Born To Read Links

The Internet is filled with useful information about literacy and suggestions on read-aloud books and techniques. To help you navigate this information, we’ve categorized and annotated the sites linked below. Since booklists are such an important resource for our educators and volunteers, we’ve included a special section of booklist sites and also marked other sites that have booklists. Click on the icon to link directly to the booklists. We’ve also highlighted a special feature of each site that distinguishes it from the rest: click on "don’t miss" to link directly to that page. Happy browsing!

Children’s Literature | Diversity Resources | Reading Programs | Child Care Resources | Child Development | Local Connections | Booklists

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

ALA / Book Links, www.ala.org/booklinks
Each issue of Book Links, a publication of the American Library Association, offers articles and bibliographies that suggest creative ways to explore topics in a particular curriculum area. On the site, you can read the current issue or browse through archived articles. Don’t miss “Lasting Connections,” published annually in the winter to review favorite children’s books from the previous year.

Carol Hurst’s Children’s Literature Site, www.carolhurst.com
Hurst is a writer and consultant who collaborates with her daughter, Rebecca Otis, on this popular site. While most of the content is aimed at elementary educators, it can be a good source of information on books and topics. Don’t miss the free e-mail newsletter, which focuses on a new author, book, or theme each month.

Children’s Book Council, www.cbcbooks.org
Sponsor of the annual Children’s Book Week in November, CBC’s site boasts a “Hot Off the Press” section as well as extensive author/illustrator information. Don’t miss essays by Maine authors Ashley Bryan and Phillip Hoose in the “Meet the Author/Illustrator” archives.

Cooperative Children’s Book Center, http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
CCBC is a library affiliated with the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The site features a Book of the Week and a number of original bibliographies. Don’t miss the list of small presses committed to publishing multicultural literature for children and the statistics on children’s books by or about people of color.

International Children’s Digital Library, www.icdlbooks.org
The goal of the ICDL project is to publish entire books online in order to develop a greater understanding of the relationship between access to a digital collection of multicultural materials and children’s attitudes toward books, libraries, reading, technology, and other countries and cultures. The collection is expected to grow to over 10,000 titles in at least 100 different languages within five years. Titles are subject to review by an international board of librarians and educators. Don’t miss “search by audience: language,” where you can read books written in Khmer, Arabic, or forty other languages.

Jim Trelease, www.trelease-on-reading.org
Trelease is the author of The Read-Aloud Handbook, which is a classic, indispensable resource. His homepage is full of book reviews, author profiles, links, and a sampling from the Handbook’s Treasury of read-alouds. Don’t miss Trelease’s coverage of the No Child Left Behind Act and its impact on reading aloud in schools.

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DIVERSITY RESOURCES

Teaching for Change www.teachingforchange.org
Teaching for Change devotes a section of its website to the Early Childhood Equity Alliance. There, you’ll find a resource database and a network of organizations and individuals committed to racial and social justice education and action with and for young children, families, and communities. Don’t miss the section on books and materials, where the classic list of “10 Quick Ways to Analyze Children’s Books for Racism and Sexism” is reproduced in its entirety.

Circle of Inclusion, www.circleofinclusion.org
This site is designed especially for early childhood service providers who want to learn more about inclusive practice. Don’t miss the helpful guide for reviewing children’s books that include people with disabilities.

Creative Diversity, www.creativediversity.com
This company develops materials for early childhood classrooms to promote awareness of similarities and differences across global cultures. Products range from props for dramatic play to blocks reflecting global architectural styles. Don’t miss the Everyday Tasks multicultural book collection: if you’re familiar with the Many Eyes, Many Voices book bag, you’ll recognize Tidy Up! in this series.

Teaching Tolerance, www.tolerance.org/teach
Teaching Tolerance, a program of the Southern Poverty Law Center, is a resource and clearinghouse of information for educators who are trying to promote respect for differences. Teachers share ideas, opinions, and activities on this website, which also offers a wealth of anti-bias materials developed by experts at Teaching Tolerance. Don’t miss the free “Starting Small” kit, a training tool for caregivers who wish to create preschool classrooms “in which peace, equity, and justice are guiding themes.”

There are many publishing houses and book distributors, large and small, devoted to creating and disseminating quality children’s books that reflect diversity. Browse their websites for ideas, or use them to order books for your collection. Here’s just a small selection:

Lee and Low Books
Children’s Book Press
Woodbine House (special needs)
Tilbury House (based in Maine)
Oyate (a Native organization)
Tapestry Books (adoption)

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READING PROGRAMS

Children’s Literacy Foundation, www.clifonline.org
CLiF serves children in the neighboring states of New Hampshire and Vermont, with a focus on high-risk rural areas. Book distribution programs serve sites such as public libraries, public schools, shelters, and prisons. The site includes an application for project sponsorship. Don’t miss the searchable database of over 700 books used in the program.

