On March 6, 2018, Chef Limoggio and the culinary students helped us celebrate Read Across America week with a lunch inspired by children’s books: Carrot Soup, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Pickles to Pittsburgh, Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli, and Pinkalicious. In addition, we welcomed special guests Kara Reiman and Peter Lancia.
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Kara Reiman, the children’s librarian and Walker Library shared some new things that have been happening at the library. Walker recently received a grant to create sensory sensitive programming for autistic children and others with sensory processing issues. During school vacations, the library has daily programming that includes crafts and STEM activities. They are starting to look at summer reading events and planning for six weeks of programs.
Walker continues to collaborate on reading programs with the schools. They have been actively involved in the planning and execution of the current Communty Read of the book Wonder. Wonder speaks to themes of kindness, tolerance, and acceptance. Although the book was originally write for 5th-6th grade level, there is a version available for a lower reading level and some will read a book with similar themes called a read-alike book. As part of the Read, there will be a writing contest for K- Adult to “tell your story”. Kara will be one of the judges for the contest. To conclude the Community Read, there will be a screening of the moving Wonder on April 3 at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center.
Walker Children's Libraray Kara Reiman (L) &
Westbrook Superintendent of Schools Peter Lancia (R)
Peter Lancia, Westbrook Superintendent of Schools, called the library a great partner for the ongoing Westbrook Children’s project and for he Community Read. He then went on to describe a new initiative called Read With Me that has the stated goal of matching all 345 K-1 students with reading mentors or reading buddies.
One of the ways children learn to read is by listening, so it is important for young children to be read to. The Read With Me initiative will pair 2 students with a reading buddy who will read with the same children for about 20 minutes each week. The Literacy Advocate in each elementary school will select books appropriate for ages 5-7; books with pictures, colors and rhyming. The job of the buddy will be to read the book to the children and to talk about the book with them to engage them in the story.
If someone is already a registered volunteer in the school system, they can just sign up by calling a school principal. If you would like to help and are not currently a volunteer, you will need to complete a form for a free background check. This background check is simple and quick. Once completed you can contact a school principal to get started.
Kara & Peter sign books for the Walker Libary