*/

This is the third part of a year-long series. Read the previous update here.

As 2019 nears its end, Nashville Public Library (NPL) has a lot to be cheerful for, thanks to its Read to Rise initiative.

“Happy Holidays from the Read to Rise program. We’re celebrating because we have over 1,000 children registered for our program – 1,014 to be exact! Good job, parents and caregivers, for making reading a priority in your home,” said Terri Thomas, who coordinates Read to Rise. “We hope that you resolve to read personally and to your children even more in 2020 and tell your friends about the Read to Rise program.”

Since the early literacy initiatvie turned one on Sep 12, 137 new children have registered, logging more than 4,500 days of reading. Fourteen have read on more than 90 cumulative days, earning great prizes as they discover the world through books.

If you’re looking for proof that Read to Rise is successful in helping parents teach their children the joy of reading, look no further than Ray, Poppy, and Goldie.

When we last checked in on our little readers, they were having a blast learning about trucks, squirrels, and more.

This month, the kiddos are busy gearing up for the holiday season by visiting family, learning about generosity, and of course, reading some fantastic books. 

Ray

 

Ray having a blast in the Main Library's Children's Area. (NPL Photo/Ed Brown)

Number of Days Read: 139

Last Book Read: Tangerines and Tea: My Grandparents and Me by Ona Gritz and Yumi Heo

“I chose this book for Ray because we're visiting his grandparents in Japan for the winter break! The illustrations are beautiful, and there are a variety of things I can point out to Ray while going through each page,” said Yurina, Ray’s mother. “The book features two siblings (one boy and one girl) who enjoy all sorts of activities with their grandparents. This isn't your typical alphabet book (it doesn't have the ‘A is for Apple’ formula), but I think that makes it unique and absorbing for the parents reading it.”

Favorite Thing from Reading this Month: “We're still working on differentiating animal sounds, and Ray's been improving thanks to Bright Baby Animals by Roger Priddy. It's hard to come up with some of the sounds. What does a fox say?” Yurina said, “But he's added ‘baa,’  ‘quack,’ and ‘tweet-tweet’ to his vocabulary.” 

Poppy and Goldie

 

Just two sisters getting in the holiday spirit! (Image courtesy of Virginia)

Number of Days Read: 88

Last Book Read: Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator by Mo Willems

Favorite Thing from Reading this Month: “We have started reading Christmas books! We read Lighthouse Christmas and learned the true story of William Wincapaw, a floatplane pilot who started the ‘Flying Santa Service’ in 1929 to bring Christmas to lighthouse keepers in Maine,” said Virginia, Poppy and Goldie’s mother. “I like how it mixes history with a great example of generosity; something we are especially focused on this season.”

Celebrate the holidays with the greatest gift of all this year —the joy of reading. Join Read to Rise, earn some great prizes, and help your children be reading ready for the new year.

From our family at NPL, to your family at home, we wish you a very happy holiday season.