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| TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS |
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Make Way for Books greeted thousands of families (including the little guy in the photo above) March 13 and 14 at the children's area of the Tucson Festival of Books. The children were thrilled with the storytelling, read-aloud activities, books, crafts, and games.
Perhaps 2-year-old Santino Celani, describing his favorite things about the fesitval, said it best: "Balloons. Drums. Boom, boom. Truck, Mama, truck book. Caterpillar - big, fat, caterpillar. Corn pop. Yum, yum. Balloons. Peoples. Bugs. Dirt. Balloons, Mama, balloons."
Congratulations to Santino's family for winning the MWFB/Tucson Festival of Books storytelling drawing. Santino will receive a bag of new children's books. Thank you to all of the particpating families.
|  IN THEIR OWN WORDS
What makes the partnership work? | | |
Commitment to a common cause is one of the most cited reasons for successful public-nonprofit partnerships. The Pima County Public Library-Make Way for Books partnership is no exception.
"We are a great match because both agencies have a strong commitment to ensuring that young children are ready to learn to read when they enter school. Both work to foster a love of reading that lasts a lifetime."
Donie Gignac
(Donie Gignac has been a children's librarian for the last 30 years, 25 with the Pima County Public Library, and she serves as secretary on the board of directors for Make Way for Books.)
"My commitment to the community is that everyone develops their reading skills so they can be successful. One of the most effective ways to help people develop their reading skills and be successful is simply to teach families about reading aloud to their children from birth on."
Gina Macaluso
(Gina Macaluso coordinates Pima County Public Library partnerships with other organizations and serves as vice president on the Make Way for Books board of directors.)
"It is easy to tell whether a child has been read to early on. They have the skills to learn to read when they get to kindergarten. Unfortunately, many kindergarten and first-grade teachers still talk about the sheer numbers of children who come to school without early literacy skills and who fall behind in school."
Mary Sanchez
(Mary Sanchez provides leadership for early literacy programming at the Pima County Public Library.)
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ALEX'S STORY
Our board of directors recently shared a story with a few of you in a letter about one very special child who has benefited from our early literacy programs. Because we want all of you to know what an incredible difference your support makes, we're sharing it again here.
Alex spent most of the first two years of his life on his back in a crib. No one read to Alex. He had no books in his life. Alex's birth mother was developmentally disabled and unable to read to Alex. In and out of foster care, the little guy had scant opportunity for any interaction with adults and other children.
 When Alex and his brother found their adoptive family, the nearly 2-year-old was unable to speak more than one or two words and was reluctant to speak those words or make any sounds. He could not sit still for more than a couple of minutes. Alex was afraid to interact socially with anyone except his 5-year-old brother, and that interaction was significantly limited by Alex's inability to speak and express himself.
Shortly after Alex and his brother moved in with their new family, they began to attend a child-care center for which Make Way for Books had provided a library and trained teachers in read-aloud best practices. Alex's new mom and his teachers read to him every day, books provided and suggested by Make Way for Books.
Alex is 4 now. He loves books. His mom, grandma, and other family members check out new books every week. The most exciting part of his week is when he sees his new books and recognizes favorites he has seen at "school." Alex screams with glee, does a careful inventory of all the books, and excitedly tells about the books he has seen (and been read) at his child-care center.
Little Alex speaks in full sentences now with a vocabulary that would make the parents of any young child proud. He still has some problems enunciating certain sounds, but his family feels time, speech therapy, access to developmentally appropriate books, and a lot of love will go a long way toward catching him up.
Alex may always be behind developmentally in some ways because he lost those first two years of exposure to language: adults reading, singing, and talking to him. He missed two years of critical brain development. But his parents know he has a better chance now because he has books in his life and is being read to every day. | |
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Thousands of children like Alex in Southern Arizona just need a chance to fall in love with books and reading. Support Make Way for Books and early literacy. Please donate today.
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| ADOPT A BLUE BOOK HOUSE |  |
Book drives for the Read to Me, Arizona! Blue Book Houses (photo above) are a great way to meet requirements for community projects.