Children’s Literacy Initiative, www.cliontheweb.org
This site is aimed at elementary school teachers, but there is a section for parents that focuses on reading aloud. Don’t miss “Investing in Literacy,” an article that links literacy and quality child care to economic success.

United Through Reading, www.unitedthroughreading.org
This foundation promotes reading aloud to children from birth to age five through parent and provider trainings, military and prison outreach, and youth volunteer readers. The site includes recommended books, techniques, challenges, and suggestions for reading aloud. Don’t miss “monthly picks” for read-alouds, which often have seasonal themes.

Mother Goose Programs, www.mothergooseprograms.org
The Vermont Center for the Book creates and sponsors reading packages, which include books and training materials. Beginning With Mother Goose was developed especially for infants. Beyond Difference focuses on diversity, like Many Eyes, Many Voices, but it’s aimed at the elementary level. The Mother Goose Cares trainings, some of which have been offered in Maine, are for early childhood educators and librarians. Don’t miss the page describing Beyond Difference, which includes a list of the core books used in the program, as well as annual lists of new picture books.

ProLiteracy Worldwide, www.proliteracy.org
This international adult literacy organization was formed by the merger of two other well-known programs, Laubach Literacy International and Literacy Volunteers of America. Exploring this site is a great way to learn about adult literacy, an important corollary of early childhood reading programs. Don’t miss the adult literacy statistics, useful for certain grant proposals and projects. See also the National Center for Family Literacy site at www.famlit.org.

Raising Readers, www.raisingreaders.net
Through this program, all Maine children from birth to age five receive books during regular visits to their pediatrician. Don’t miss the list of books currently and previously distributed through the program. Providers and volunteers can use these titles creatively, assuming that all children in a certain age group are already familiar with them.

Reach Out and Read, www.reachoutandread.org
This national program is very similar to Raising Readers in its mission and operation. The comprehensive website includes research, booklists, and tips for reading. Don’t miss the simple, informative "Developmental Milestones of Early Literacy" fact sheet, written by pediatricians.

Reading Is Fundamental, www.rif.org
RIF is the nation’s largest nonprofit children’s literacy organization, and this site is accordingly large and well-maintained. You’ll find resources for providers, parents, and volunteers, plus a special kid’s section called "Reading Planet." The coordinators’ section might seem irrelevant, but take a look: it has booklists and a searchable database of books. RIF also spearheads a Latino outreach initiative, so the site includes interactive bilingual activities, games, tips, and other resources. Don’t miss the parent’s guide to reading aloud, which offers tips and activities grouped by age.

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CHILD CARE RESOURCES

Child Care Information Exchange, www.childcareexchange.com
This site will appeal to providers because it covers an enormous variety of child care topics Don’t miss ExchangeEveryDay, a series of informational articles that you can read on the site or have delivered via e-mail.

Idea Box: Early Childhood Education and Activity Resources, www.theideabox.com
A great resource for volunteers as well as providers, this site is full of games, crafts, and songs that could enhance read-aloud sessions. Unfortunately, the contents aren’t searchable, but seasonal activities are listed on the front page, and some active forums allow you to consult other users for ideas. Don’t miss “storytelling faces” (in the crafts section), a very simple way to engage young children in conversation around books and promote emotional literacy.

National Association for the Education of Young Children, www.naeyc.org
NAEYC is the nation’s largest organization of early childhood educators. Web highlights include an advocacy action center and a searchable index of NAEYC’s magazine, Young Children. Don’t miss the conferences page, where NAEYC lists information on early childhood conferences sponsored by other organizations.

National Child Care Information Center, www.nccic.org
NCCIC is a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This site compiles information from multiple sources and organizes it under topic headings such as Infant and Toddler, Literacy, Federal Policy. Don’t miss the definitions of literacy terms (phonological awareness, concepts of print, etc.) - print this page and keep it handy when reading research reports.

National Network for Child Care, www.nncc.org
By connecting Cooperative Extension programs at universities nationwide, NNCC offers articles, resources, and networking opportunities to child care providers. Don’t miss the searchable database of resources: nutrition aides will find the section on healthy eating particularly useful.

U.S. Department of Education, www.ed.gov
This site provides information from the federal government on the No Child Left Behind Act and its accompanying measures. It also offers resources for teachers, including an early childhood section with links to literacy information from the National Research Council. Don’t miss the NCLB state resources page, where you can find contacts, statistics, and reports for Maine or any other state.

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CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families, www.zerotothree.org
The mission of this national organization is to promote the healthy development of infants and toddlers. The site is divided in two sections, one for parents and the other for professionals. Don’t miss Brain Wonders, a special project on the development of the brain that includes FAQs about early literacy, such as “Why Do Babies Chew On Books?”

