|
|||
|
|||
Writers in the Schools (WITS) Celebrates Kids–in their own Words
Category Archives: books
Cool Brains! Inprint Readings for Young People invites you to an afternoon of mystery and fun with Trenton Lee Stewart, New York Times bestselling author of The Mysterious Benedict Societyseries. He comes to Houston to read from his newest book in the series,The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict, which, according to a starred Booklist review, “gives readers a reason to fall in love with the series all over again…[with] adventures, danger, cleverness, dry wit, and good-hearted characters at the center of the action. . . . Two hundred years after Dickens’ birth, this orphan story plays notes in a familiar key but creates its own memorable tune.”
WITS Students to Read with Pat Mora at DIA
Don’t miss Dia de los Ninos at Discovery Green on Saturday, April 21st, from 10 am to 1 pm. Authors Pat Mora, Gwen Zepeda, and Xavier Garza will read their work. Three WITS students from Helms Elementary will perform their writing with Pat Mora, renowned author of The Desert is my Mother and other books. There will be free WITS writing workshops and arts and crafts. Everything is free. Click here for more information.
Celebrate Literacy with HoustonPBS
Hosted by Houston’s former First Lady, Andrea White, the evening will include a panel discussion moderated by KUHF News reporter, Edel Howlin with leaders from local literacy organizations. Mrs. White will also debut her new children’s book Tummies on the Run, with co-author Mimi Vance.
Admission is FREE but you must register online.
Featuring a distinguished panel of literacy experts:
Margaret Doughty, Literacy Powerline
Sheri Foreman, Houston Center for Literacy
Dr. Rhea B. Lawson, Houston Public Libraries
Robin Reagler, Writers in the Schools
Presented in conjunction with World Book Night.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 6:30pm
at the United Way Community Resource Center.
Presenting Sponsor: John P. McGovern Foundation
For more information call 713-743-8459 or visit
www.houstonpbs.org
Books Alive! Houston Public Library Contest
ENTER and WIN
Contest to Win a Catered lunch with Tom Angleberger
Contest is open to children ages 6-12
Use your creativity, you will. The Houston Public Library wants to see your Origami Yoda-inspired art or fiction. Fifty winners will be rewarded with a catered lunch during the third annual Children’s Book Celebration on Saturday, May 5th, 2012. The contest winners and one adult guest each will be treated to a delicious meal and an autographed copy of Tom Angleberger’s book, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. Winners will be ages 6 to 12 years old; twenty-five winners will be from the 6 to 8 age group and twenty-five winners will be from the 9 to 12 age group.
Instructions:
You may submit your contest entries to your local library, or you may submit entries by mail.*
Please mail submissions to:
Houston Public Library
Attn: Programming & Youth Services, Deborah Moore
500 McKinney St. | Houston, TX 77002
Your submission must include:
- Child’s full name
- Child’s age & grade if applicable
- Parent or guardian full name AND if this is a class project, the teacher’s name
- School attended (if not applicable write home school)
- Contact information so that we may contact you if you win:
- Two phone numbers OR one phone number and an email address
For more information call 832-393-1313.
DEADLINE IS APRIL 16, 2012.
WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY MAY 1.
*Note: Traced or copied artwork or images will not be accepted; please do not use copyrighted images. One person per entry and one entry per person. Please limit story to two pages typed.
5 Ways Parents Can Encourage a Reluctant Reader
Once a child has the motivation to learn to read, you as a parent are in the clear. Sometimes a reluctant reader might need a little nudge to discover the brave new world offered by reading. Here are some suggestions.
1. Let your child choose his or her own books at the library. If your child chooses Captain Underpants, swallow your pride and check out that book. A child who falls in love with reading will most likely continue to enjoy it for many years to come.
2. At the library, you should choose a few books for your child as well. Do a little research ahead of time or ask your librarian for suggestions that respect your child’s ability and interests.
3. Model nuanced reading for your child. Release your inner actor and read with gusto! New readers are so consumed with sounded words out and learning new vocabulary that they often lose track of the story.
4. Read aloud together. Reading together is a wonderful social activity at any age. You and your child share the experience and can discuss or refer back to it later.
5. Encourage your reluctant reader with positive feedback. Given the right reasons, every child can be excited about reading–and writing too. Let your child’s interests lead the way.