Our Mother of Sorrows Student Council recently collected 723 books (photo below), and the Sunnyside Liberty Partnership collected 101 books.
More than 3,000 books have been distributed in the last few months through 24 Blue Book Houses, located in social services and health-care settings throughout Tucson. Families are encouraged to read to children while waiting for their appointments then take the book home to keep.
If you are interested in doing a book drive for the Blue Book House Project, please call 721-2334, or email info@makewayforbooks.org.
Don't have time to organize a book drive but want to help? Adopt a Blue Book House for $50 a month and help Make Way for Books keep the book houses full.
Just send a check to Make Way for Books, noting that it is for the Blue House Project, and we'll be sure it is used to help put books into the hands of Tucson children who most need them.
Mail to: 3955 E. Fort Lowell Road, Suite 114; Tucson, AZ; 85712.
Our Mother of Sorrows book donations. |
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| THANK YOU STAPLES |
Eric Hambright, manager of the new Tucson Staples store, joins Make Way for Books and Pima County Public Library Staff in reading "Go Away, Big Green Monster!" at a recent Family Read Aloud Night. Family Read Aloud Nights are a component of the Read to Me, Arizona! campaign. Staples is the primary sponsor of the Read to Me, Arizona! public information campaign.
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| SPECIAL APPRECIATION |
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Thank you to the Stocker Foundation for its generous $8,000 grant. The grant will fund the 2010 Summer Reading Buddies program.
Make Way for Books also recently received a $1,500 grant to help maintain and expand the Blue Book House Project. Thank you Long Realty Cares for your community support of the Read to Me, Arizona! Blue Book Houses.
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| FITZSIMMONS DRAWS ON LOVE OF READING |
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Popular cartoonist David Fitzsimmons penned this Make Way for Books illustration while speaking at the MWFB holiday party in December.
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MWFB BY THE NUMBERS | |
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Since November 2009...
7,863 new books added to libraries at 49 child-care centers and 37 in-home provider sites
2,072 new books given away to pre-school children to take home and keep
3,760 gently used books distributed from Blue Book Houses
307 participants in Family Read Aloud Nights; 171 new books distributed to children
280 child-care staff members attending MWFB seminars
Preschool teachers enjoy a recent Literacy and Play seminar at Make Way for Books. |
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Greetings!
 The needs of families with low and limited income rise as dollars for non-profit programs dwindle. Stretching funds while still expanding reach is no easy task for any organization. That's why Make Way for Books is strengthening its partnerships with a number of organizations and asking supporters to do what they can to help. By working together, we can meet the rising early literacy needs in Tucson. Make Way for Books has been collaborating with the Pima County Public Library almost since our inception more than 12 years ago. This partnership with the library, formed out of a common commitment to giving all children a chance to fall in love with books and succeed in school, has fostered a number of successful community events and programs. The Literacy for Life Coalition is another perfect example of how when priorities align, we can do so much more for our community. The Teach the Parent; Reach the Child program, under development by Make Way for Books and three other coalition partners, will increase families' knowledge of reading development so they can better prepare their children to learn to read.
Our partnership with First Things First has made it possible for Make Way for Books to double the number of preschools it serves and provide services for in-home child-care providers.
Additionally, a Staples Foundation for Learning grant is making possible the Read to Me, Arizona! public awareness campaign this year. The Stocker Foundation is funding Summer Reading Buddies, and a Long Realty Cares grant is helping support the Blue Book House Project. United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona also continues to partner with us in a number of services.
These are just a few examples of the partnerships that are making it possible for Make Way for Books to continue providing early literacy services in the community, and even expand its programs in some areas. Perhaps most important are our partnerships with individuals who support Make Way for Books--donors and volunteers. These are the people at the core of our organization dedicated to getting books into the hands of children and integrating reading into their lives. It's amazing that as this economic downfall continues, supporters still find the time and funds to help. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. If we all do what we can to help, we'll not only maintain, we'll also come out of this recession stronger and better equipped to end low literacy and improve life for all in our communities. Your generous donations are critical to our programs. So we ask you to give what you can now to help Make Way for Books continue its early literacy programs--preparing children in low-income households for kindergarten, improving early literacy programs in child-care centers in low-resource areas, and helping all of our children succeed in life.