Born Learning, www.bornlearning.org
United Way of America and United Way Success By 6 have partnered with the Ad Council, Civitas and Families and Work Institute to create this site, part of a public engagement campaign to help parents, caregivers and communities create quality early learning opportunities for young children. Don’t miss the tips on making the most of a visit to the library for children at any age.

PBS Parents, www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopment
While not necessarily the most in-depth, the information on this site is reliable and well-organized. While it is sponsored by public broadcasting, it doesn’t push television or other electronic media. Don’t miss the section on early learning, which is a great resource for busy parents and teachers.

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LOCAL CONNECTIONS

Children’s Museum of Maine www.kitetails.com
Located in the Arts District in downtown Portland, the Children’s Museum of Maine features a wide variety of interactive exhibits and activities for children and families. Once on the site, look for the events and activities schedule, which will keep you up to date on museum programs.

Longfellow Books, www.longfellowbooks.com
This independent bookstore in downtown Portland, Maine supplies most of the books for our programs. Please visit their site and their store to support them! Don’t miss the bookstore’s blog, with news, event listings, and book suggestions. To find an independent bookseller near you, use this search tool from Book Sense.

Maine Children’s Alliance, www.mekids.org
Through this site, you can access the Maine KIDS COUNT data book, the state’s most comprehensive annual report on the health and well-being of Maine’s children and families. The data book is a great resource for grantwriters and researchers. Don’t miss the CLIKS online database, which reveals striking disparities along Maine’s sixteen counties.

Maine Roads to Quality, muskie.usm.maine.edu/maineroads
MRTQ is Maine’s Child Care and Early Education Career Development Center, and our partner in disseminating the Many Eyes, Many Voices training. Its purpose is to promote and support professionalism in the child care and early education fields. This site allows child care providers to find professional development opportunities all over the state. Don’t miss the Winter 2003 edition of Pathways (PDF file), the MRTQ newsletter, which features Born to Read.

Maine Association for the Education of Young Children, www.maineaeyc.org
The state NAEYC affiliate serves the needs, rights, and well-being of all young children in Maine and their families. Check this site regularly for announcements of upcoming conferences and trainings.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension, www.umext.maine.edu
UMCE’s nutrition associates distribute books to Head Start programs and the homes of some of Maine’s neediest families through a partnership with Born to Read. This site outlines the Eat Well nutrition program as well as the Cooperative Extension’s many other initiatives. Don’t miss the publications catalog, which offers free fact sheets on child development topics from brain development to television viewing.

Maine Libraries: Something For Everyone, www.mainelibraries.com
This site is a clearinghouse of information about Maine’s diverse libraries and the resources they have to offer. You can search for a library, learn about the Maine Library Association and the Maine State Library, or connect to Marvel, a free research tool. Don’t miss the calendar, which includes information about children’s story hours around the state.

Office of Child Care and Head Start, www.maine.gov/dhs/occhs.htm
This subset of Maine’s Department of Human Services offers information for parents and providers alike. It also lists information for regional Child Care Resource Development Centers. Don’t miss the publications page, where you can download state reports on child care and documents explaining licensing rules.

Curious City, www.curiouscity.net
An online children’s book service based in Portland, Maine whose mission is to provide quality books to book fairs, teacher’s conferences, and other book events. Don’t miss the Personal Bookseller, where you can submit information about a particular child or situation and receive suggestions tailored to your needs.

Maine Parent Federation, www.mpf.org
MPF is a twenty-year-old nonprofit organization with headquarters in Manchester. Its services include advocacy, referrals, telephone support, online trainings, “Parents As Teachers” home visits, and a rotating crop of grant-funded projects. Don’t miss the lending library of books and video, available by mail to parents and professionals statewide.

Department of Education Four Year Old Programs, www.maine.gov/education/fouryearold
In keeping with the nationwide trend toward universal pre-K, Maine’s Department of Education is encouraging the development of programs for four-year-olds. Decisions to implement such programs are made by local school units, dependent upon local school board approval. In the planning process, districts are encouraged to collaborate with parents, existing local early childhood programs (including Head Start), and other organizations. Learn more about the process and view a current list of programs at this site. Don’t miss the professional development page, which lists a variety of training and higher education opportunities.

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BOOKLISTS

Searching for booklists on the Internet can be overwhelming: it seems like every reading website has its own set of lists with new categories and topics to sort through! We like the following sites because they’ve already sorted through the available booklists and chosen some of the best.

Reading Rockets, www.readingrockets.org/books/bestof.php
The Reading Rockets site compiles the “Best of” lists that many organizations and publications put out every year. It’s also a good place to find lists of award-winning books. (Unfortunately, it doesn’t include our favorite “Best of” list: the Southern Maine Library District’s annual Cream of the Crop collection! http://www.maine.gov/msl/smld/services/cream/)

Library Booklists, http://librarybooklists.org/
A librarian from Waterboro, Maine maintains this incredibly comprehensive website. One of its many impressive features is a collection of children’s literature booklists, arranged by topic.

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