with children is as important as reading with them. This is my favorite literacy through music resource!"
ReadAloudRevival.com "My new read-aloud mentor, and favorite read-aloud resource, is Sarah Mackenzie at Read Aloud Revival. She also has a new book coming out in March, The Read-Aloud Family, which I will be adding to the resource booklist."
Kindred. Pam Leo's features and podcasts on Kindred.
Happier Ever After. Pam Leo's article published in the Parent & Family paper in the August/September 2003 issue.
More food pantry resources
Breastfeeding Support for Food Pantries
Guidelines for the Breastfeeding-Friendly Food Pantry. These guidelines were created by the Colorado Breastfeeding Coalition, with input from the Advancing Breastfeeding across Colorado team and other partners working in public health, human lactation, and food security. Leadership was provided by Boulder County Public Health. These guidelines are for managers, employees, volunteers, partner organizations, and those who handle food donations, work directly with the public, and conduct educational programs in food pantries.
do it together!
Family Reading Activities
☐ Read a story to a baby
☐ Read a story in bed
☐ Read a story in a rocking chair
☐ Read a story in a garden/park
☐ Read a story In the bathroom
☐ Put a basket of children's books in the bathroom
☐ Read a story at wake up time
☐ Read a story at breakfast time
☐ Read a story at snack time
☐ Read 2 stories at nap time
☐ Go to the library
☐ Buy an inexpensive, gently used book at thrift store
☐ Put a bag of picture books in the car
☐ Listen to an audiobook in the car or home
☐ Read a story in the kitchen
☐ Read a story in the bathtub
☐ Read the same book twice (or more)
☐ Read at least one story everyday for a week
When you have checked off every activity on this list your children will be well on their way to becoming ready to read.
CONGRATULATIONS!
wind for your wings!
Words of Inspiration
"Every child deserves a chance to reach his or her full potential."
—Roger Thurow, The First 1000 Days
"One child in four in the U.S. growing up not knowing how to read is one child too many."
—Pam Leo, Family Literacy Activist
"Unable to read and write, children are stunted from achieving their full potential."
—Laura Bush & Irina Bokova
"The home is the child’s first school, the parent is the child’s first teacher, and reading is the child’s first subject."
—Barbara Bush
"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."
—Emilie Buckwald
"There is magic in books, and the simple act of reading with our children has a profound impact on their educational development."
—Carol H. Rasco, Reading Is Fundamental
"Reading makes all other learning possible. We have to get books into our children's hands early and often."
—Barack Obama
"There is no substitute for books in the life of a child."
—Mary Ellen Chase
"There is no such thing as other people’s children."
—Hillary Clinton
"Now is the time to support reading in our communities and work to get books into the hands of disadvantaged children across the country."
—Carol H. Rasco, Reading Is Fundamental
"Every parent I have ever met has wanted life to be better for their children than it was for them. Let’s make it so with children’s books. The way out of poverty is literacy."
—Pam Leo, Family Literacy Activist