Sincerely,
Mary Jan Bancroft , Ph.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Make Way for Books |
A Great Partnership | |
 Pima County Public Library staff members Elizabeth Soltero, Beth Rubio, and Donie Gignac prepare to serve pizza and lemonade at a recent Read to Me, Arizona! Family Read Aloud Night. The library is among Make Way for Books' Read to Me, Arizona! partners.
LIBRARY COLLABORATION HELPS EXTEND PROGRAMS Today's economic environment, in which nonprofit funding continues to decline as community needs rise, has many organizations exploring ways to partner with other agencies and reduce costs while still serving more and more people.
Make Way for Books and the Pima County Public Library are fortunate to have a partnership that dates back to well before the economic downturn, said Mary Jan Bancroft, founder and executive director at Make Way for Books. "And while the financial benefits are a plus," Dr. Bancroft added, "our partnership is based solidly on a shared commitment to early literacy."
Library and Make Way for Books staff members have been working side by side for several years on the Story Town Family Literacy Festival, Family Read Aloud Nights, the Tucson Festival of Books, and, most recently, the Read to Me, Arizona! project.
By working together, Make Way for Books and the library avoid duplication of program spending and increase opportunities to promote early literacy events and projects. The partnership also improves grant funding possibilities since funders often give preference to collaborative projects with multiple agencies working together.
Perhaps even more important than the financial benefits of collaborative projects is the fact that the library's partnership with Make Way for Books allows the organizations to capitalize on each other's strengths and brings a greater knowledge base to the table.
"Being effective is not just about building a great organization then expanding it to reach more people," said Dr. Bancroft. "It is also about working with others to have the greatest impact in changing the world around us. We are fortunate that the library shares our commitment to ensuring all children enter kindergarten ready to learn to read and succeed in life."
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Ask an Expert | |
TEACHING KIDS TO CARE FOR BOOKS AT HOME
Taking care of books is a big job. If children are taught early to respect books, when they get older and bring home books from school and the library, they'll keep them in good shape for other children to enjoy. (And teachers will send a lot more books home because they know they will get them back in good shape!)
Ask an Expert at Read to Me, Arizona!, a Make Way for Books sister website, offers detailed suggestions and a sample dialogue on teaching your child to take care of books (in Spanish and English).
Read to Me, Arizona! also offers a number of free bilingual activities and tip sheets for families looking to make the most of their read-aloud time with young children. |
Programs Changing Lives |
TEACH THE PARENT; REACH THE CHILD
Make Way for Books is collaborating with three organizations--the Family Literacy Program, Pima County Public Library, and Reading Seed--to develop a model for teaching parents the benefits, stages, joy and fun of reading aloud to their children. The program, "Teach the Parent; Reach the Child: Partners in Literacy," is expected to launch next spring.
LOVE OF READING CHALLENGE 100% SUCCESS
Every child-care center--45 centers (105 classrooms)--participating in the February Make Way for Books Love of Reading Challenge met the challenge. Teachers at the centers were encouraged to read five books a day to their students for five days. The children loved having their reading time extended, teachers at the centers reported.
Participating classrooms were entered in a drawing to win new books for the children to take home. Winners of the drawing are as follows:
Infants to 2-year-olds -- Casita Feliz -- Miss Alex and Miss Zolma
3- to 5-year-olds -- Children's Achievement Center -- Miss Lisa
& Cozy Casa -- Miss Margie and Miss Cora
Home providers -- Belen's Child Care -- Belen Molina
"We were especially pleased to have 40 classrooms with the younger children participating," said Emily Phy, preschool/READ program coordinator. "The infants, and 1- and 2-year-olds often do not get as much reading time as the preschoolers," she explained.
