Celebrating EARTH ... in Books!

RIF RAP April 2023

Cover Story: How to Combine Literacy Skills and Outside Time

April is Earth Month, so we are looking at ideas to encourage reading books ABOUT the environment and reading more IN the environment. Lizzie Mussoline (M. Ed.) wrote an article for The Children's Book Review with several ideas on how to get kids outside to read -- from creating an outside book nook to volunteering at a community garden. That article can be found by clicking here. Brightly features an article with "6 Easy Ways to Get Outside and Read This Summer." Plan a picnic with The Very Hungry Caterpillar as the star feature and look for caterpillar and butterflies. How about a scavenger hunt in your own backyard with a prize or two and a series of clues using simple vocabulary and sight words? Have you ever done a "StoryWalk" or know what it is? Find out by clicking this link! What a very cool way to get outside and READ!!!

COOL GREEN / VERDE FRESCO RIF of NOVA Golden Gala Guest Author Lulu Delacre has written and illustrated a new book that is PERFECT for Earth Month. Written in both English and Spanish, this nonfiction work is a portrait of some of the world’s most incredible trees as seen through the eyes of a Latino landscaper who loves them — and his granddaughter who is beginning to understand why. Learn more about this lovely book and its creation by clicking here. Find a Teacher's Guide here! Learn more about Lulu Delacre and her many books by clicking our Celebrating Local Book Authors page!

For more Earth Month Book Resources... ...check out the listings of books for and about the environment and nature by clicking here. This link offers some gardening books for kids, too!

NOVA RIF Book Distributions Continue!

Two recent NOVA RIF book distributions are featured below. Photos from others can be found by clicking here.

Groveton Elementary at the Campfire!

Speaking about being in the environment, does your summer vacation planning include a camping trip? Well, Groveton Elementary School has beat you to it! During Groveton's NOVA RIF book distribution in March, students found the library darkened for some "Reading Around the Campfire" fun. After warming their hands by the fire (ahem!) and listening to directions from librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Eileen Findley and library aide Priscilla Karau, they selected a brand new book of their very own, picked up a flashlight, and read their new stories to a beanie baby reading buddy. All too soon, the camping trip was over but with a new NOVA RIF book to remember the experience. We are happy to report there were no mosquito bites!

Drop Everything and Read (1,000 Books) at Barcroft Barcroft Elementary School in Arlington set an amazing spring break goal for its students: to collectively read 1,000 books over the week off! Just before break, the entire school got cozy and participated in a 90-minute "Drop Everything and Read" sleepover/read over, dressed in pajamas and accompanied by stuffed animals. Students were then able to pick two books each, thanks to RIF of NOVA and a national RIF grant. Hooray to librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Jackie Pippins and assistant Teresa Do for their help with such a wonderful reading challenge and celebration!

Guidelines for Book Donations, Drives, and More!

We started our like-new, gently used book program during the pandemic because so many children had no access to books. The program has been wildly successful, drawing in thousands of books to date. If you are interested in donating new or very gently used children's books or in setting up a book drive to do so, we have set up some new guidelines to make the process easier. It's found on our Give Books website page. Click here to get there!

The girls pictured here set a goal to collect 300 books for NOVA RIF. Well, guess what! These motivated 5th graders from Chesterbrook and Haycock Elementary Schools In McLean exceeded their goal by collecting over 370 books! Their drive was part of their Bronze Award service project for Junior Girl Scout Troop 50030. Nice job, girls!

Sixth grader Arabella Benedetti (l) and her high school sophomore sister Clelia decided to review their home book collection to see what books they might pass on to other kids. Look at this great pile of books! Dogs Roxie (l) and Jazzy seem to approve, too!

$4 = One Book = One LOCAL Child! We count on YOU for all our funding! So please give generously!

*Contribute online by Paypal or credit card at: https://donorbox.org/donate-to-rif-of-nova. Donate links can be found on every page of our website, too.

*Send a check to our mailbox: RIF of NOVA P. O. Box 7012 Arlington, VA 22207-0012

Thank you for any donation -- no matter how big or small! And thank you for being part of the RIF of NOVA community!

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