[photo by saundraG via flickr]
Public Poetry: Join Us for the Last Reading in the Winter Series
Come hear WITS writer Ryler Dustin at 2 PM, Saturday, March 3, 2012 at Park Place Regional Library. Other featured poets include Hayan Charara, Marcell Murphy and Susan Wood. As always, a WITS student writer will also read aloud a poem. Don’t miss this last event in the Winter Series with Public Poetry, winner of the Best Reading Series 2011 by the Houston Press. Afterwards, come meet the poets, select some books for signing, and enjoy some good Mexican food just down the street.
Here’s how to get to where it’s all happening. Park Place Regional Library, 8145 Park Place, 77017, is a stone’s throw from the intersection of I-45 and Loop 610. From 610, get on I-45 south. Traveling on I-45, take exit 39. (This is also an exit for Hobby Airport). On the south feeder, go under the freeway at the 2nd underpass (Broadway), and then turn right onto Park Place. The library is just one block from the freeway, on the left side of the street. There’s plenty of free parking, too.
Writers in the Schools (WITS) Writer To Present at Houston Public Library
An Afternoon with Mignette Patrick Dorsey
as part of the Houston Public Library “An Afternoon With” Author Series
Saturday, February 25 | 1 PM
Henington-Alief Regional Library
WITS writer and award-winning journalist Mignette Patrick Dorsey will discuss her book, Speak Truth to Power: The Story of Charles Patrick, a Civil Rights Pioneer, which tells the story of the author’s father. Charles Patrick’s quest for justice in segregated Alabama on the eve of the civil rights movement represents a telling instance of the growing determination of African Americans to be treated fairly; it was part of the broadening and deepening stream of resolve that led to the widespread activism of the civil rights movement.
Award-Winning Children’s Book
Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Awards
For the last 40 years the Coretta Scott King Awards have been given to African American authors and illustrators for their outstanding contributions to children’s literature. The books chosen promote understanding among races and uphold the American Dream. The Awards commemorate the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King.
For past winners from 1970-present, check out this list. The 2012 winner is Kadir Nelson’s Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans, published by HarperCollins. The story and the artwork in this book are stunning. Go get your copy today and help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Awards in Children’s Literature.
|
Deborah Frontiera Celebrates New Book
What: WITS Writer Deborah K. Frontiera celebrates the release of her memoir, Fighting CPS.
When: Saturday, January 14, 2012 from 3-5 PM
Where: River Oaks Bookstore, 3270 Westheimer @ River Oaks Blvd., Houston, TX 77098, ph. 713-520-0061
Cost: Free and open to the public
More about the author
Deborah Frontiera grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and came to Houston in 1985. She taught kindergarten, pre-K, and K-5 science in HISD for over twenty years and was part of the Project A.C.C.E.S.S. curriculum writing project. Experienced at presenting workshops for teachers and writers, she is published in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children’s works with eight books currently in print. For more information, visit her website.
“Heroes Worth Writing For” Contest
Image by U.S. Pacific Fleet via Flickr
Pentel of America celebrates National Handwriting Day with Heroes Worth Writing For, a new promotion in partnership with Operation Gratitude.
Pentel of America, a company in the writing instruments industry, encourages children to hand-write a letter to the U.S. troops between now and January 23, 2012.
The contest has a dual purpose:
1) to celebrate the importance of handwriting and self-expression
2) to recognize and express thanks to the U.S. troops who may serve in harm’s way
Children may send handwritten letters to: Pentel of America, 4000 E. Airport Dr., Suite C, Ontario, CA 91761. In honor of National Handwriting Day, only handwritten entries will be accepted. The Grand Prize is a $200 Visa Gift Card and $100 in Pentel products. Four runner-ups will receive a $50 Visa Gift Card and $25 in Pentel products. Official rules can be found at www.pentel.com.
Live, Laugh, Love with Allen Shamblin on November 3rd
Writers in the Schools (WITS) invites you to A Celebration of Story on November 3rd - an evening of storyt
elling through music. Our featured performer, Allen Shamblin, is famous for penning chart-topping hits like Clay Walker’s “Live, Laugh, Love” and Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” He will be inducted to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame along with country music superstars Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, John Bettis, and Thom Schuyler on October 16 in Nashville.
WITS will honor Katherine Center, best-selling novelist and former WITS writer for her influence on Houston’s literary arts community and for embodying the mission of WITS through her life’s work. Center’s work includes The Bright Side of Disaster, Everyone is Beautiful, and Get Lucky.
