WRAD 2017: Reading Aloud Tips and Book Activities

A day after  International Book Giving Day, (IBGD 2017), we campaign for World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) 2017. LitWorld has freebies to drum up and celebrate this literacy event. Go register in their website before the big day, February 16, 2017. Download the free picture book. Have it printed and let your young reader color the pictures. Read the story together. Celebrate books and reading in your community!

I have curated blog posts on reading aloud, tips and suggestions, book making activities and the roles that adults play in language and literacy development of young children.

1. Make reading aloud as a family affair. My mother read aloud to me. So, when I had kids, I read to them too. As they grew up, I fed them books and involved them in choosing books they like to read. My kids and I talk about books too.  Even now that they are teenagers, we still get to talk about books they have read, movies and plays they want to watch and music they enjoy listening to.

2. Model the reading habit. Begin at home. Parents play a big role in modeling the reading habit. Click the link for my ten tips in creating a reading environment at home.

3. Books for kids of varying ages are aplenty! Bookstores and libraries have them. Buy or borrow, just have books within their reach and can be accessible for their reading pleasure. Picture books. Illustrated storybooks. Concept books. Even picture dictionaries are available for kids beginning to read. Folk tales also abound the market and selections in libraries. Feeling unsure about reading them folktales? Here are things to consider in choosing folktales for your young reader.

4.  Are books inaccessible to your young reader? Create them! Here is a simple activity to start you off and your young reader in making books!

5. If you are a teacher, a school librarian or an adult working with and for children, tell stories to them! Extend the experience and write stories together. Make books! Build Libraries and Reading Corners!

Happy World Read Aloud Day!

World Read Aloud Day 2017

It's World Read Aloud Day on February 16, 2017!

This year's theme is Read Aloud. Change the World! When you visit the website, make sure that you click on the freebies. There is a downloadable PDF of the picture book, New Day, New Friends (by C. Alexander London, Ying-Hwa- Hu, illustrator) which can be used as the read aloud story during the launching of the World Read Aloud Day in your learning community. There is an activity kit in the conduct of  World Read Aloud Day 2017  celebration, and this is free as well.

Looking back, here are selected blog posts I made in celebration of World Read Aloud Day 2017.

A blog carnival on reading, books and reading aloud

Where my kids and I talked about books

In 2012, I posted a video of me reading aloud Lizard's Rock by George Shannon

Where Zoe read aloud one of the books in the I Spy series

LitWorld, the proponent of World Read Aloud Day, has cute posters every year to drum up the celebration

Visit the website and join this literacy initiative. Other than getting the freebies, campaign for books and reading. Change the world!

World Read Aloud Day 2014: Zoe's Book Talk

I am re-posting this today, World Read Aloud Day, to celebrate not only the power of words in reading them aloud but also for the empowered child when he/she reads aloud.

When my daughter was 10 years old, she had difficulty reading. Her love for learning pushed her to go beyond her difficulties. Here is a recorded video which she took using my iPod back in 2010. She book talked an I Spy book and walked the listener through the end. English is her second language, thus the numerous grammar mistakes in her telling. Proof that she is learning a language foreign to her.

WRAD 2014: Raising Our Voices Blogging Challenge Week 1

WRAD Raising Our Voices Blogging Challenge: Week 1: February 10 - 16

What is your earliest or fondest memory in which someone read aloud to you?
Your first mission is to answer this question. We are using this prompt to bring awareness to the impact reading aloud and the act of being read to has on readers of all ages. Consider it an opportunity to connect with others through the shared experience of hearing stories read aloud. 

More prompts: How you plan to celebrate WRAD on March 5? Who will you celebrate with? Where will you be? If you have celebrated WRAD in the past, what activities brought you and those you celebrated with the most joy? 

Growing up in the mid-70s, reading aloud was my alternative to watching TV because my parents controlled my viewing hours. There was Sesame Street and Electric Company to see in the morning while old Filipino movies and Japanese anime were my TV fodder in the late afternoon. This media experience did not drive me away from books. My mother read aloud to me. I loved the way the words slide out of her mouth and into my ears as she read from a book. The pictures in the books did not move when my mom read aloud to me, but the pictures I conjure in my head as she read aloud came alive. Those images were mine.

The words were strung together by the author. The pictures were illustrated by an artists. And yet, I have my own version of words and pictures put together. That is the power of the spoken word. Reading aloud enabled me to dream; to imagine; and to create. I did not know it then, but this is probably the reason why I became a school librarian. That love affair with books sealed my fate. Thanks a lot, Mom!

In the past WRAD celebrations, I had videos of book talks posted in the blog. I once did a read aloud of Lizard's Song. It is a joy to do this: talk about books and read aloud even if only it is done in this blog. This year, I'll celebrate WRAD 2014 by completing this blogging challenge.

I've done the first post for Week 1. On to the next!

World Read Aloud Day: Raising Our Voices Blogging Challenge

I am joining in this blog challenge initiated by Matthew Winner for World Read ALoud Day 2014 (WRAD 2014). The theme for WRAD 2014 is Raising Our Voices. As librarian and literacy advocate, I will use this blog as platform to raise the voice for books, reading and literacy.

I have lifted this post on WRAD 2014 Raising Our Voices Blogging Challenge from Matthew Winner, The Busy Librarian.

The World Read Aloud Day "Raising Our Voices" Blogging Challenge begins February 10 and runs through March 9. If you choose to take the challenge, each week you will be asked to write a post in response to a prompt or question (outlined below), for a total of 4 posts counting down to World Read Aloud Day. 

