April Showers of Books!
RIF RAP
April 2019
Cover Story: Screens vs. Paper...New Results are IN

Many articles have been written about whether children get more from reading from paper books versus on a screen. Now, more evidence is in with findings that reading from screens harms comprehension. According to a new meta-analysis of nearly three dozen research studies published over the past decade, reading from paper has a small, statistically significant benefit on reading performance. Learn more in this article from the April 15 edition of Education Week.
Mark your calendars for May 22...the start of 24 hours of giving during DO MORE 24!
Get ready for the seventh annual Do More 24 campaign, sponsored by the United Way of the National Capital Area. Mark your calendars for NOON on Wednesday, May 22 for this 24-hour giving event that runs until NOON on Thursday, May 23. RIF of NOVA is part of this campaign...and 100 percent of the monies raised will go to books for the kids we serve!
Our link is here: https://www.domore24.org/readbooks. Learn more at DoMore24.org Last year, 2,000 kids were able to pick RIF of NOVA books, thanks to your Do More generosity,
"A Celebration of Science and Art" at Patrick Henry Elementary School

Patrick Henry ES in Alexandria held its RIF of NOVA book distribution in late March with a focus on science and art. Librarian and RIF of NOVA liaison Kelsey Frey led the celebration. The younger children discussed the book, Mae Among The Stars . In this story, Mae Jemison -- the first African American woman to go to space -- learns that if you can dream it and work hard for it, anything is possible. The book was written by Roda Ahmed and illustrated by Stasia Burrington. It's a wonderful book for anyone with lofty dreams!
Second graders listened eagerly to Kelsey Frey as she read the story of astronaut Mae Jemison. Kelsey is also a RIF of NOVA board member!
Board member Glenna Orr joined some second graders on the couches in the Patrick Henry library...a cozy place to read new RIF of NOVA books.
Patrick Henry fifth graders showed off their RIF of NOVA books at a library table where they made "Shrinky Dink" bookmarks. Clearly, it was a fun -- and educational -- day for all!
Fairlington Book Party Brings Books to Little Readers

Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers celebrated Read Across America Day at Arlington’s Teen Parenting Center with Cat in the Hat hats, green milk, and one-on-one reading sessions. Many of the new books at this RIF distribution were donated by the Kathryn and Jordan White family of Arlington and by the Arlington-Fairlington MOMS Club. (Thank you again!)

The Teen Parenting Center provides day care and other services to teen mothers so that they can learn parenting skills and continue to attend high school until graduation. Volunteers helped the older children pick books and read the stories. For more information on how to have a book party to collect books for RIF, please contact RIF of NOVA at rifnova@gmail.org. It's another great way to put books into the hands of deserving children!
No doubt about it! When moms and dads read to their children, the magic begins!
And how about the magic when children start to read the stories TO their moms and dads!
RIF of NOVA Liaisons Celebrated During Annual Literacy Lunch!

RIF of NOVA liaisons are the creative geniuses behind RIF book distributions in our schools and centers. Using their love of books and reading, they develop creative ways to give out books that engage children in reading and literacy activities.

Each year, our liaisons are invited to meet the book sellers who provide new book choices for children. There is also a yummy lunch because, really, who can think without some good food! On April 10, liaisons from five RIF areas were honored for their support of RIF of NOVA activities. Two are pictured below. The other honorees were: Rocco DeBonis of Groveton Elementary School in Fairfax East, Marci Hoyt of Hutchison Elementary School in Fairfax West, and Odalys Perez of the Family Education Center at the Arlington Public Schools Career Center.
Leslie Broughton (l) is shown here with board member Glenna Orr. Leslie earned her award for contributions to RIF of NOVA for her school, James K. Polk Elementary School in the City of Alexandria.
Bel Air Elementary's liaison Cari Hammel (l) with RIF of NOVA board members Melba Smith-Dudley (center) and Emma Williams (r). Cari and her colleague Carrie Roop were honored for their contributions to RIF of NOVA in Prince William County.
Thanks to our Book Vendors at the Liaison Event!
Scholastic's Sandy Howells (r) shares book ideas with the liaison team from Marumsco Hills ES.
Amy and Marty Fields (r) joined in from Books4Schools. Amy and Marty flew in from their home in Wisconsin for this event!
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So many great book choices from our great children's book vendors!
Melissa Moyer (r) of Bookworm Central offered a ton of book ideas!
Whoo Hoo! Guess What's New?!!!

Yep. RIF of NOVA has launched its own Instagram account! Sign up to see more photos of what's going on in the schools in our RIF community! Click the Instagram icons in this newsletter and sign up or search for us on Instagram -- rifnova. Please follow us on Facebook, too. Both sites are updated regularly with great content about children, books, and literacy ideas in our NOVA community...and beyond! Hope to "see" you there!

By the way, you may have noticed that we have a new RIF of NOVA logo. Other new changes will be added in the coming months to our website, rifnova.org -- but our mission will stay the same...to provide books to and support literacy for deserving children in Northern Virginia!

Also new...our third BOOK IT FOR BOOKS 5K-One Mile Fun Run ! Please mark your calendars for Saturday, October 12 at Bluemont Park in Arlington, VA. Sign up here! More race information will be featured in future RIF RAPs.
Angelina Ballerina (JJ Johnson, board co-president) and Waldo (Lisa Keathley, communications) are co-chairs of the 2019 Book It For Books 5K/One-Mile Run.
The run is open to serious and fun runners, walkers, children, and families. Kids in strollers are welcome, too! All participants are encouraged to dress up in a favorite book character. We are also looking for sponsors and for teams of children to walk or run. Learn more on our website, rifnova.org, or by emailing bookitforbooks@gmail.com.
Every child in the RIF of NOVA community is worthy of a new book! Even our smallest ones!

In addition to the Do More 24 campaign in May (noted above), please give now... and ANY time! Here are ways you can help:

1) Send a check to our mailbox: P.O. Box 7012, Arlington, VA 22207-0012.

2) Give at any time via PayPal on the RIF of NOVA website www.rifnova.org.
3) Register with smile.amazon.com. Type in Reading Is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, Inc. to select us as the charity you want to support. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to RIF of NOVA.
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