Read and Romp

As many of you know, I have developed many good friends at The Blue Bunny Bookstore in Dedham, MA. One of the friends I made, Joy, is the founder of an organization called Catching Joy. Catching Joy's mission is to teach young children the joy of volunteering and giving. This is something that we will be incorporating into our classroom this year through a number of service learning projects that I am hoping to do in conjunction with Catching Joy!
We've already had a wonderful example of the giving spirit in our class by Will who asked for books for his birthday to donate to the school library! To learn more about Catching Joy, click on their logo below:

One of the programs I learned about through Catching Joy is Reach Out and Read, an evidence-based nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud.  Here is a clip of the work they do:

Through Joy, I was fortunate enough to become an ambassador for a wonderful Read Out and Read event coming up on November 13th at the Seaport Hotel in Boston called the Read and Romp.  Emily and I went for the first time last year and had a wonderful time!

Read and Romp is the annual family friendly event to help raise money for Reach Out and Read’s mission. It is a fun day for the whole family where children are able to experience some of their favorite books by participating in activities and crafts.

Read and Romp 2011 will take place at the Seaport Hotel in Boston on November 13, 2011 and features:

·         12 storybook-themed stations with fun children’s activities

·         Each child receives a gift bag with a book, toys, and other goodies

·         Meet and greet with:

o    Norman Bridwell,  Clifford creator

o    Peter Reynolds, children’s author and illustrator of the Judy Moody series

o    Hallie Durand, author of Dessert First.

·         Buffet lunch with musical entertainment by Stacey Peasley

·         Raffle and online auction with a chance to win great prizes

For tickets and more information visit: http://www.readandromp.org/.

If you are unable to go, but are interested in supporting the cause, here is another option! 

Draw a Book Give a Book!

Encourage your child to read and give back to others!

The Draw a Book Give a Book project supports Reach Out and Read by emphasizing to children the importance of reading and generosity.  Children design, draw, and color their very own cover to their favorite book and send it to Reach Out and Read along with a suggested donation of $10.   Parents or caretakers may send in a donation or encourage their children to raise the money through their own creative ideas.

Please make checks out to:

Reach Out and Read, Inc.

56 Roland St. Suite 100D

Boston, MA 02129

Your child’s beautiful drawing and demonstration of service to others will be displayed at Read and Romp on November 13, 2011 at the Reading Makes You Feel Good Station, sponsored by Catching Joy, a 501c3 non-profit that promotes volunteerism beginning with young children and their families.

All submissions must be received by November 10, 2011.

For questions or more information please email fundraising@reachoutandread.org, or call 617-455-0665.

Here's the template (clicking the pic will take you to Google Docs):

A peek at last years event....