Each of the prompts addresses the WRAD theme "Raising Our Voices." Raising Our Voices encapsulates that simple yet effective way we show the world's children we support their future: that they have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world. 

WRAD Raising Our Voices Blogging Challenge: Weekly Outline 

Week 1: February 10 - 16
What is your earliest or fondest memory in which someone read aloud to you?
Your first mission is to answer this question. We are using this prompt to bring awareness to the impact reading aloud and the act of being read to has on readers of all ages. Consider it an opportunity to connect with others through the shared experience of hearing stories read aloud. 

After answering the prompt, share a short description of how you plan to celebrate WRAD on March 5. Who will you celebrate with? Where will you be? If you have celebrated WRAD in the past, what activities brought you and those you celebrated with the most joy? If you haven't finalized plans, of if this will be your first WRAD celebration, use this space to share your brainstorming process, and direct your readers to litworld.org/worldreadaloudday for activities and recommendations.

Week 2: February 17 - 23
Adult & Child
Answering the following questions with a child. The child can be a student or your own. Age does not matter. Make sure to exchange and enjoy answers with one another before sharing them with us.
1. I think everyone in the world should read…
Me:
Child:
(repeat this format for the remaining questions)
2. If I could listen to anyone in the world read aloud to me it would be…
3. When I read aloud, my favorite character to impersonate is…
4. The genre or author that takes up the most room on my bookshelf (or e-reader) is…
5. My favorite part about reading aloud or being read to is... 

Week 3: February 24 - March 2
A Snapshot of My Reading Life
Post a photo that gives readers a glimpse into your reading life. This could be your favorite place to read, your bookshelf, your library, your classroom, a book from childhood that you still re-read today, your favorite person to read with. Anything that brings joy to your reading life will work!
Below the photo share a short narrative explaining why this picture is meaningful to you. 

Week 4: March 3 - 9
Raising Our Voices
It's time to read aloud! Select a favorite text, or a personal story that you love to share out loud, and make a video. If you don't have a webcam, are having technical difficulties, or prefer not to be on camera, you can also translate this challenge into a written post. Share what you will be reading on World Read Aloud Day, and why you chose this particular piece to read aloud.

If you choose to take up the WRAD Raising Our Voices blogging challenge, make sure to tweet your weekly posts to @litworldsays and use the hashtag #WRAD14 so that we can retweet your wonderful read aloud stories! Happy blogging!

World Read Aloud Day 2013: Doll Eyes & Ay Naku!

Two book talks for today's World Read Aloud Day 2013 celebration: Doll Eyes by Eline Santos and Ay Naku by Reni Roxas. Doll Eyes is illustrated by Joy Mallari, while Ay Naku is illustrated by Serge Bumatay III.

Bibliographic info:

Santos, Eline. Doll Eyes. Quezon City: CANVAS. 2010

Roxas, Reni. Ay Naku! Makati: Tahanan Books for Young Readers. 2010.

World Read Aloud Day 2013: The Secret is in the Soil

Written by Flor Gozon Tarriela and Gidget Roceles Jimenez, The Secret id in the Soil: A Beginner's Guide to Natural Gardening helps kids realize that edible plants are healthier; that soil needs to be taken cared of; and that agriculture remains an industry of survival. I love the recipes included in the book! Liza Flores' neat paper art lends a wonderful design and fresh look for the book.

Bibliographic data: Tarriela, Flor Gozon and Gidget Roceles Jimenez. The Secret is in the Soil. Makati: Conquest for Christ Foundation Inc., 2010.

World Read Aloud Day 2013: Jake's Cooking Craze

Imagine a world where everyone can read...

World Read Aloud Day is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another, and creates a community of readers advocating for every child’s right to a safe education and access to books and technology.

By raising our voices together on this day we show the world’s children that we support their future: that they have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world.

Here is my book talk video of Ken Spillman's Jake's Cooking Craze.

Bibliographic info: Spillman, Ken. Jake's Cooking Craze. New York: Scholastic, 2012

A World Where Everyone Can Read

March 6 is World Read Aloud Day.

I'm joining the bandwagon by posting videos of my book talks. The books I have selected are for read aloud sessions that teachers, librarians and parents can use. There will be seven titles in all, one book talk for each day starting on March 6, 2013 and ending on March 12, 2013.

The books are:

1. Jake's Cooking Craze by Ken Spillman

2. The Best Reads of 2012, National Children's Book Award (NCBA): Tall Story, The Secret is in the Soil, The Great Duck and Crocodile Race, Doll Eyes, Ay Naku!, and Ang Sampung Bukitkit.

The Best Reads 2012, NCBA is an initiative of the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) in partnership with the National Book Development Board (NBDB).

World Read Aloud Day: March 7, 2012

I read aloud to my kids when they were younger. Though both have interests other than reading, they still read books and with continuous reading guidance, the appetite for the printed format won't wane.

On March 7, 2012, being World Read Aloud Day, read aloud to a child or to groups of children including your own!

Read Aloud Day!

To kick off our READ ALOUD Day celebration, here's Jay Menes, storyteller and workshop facilitator, in a read aloud session among preschool kids.



Watch out for more videos of storytellers, teachers and librarians reading aloud!

World Read Aloud Day: March 9

LITERACY is not a LUXURY.

LitWorld has proclaimed that March 9 is World Read Aloud Day. The websites says -- Celebrate the Power of Words and Stories and Take Action for Global Literacy. 


Start cooking up activities to drum the event! I'll be posting videos of my storytelling read aloud sessions and tips to doing great read aloud and book talk sessions that whole week of March 9 to 15. What's your contribution?