Join us for an inspirational celebration of music, power, and story! Proceeds from the event will provide yearlong literacy programs for underserved students in schools, hospitals, community centers, parks, hospitals, and homeless shelters.
Click here to purchase tables and tickets or contact us at 713.523.3877. For more information about table and ticket sponsorships, click here.
If you are unable to attend but would like to support WITS, visit our donate page. The schedule for the evening includes:
6:00 PM VIP reception
7:00 PM Registration and silent auction
8:00 PM Dinner
8:30 PM Story songs by Allen Shamblin
Silent auction items include: United Airlines vacation getaway, Wii and PS3 gaming systems, sports memorabilia, gift certificates from t’afia, Alley Theatre, Benjy’s, Houston Ballet, and many others.
Original art donated by:
Joe Acker
Ian Anderson
Michael Arcieri
Long Chu
Aaron Courtland
Michael Guidry
Rebecca Kveton
Van McFarland
Tami Merrick
Donna E. Perkins
Patrick Palmer
Nicola Parente
Liz Conces Spencer
Richard Varela
Wendy Wagner
and many others.
SPONSORS
Poet Laureates
Kroger
Travelers
Pulitzer Prize Winners
H-E-B Tournament of Champions
Susman Godfrey, LLP
Wells Fargo
Newbery Medalists
Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing / Lizzie and Scott Fletcher
Deborah Detering
Christina Gonzalez
King & Spalding
Karen McKibben Morris and The Honorable William Morris
Xavier Peña
Sysco Corporation
Vinson & Elkins LLP
NY Times Bestsellers
Bristow Group Inc.
CenterPoint Energy
Jenny and Jim Elkins Fund
Eva Geer
MaryScott Hagle and Daniel Kornberg / Antonia Day and George Helland
Julie and David Itz
Lenora Noroski & Fred Insulbuch
Marcia and Michael Nichols
Emily and James Blackwell / Michael Pipkin
Patricia Delaney and Warren Rawson
Josephine and The Honorable Bill Rice
Nancy and Ken Spitler
United Airlines
Ann and Benjamin Ziker / BHP Billiton
HOST COMMITTEE
Greg P. Audel
Jessica Rossman and Gordon Bethune
Emily Pipkin Blackwell and James Blackwell
Stanley Chan
Carliss Chatman
Nicola Parente and Aaron Courtland
Jennifer Langdon and Joe Crownover
Melanie Malinowski and Andy Cunningham
Robin and Tony Davidson
Lizzie and Scott Fletcher
Nancy and Joe Ford
Tina and Craig Freedman
Jennifer LeGrand Howard
Lenora Noroski and Frank Inselbuch
Karen Walrond and Marcus Jennings
Shelley and Alexander Kaplan
MaryScott Hagle and Daniel Kornburg
Jacqueline S. Martin
Karen McKibben Morris and The Honorable William Morris
Whitney Botsford Morgan
Isabel Cowles Murphy and Christopher Murphy
Marcia and Michael Nichols
Roberta Weldon and James Pipkin
Josie Edwards and Monica Pope
Patricia Delaney and Warren Rawson
Josephine and The Honorable Bill Rice
Dr. Roxanne Riefkohl
Susan and Tom Scotty
Ginya and Clayton Trier
Laurette Veres
Andrea Ferguson White and The Honorable Bill White
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Xavier Peña, President
Christina Gonzalez, Vice President
Michael Pipkin, Treasurer
Garrick Malone, Secretary
Mark Cervenka
Brian S. Cheadle
Jane Creighton
David Francis
Beth McFarland Haag
Barry Hammond
Danielle Houston
Chanler Langham
Marcia Nichols
Amanda Martin Nicolo
Chris Porter
Sheleah Reed
Carolyn Rodz
Rachel Etheridge Solar
Julie Tran
Ann Ziker
Banned Books Week
Every year organizations dedicated to reading and freedom of speech unite to sponsor Banned Books Week (BBW). This year the annual event will be celebrated September 24- October 1, 2011.
If you are unable to participate in a local event in your city, then please join in the first-ever national virtual read-out. Libraries and bookstores across the country will stage readings of banned books, and this year you are invited to record yourself reading a favorite banned book.
