Sturdy for Common Things

And so it begins… Read Across Lawrence for Kids

It all started yesterday….

Read Across Lawrence for Kids (RAL Kids) is a month-long library program designed for kids to get on the same page with other kids in the community by reading the same book at the same time, and then coming together to enjoy a variety of activities and events built around a shared adventure in reading. Translation: Thousands of kids all across Lawrence will be reading the same book whether it be in school or on their own time, and also have a whole heck of a lot of fun doing it!!

The Book

This year’s celebrated pick is the Newbery Honor winning Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm, a hilarious and heartfelt middle grade read that takes place during The Great Depression in Key West. The selection was announced back in May (you can read more about that process here) and ever since preparations have been underway. The library, the kids, and the teachers and school librarians are over the moon that this book and author Jenni Holm are the stars of our RAL Kids month!

The Kick-Off

To kick things off yesterday, we threw a beach party. Yes, Kansas has no beaches, but we made our best go at it. The kick-off was the first opportunity for kids to pick up their free copy of Turtle in Paradise. There was also live music (provided by my wonderful co-worker Michael), sandwiches provided by Jimmy John’s (donated!), Mrs. Fields Cookies (donated!), beach volleyball (without the beach), a book selfie booth (see below), and a table to pick up information about the program from (a.k.a the parent hangout).

But the party didn’t end there… the Lawrence Outdoor Aquatics Center was gracious enough to allow all participates of RAL Kids to swim for FREE that day! All they had to do was show the cashier their book.

I have to say… I was a little bummed that we didn’t giveaway all 500 books in the hour. A somewhat lofty goal, I know, but that’s what I had hoped for. On the upside we did have a great turnout and gave-away about 350 books AND will have left over books for the families who were away during the Labor Day weekend. Best part? I took Little L to the pool that afternoon and saw tons of smiling faces on the kids who were at the program. I even caught a couple reading while at the pool! Lawrence, Kansas may not have sandy beaches, but we made do.

The Events

Here’s what’s planned for the rest of the month via blurbs I wrote for the library calendar:

Design Your Own Turtle in Paradise T-shirt: Show off your Read Across Lawrence for Kids style by making a Turtle in Paradise t-shirt using all kinds of crafty, cool methods such as magazine transfers, bleach pens, and sandpaper. Bring a plain t-shirt!

 Flavors of Key West: Enjoy an ice cream making demonstration by Lawrence’s own ice creamery, Sylas and Maddy’s. Learn how to make “cut-up”, a Key West specialty!

 Diaper Baby Gang 101: How do you burp a baby? How much does a babysitter make an hour? Does the Diaper Baby Gang’s Secret Formula really work? Learn the in’s and out’s of babysitting with a specialist from Lawrence Memorial Hospital. We’ll also be talking about the entrepreneurial side of babysitting (i.e. $$$).

 Free Family Movie Matinee of Annie: Main character Turtle’s favorite thing to read is Little Orphan Annie, an extremely popular comic that appeared in the funny pages back in the day. It’s hard to come by this comic nowadays, so Lawrence Public Library and Liberty Hall teamed up for a FREE showing of Annie, the famous flick inspired by the Little Orphan Annie comic strip!

 Hurricane a Comin’!: The famous hurricane of 1935 makes a big appearance in Turtle in Paradise. Learn the science of what a hurricane is and participate in activities with a couple of UKanTeach students from the University of Kansas. You’ll also experience the excitement of Lawrence’s famous, the one-and-only indoor hurricane, at The Sandbar. (Yes, I’m hosting a event for kids at a bar. But it’s more of a family pub AND it’s a super cool place. Tropical fish tanks, kitschy nautical decor, and there is an indoor hurricane to boot!)

 Cool Comics: Do you like comics as much as Turtle does? Astrokitty Comics & Games will be visiting the library to talk about cool comics from yesterday and today. Be prepared to draw because you’ll learn how to create your own comic as well!

 Secret Book Club: The featured book of September’s Secret Book Club is our Read Across Lawrence for Kids book, Turtle in Paradise. Discuss the book and enjoy themed activities.

Kansas to Key West: How Kids Had Fun During the Great Depression: The Great Depression was… well… depressing. So, what did kids do for fun? Explore different games and toys of the time and learn how to craft some of your own at The Watkins Community Museum of History!

**FEATURED EVENT** Read Across Lawrence Author Talk Finale: Meet our Read Across Lawrence for Kids author, the three-time Newbery Honor winning, New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Holm in a virtual author talk on the big screen in the Lawrence Arts Center auditorium! Learn about Jennifer Holm’s personal inspiration behind Turtle in Paradise, what it’s like to be a writer, and what she’s currently working on. We will also be raffling away prizes and conclude with a slice of key lime pie in celebration.

 Downtown Lawrence Treasure Hunt: The hunt is on!  Attempt this Read Across Lawrence for Kids Treasure Hunt by picking up a sheet at the Children’s Room or Teen Zone desk and navigate your way through Downtown Lawrence in search of Black Caesar’s Treasure. Those that complete the hunt will not only find the treasure, but be eligible to win tickets to the Real Pirates exhibit at Union Station.

 Read Across Lawrence for Kids Exclusive Ice Cream Flavor: Make sure you stop into Sylas & Maddy’s to try the exclusive Turtle in Paradise flavor offered throughout the Read Across Lawrence for Kids Month!

 The Beauty Of It…

RAL Kids is really a story about the collaboration between the public library, Lawrence’s schools, and local businesses to give area kids an enriching and engaging literary experience. 1200 books were ordered. 700 of those books went to the schools and 50 area classrooms are incorporating the books in their curricula for the month. The school teachers and school librarians are the backbone of why this program is as popular as it is. It is a privilege to work with Lawrence’s teachers and school librarians, and this collaborative effort serves as a constant reminder of why Lawrence is such a special place.

The local businesses, the university, the hospital, the history museum, and all the partners and sponsors that have come together to either support the program financially, provide services, and be eager to help in in any way they can are also other reminders that it’s the community that makes this town so great. Compassionate people who care about the library and the city’s young people. Pure awesome.

The Extras

I put together this handy-dandy Read Across Lawrence for Kids Parent & Educator Resource Guide which has online resources as well as a Great Depression book list. This guide was given to all teachers and librarians participating in the program and is a handout that is available at the library’s kids’ room desk. Downloadable version of this guide: RAL Kids 2013 Resource Guide

My amazing co-worker, Molly Wetta (a.k.a queen of flowcharts and all things teen), has put together a read-alikes guide for Turtle in Paradise! (Click to enlarge)

Join the conversation or follow along the progress of RAL Kids via Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest using the hashtag #RALKids. I’ll be updating the #RALKids storify website on a regular basis as well!

Here’s to a great month ahead!!