Projects/Goals
"One Book" Community Reading Project
Sudha Babu reading at Lana Davies’ Family Daycare Home, Bellefonte
Smart Start-Centre County was pleased to organize a successful fifth annual Community Reading Project during April 2010 for promotion of early literacy and the PA Library Association’s "One Book, Every Young Child" program.
16 returning and 6 new community volunteers visited 25 child care, preschool, and family daycare sites to read the One Book selection What a Treasure! to a total of 756 children in Centre County. All 25 sites were provided with a free copy of the book, stickers, bookmarks, a study guide, and instructions for a ‘treasure box’ activity. Smaller programs also received one book for each child and a treasure box to go with the activity instructions. Many of the readers also implemented activities from the study guide, such as singing songs, digging for treasure, and using props. Through the project, we distributed about 360 copies of the book.
Some of the volunteer readers participated in a Readers’ Tea where Anita Ditz, Children’s Librarian at Schlow Centre Region Library, demonstrated reading the story and lead a great discussion about engaging children in books. Anita also did a public reading of the story, which was introduced by Mayor Elizabeth Goreham and Borough Manager Thomas J. Fountaine, at the State College Municipal Building.
Ed Strong reading at Grace Lutheran Preschool, State College
Of 21 participants who completed a survey about the project, 17 considered it “very successful.” The most common suggestion for next year was that all children receive a book to take home, which would require additional fund donations to cover the cost.
When asked what they liked best about this year’s project, responses included:
"Our reader was on time, very well prepared, easily involved the children and kept their interest."
"the interactive ‘dirt’ activity. The children loved it!"
"The list of activities and resources. Plus I love the book!"
"The presenter – what fun!"
"Great book. I enjoyed telling the story."
"The total program was well organized and coordinated for the readers and the educators."
"The children loved the story and the stickers."
"The program was wonderful this year."
"They were so excited to take the book home to their parents!"
Anita Ditz reading at the State College Municipal Building
A big "Thank You" goes to Rachael Maras and Caitlin Cox, our two (10-hour-a-week) Spring 2010 interns from the Penn State College of Communications, who coordinated the visits, organized the Tea, and prepared and Distributed the materials for the project.