Congratulations to all the centers that met the Love of Reading Challenge:
Adventure SchoolBelen's Child Care
Bright Star Learning CenterCasita Feliz Child Care Center
Children's Achievement Center
Children's CenterContinental PreschoolCottonwood Enrichment CenterCountry Cottage PreschoolCozy CasaCreative BeginningsDesert Willow Early Childhood El Centro Alegre-Mission ManorEl Rio Preschool & Infant/Toddler CenterFlowing Wells Early Childhood CenterGrijalva PACEHenry QuintoHenry RyanKids First PreschoolKids Forever: Quincie DouglasKiddie Korner PreschoolKindercare #1403Kindercare #300599KidsvilleKids World (West)La Petite Academy-Golf LinksLittle SproutsMesquite Early ChildhoodMi Refugio Child CareNew DiscoveriesNew Life Day CareOcotillo Ridge Enrichment CenterOlga's Child CarePima Community College-DowntownPio Decimo CenterRivera PreschoolThe SandboxSatori PreschoolSmall World PreschoolSt. Mark's PreschoolSycamore Early Childhood EnrichmentThree Points Child Care CenterTucson Nursery SchoolTully PlaygroupYolanda's Child Care
HOME PROVIDER EARLY LITERACY KITS A FIRST
All 14 home provider early literacy kits were checked out in the first week they were available in March. Providers say this is the first time a local literacy organization has provided such extensive literacy materials for their home-based child-care centers and that they are excited to have more materials for teaching reading readiness skills.
Each literacy kit contains 15 books with accompanying reading guides for select titles. Home providers check out the rotating kits (including English, Spanish, and bilingual options) for a month at a time.
"We're excited, too," said Emily Phy, preschool/READ program coordinator. "This is a new endeavor for Make Way for Books, and a new population in our preschool program."
Make Way for Books is busy developing more reading readiness lending kits. Support for in-home providers is made possible through First Things First funding.
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In the News |
Make Way for Books early literacy consultants Marsha Schull and Marie Graninger, and MWFB staff member Emily Phy put together materials for the preschool program.  |
EARLY LITERACY FUND CHANGES PUT PROGRAMS AT RISK
It is rare that Arizona voters earmark taxes to fund specific programs. But that is exactly what happened with the 80-cents-a-pack tobacco tax in 2006. Voters created a new revenue stream, First Things First, and dedicated the funds to early childhood education and health-care programs.
Now Arizona lawmakers are attempting to raid the voter-protected First Things First funding. Some state legislators want to reroute $300 million earmarked for our neediest children to the general fund to help close the $2.7 billion budget gap. First Things First leadership has offered to put a vote to the public to loan the state $300 million, but a recent resolution passed by both the House and Senate insists the tax stream be under state control. The matter will be put before the voters in November.
"The assertion that this money can be better spent helping the state reduce a burgeoning budget deficit is shortsighted and goes against what we as citizens decided is a priority in our communities," said Mary Jan Bancroft, executive director of Make Way for Books. "Voters earmarked that money for our youngest children with the most need, and if it goes away, many of the early literacy programs in our communities will disappear."
The move puts many aspects of the Make Way for Books preschool program, largely funded through First Things First, in jeopardy. First Things First is helping Make Way for Books put lending libraries in hundreds of preschools in low-resource areas throughout Tucson and educate child-care and pre-school staff in effective early literacy practices. Because of programs supported by First Things First, thousands more children are safe, healthy, and thriving in school.
"When we place children solidly on the road to success early in their lives, we reduce the societal costs associated with low literacy and illiteracy," explained Dr. Bancroft. "If we make early literacy a priority, we spend a lot less down the road on intervention for school-age children who fall behind and often fail despite efforts to get them back on track, many eventually ending up on welfare rolls and in prisons and costing taxpayers far more."
The question is, Dr. Bancroft continued, "when put to a vote, will Arizonans agree that the legislature is more trustworthy than the people? Will we give up some of the only remaining funding that prepares children (birth to 5 years old) for school and success in life?"
