LeVar Burton and the Importance of Reading as a Family

LeVar Burton

Sponsored by Reading Rainbow

Main points:

*Parents need to read in front of their children

* Always ask, ‘What message are we sending our kids by doing, saying, or exposing them to xyz?'

*There's a need for children’s literature to address difficult topics in age appropriate ways

Inspired by the world we live in today

LeVar began by reading his latest book, The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm. He said he was inspired to write for children about “when bad things happen to good people – which happens often in life.” He means to help children deal with traumatic events such as natural disasters.  

He believes this was one of Fred Roger’s greatest contributions.  Fred addressed difficult topics for children in age appropriate ways.

The importance of FAMILY literacy

When he is asked by a parent- ‘How can I help my reluctant reader read more, better, learn to love books, etc?…’

He always asks the parent:

1.     How often does your child see YOU read? We must read in front of our children. This can’t be stressed enough.

*How can we(RCPL) get more parents to realize the importance of this?

How often do your children, nephews, family members, friends see you read?

Do you read together as a family?

Do you make reading a priority?

This brings to mind our SRP. We have what appear to be (patron perception or my perception?) 3 separate/different reading programs (Children, Teen, Adult).  How do we stress that the whole family should sign up- not just parents signing up their kids.  ‘Jimmy, let’s sign you up.- change that to…Jimmy, this is where you sign up and this is where I sign up. So we can read together.’   Parents need to be deliberate and set the example for their child. Children need to see that it is as important for their parents to read as it is for them to do so.

My personal impression-from last year- The adults who signed up for adult SRP weren’t necessarily the same ones bringing their children in to sign up for children's/teen SRP.  How many parents walked over to the adult sign ups after registering their children?

*How do we address this?

and...

2.    Find your child’s passion. This will encourage them to love to read.  Like LeVar said, “If your child loves superheroes…then dammit get your child some comic books!”

LeVar’s favorite children's books:

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

Enemie Pie by Derek Munson

His spoke about some of his biggest inspirations:

1.     Alex Haley (author of Roots)- for the compassion he showed LeVar early in his career.

2.     Gene Roddenberry (television screenwriter) –taught him that heroes are human and will make mistakes. We ALL make mistakes.

3.     Fred Rogers- his storytelling mentor

Reading Rainbow Kickstarter project status:

“Every Child, Everywhere” Reading Rainbow website

Current:

Ø  Reading Rainbow App available now!!! *Is this on any of our storytime iPad’s?

Ø  Monthly storytime experience posted online

Coming Soon:

Ø  the web version of Reading Rainbow due for release April 2015

Ø  teacher/school resources available soon

Ø  an international presence soon

Q&A followed.

This was filled with tear jerking, warm and fuzzy anecdotes- testimony to the importance of and legacy of Reading Rainbow.

Everyone was crying. 

This talk totally made my earlier flight’s cancellation worth it!