Here is all the information you will need from thte Banned Books Week website:
1) You can submit a video no more than two minutes long of a reading from a banned or challenged book. Here is a list of banned literary classics as well as a list of frequently challenged booksthroughout the years. You should also check out Mapping Censorship and Robert P. Doyle’sBanned Books: Challenging Our Freedom to Read for more ideas. Banned Books: Challenging our Freedom to Read is available for purchase at the ALA Store or can be found at your local public library.
2) A video of an eyewitness account of local challenges can be submitted. This video should be no longer than three minutes long.
How to upload your videos:
You will need a YouTube or Google account in order to participate. Once you have one, please sign into YouTube and follow their instructions on how to upload a video. A video tutorial on how to upload onto YouTube can be found here.
As the video downloads, you will need to update the TItle, Description, and Tag fields with the following information to help ensure that your video will be featured on the Banned Books Week Read-Out channel:
Title
The title of your video should include “Banned Books Week Virtual Read-Out.” A good example is “A reading from The Perks of Being a Wallflower for the Banned Books Week Virtual Read-out” or “Banned Books Week Virtual Read-Out: A reading from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Description
You may use the description to explain why the book you chose to read an excerpt from is your favorite banned/challenged book or offer more details about an eyewitness account of local challenges.
Tag
The most important part of the download is the tag. Please tag your video with “virtualreadout” to ensure that the video will be featured on the Banned Books Week You Tube Channel.
Final StepOnce you have posted your video, please send e-mail to bbw@ala.org with the link to your video. The video will then be featured on the Banned Books Week YouTube channel. Please allow a couple days for your video to be featured on the channel.
Little Free Library
Need a great way to inspire kids (and adults!) to read? Check out the work of Rick Brooks and Todd Bol, who came up with a fantastic idea: build out of wood and Plexiglas “little free libraries” (24″ X 24″ X 30″) that contain a collection of about 20 books and a sign “Take a Book, Leave a Book.”
Todd originally built a small library to memorialize and honor his mother, a teacher. He placed it in his yard, invited neighbors to check out books, and an idea took flight. Suddenly, conversations about books were taking places in unlikely places–in the street, on the curb–and new connections and friendships were being formed. A sense of community blossomed.
In 2009 Todd and friend Rick decided to widen the circle. They began making little libraries and installing them around their hometown of Madison, WI. The idea caught fire and spread. They already have endowed close to 100 libraries. Todd and Rick say they are competing with Andrew Carnegie, who built and endowed 2,509 libraries during his lifetime.
For more information about the nonprofit Little Free Library, visit their website. The money collected from the sale of their little free libraries (cost $350) goes to support the project and to develop libraries in underdeveloped communities.
“One Book, One City”
Have you heard about Gulf Coast Reads: On the Same Page, a “one book, one city” program that will take place through September 30th, 2011? Everyone in the the city of Houston is invited to read and discuss the book One Amazing Thing by author Chitra Divakaruni, an internationally acclaimed writer who is featured in one of our WITS public service announcements and a big advocate for the work we do in the community.
This educational and fun citywide reading initiative is being presented in partnership by the Houston Public Library, Fort Bend County Libraries, Harris County Public Library, and Montgomery County Memorial Library.
The goal of Gulf Coast Reads: On the Same Page is to cultivate a culture of reading in Houston by encouraging people to come together in libraries, bookstores, community centers, homes, places of worship, schools and parks to discuss the book. This program will take place Saturday, August 27 through Friday, September 30, 2011.
For more details visit www.gulfcoastreads.org. More information will become available on events, book discussions, and author visits.
Please submit your personal story of “one amazing thing” that you’ve experienced to Gulf Coast Reads! Share your story with the rest of Houston. This is a wonderful opportunity for the arts to unite our city!
Public Poetry Summer Series This Saturday
Public Poetry and the Houston Public Library present another series of excellent readings by Houston’s finest. The program includes photography by Katya Horner and selected works from Joseph Campana, Jeannie Gambill, Van Garrett, a resident writer of WITS, Destiny Gonzalez, a current WITS student, and former WITS writers Alan Ainsworth and Sarah Cortez.
What: Pubic Poetry and HPL Present a Summer Reading Series
Where: Houston Public Library, Kendall Neighborhood Library
When: Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 2 PM
Cost: Free and open to the public.
For more information visit http://publicpoetry.net.