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Coming Events |
Mini-Time Machine Museum of Miniatures Tiny Tales for Tots
Storytime, art project, and miniatures.
The adventure begins at 10 a.m.
April 10 (Saturday)
Three stories featuring cats and kittens getting into all kinds of mischief and an art project making cats from clay.
May 8 (Saturday)
Storybooks and miniatures that transport children to imaginary distant lands, and making a mini-postcard.
June 12 (Saturday)
Stories and miniatures that celebrate father figures, and making a mini-kite.
July 10 (Saturday)
Tales about winter to cool off the hot summer days, and making snowflakes.
4455 East Camp Lowell Road
Call 881-0606 for more information, or visit the Mini-Time Machine Museum Calendar of Events.
Child and Family Festival
Games, performances, face painting, and more to celebrate children and their potential
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
April 10 (Saturday)
Sonoran Science Academy
Stand for Children
Free admission to Reid Park Zoo, plus arts and crafts
9 a.m. to noon
Reid Park Zoo
1030 S. Randolph Way
For more information, call the Reid Park Zoo Infoline at 791-4022.
Family Read-Aloud Nights
6 to 7:30 p.m. Storybook theater, read-aloud tips, free pizza, and new children's books to take home.
April 13(Tuesday)
Empire High School, Vail 10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way
April 20(Tuesday) Ili Uusim Mahtawapo Head Start 5060 W. Calle Tetakusim
May 12 (Wednesday)
Lynn Urquides Elementary
1573 W. Ajo Way
May 26 (Wednesday)
Miller-Golf Links Library
9640 E. Golf Links Road
Volunteer Appreciation Open House
Save this date, volunteers! This one is for you. It is time to honor your dedication to Make Way for Books and early literacy. Featured guest will be children's author Susan Lowell.
May 13
5 to 7 p.m.
Make Way for Books
For more information, please call 721-2334.
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Volunteers on the Go |
STORYTIME VOLUNTEERS AT THE HEART OF MATTERS
Storytime just keeps growing...and growing...and growing. We have added 13 new centers and 10 new Storytime volunteers since our last newsletter, bringing the number of centers served to 44 and the number of volunteers to 35. Hundreds more children now have the joy of storytime in their lives.
A big thank you to Kathy Ybarra, a Brown Mackie College intern who has read at four new centers--El Centro Alegre, Enrichment Academy II, Rivera Preschool, and Little Castle--since the first of the year. A warm welcome to all the new Storytime volunteers: Derek Schull, Kelsey Self, Annette Carr, Colette Price, Angela Savage, Diana Ro, Kelly Ramirez, Freda Johnson, and Amy Lofton.
Welcome back Judy Parker and Marie Graninger. Marie, who has been busy serving as a literacy consultant for Make Way for Books, is returning to read at Bright Star Learning Center. Judy Parker was back in Tucson for the winter and volunteers at Kindercare (Hand in Hand).
Storytime volunteers read to children in child-care centers in low-resource areas of Tucson for about half an hour once a week. Many enjoy their time with the children so much, they have been volunteering for 10 years. We're making a difference, but more than 100 preschools still need our help. If you'd like to join this very special group of individuals who love children and reading, please call 721-2334, or email info@makewayforbooks.org.
 VOLUNTEER BIRTHDAYS Amy Hill--March 21
Pat Mackey--April 3
Abby Blake--April 22
Maureen Bike--April 23
Kathy Ybarra--May 3
Freda Johnson--May 9
Allyson Baehr--May 12
Whitney Faust--May 12
Cheryl Ridgely--May 13
Kelly Ramirez--May 31
Judy Parker--June 14
FRATERNITY BOOK PREPARERS EXTRAORDINAIRE
The Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity at the University of Arizona (including volunteers in photo below) has been a tremendous help over the last few months, devoting their Friday afternoons to preparing books (covering, bar-coding, and inventorying) for preschool libraries, Blue Book Houses, and community events.
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April 8, 2010 
