Preview: Literary Tuesdays 2006
Authors already booked for Literary Tuesdays in July 2006 are Frances Itani, Erika Ritter, and local writer Jenifer McVaugh. The fourth author is yet to be confirmed. Frances Itani's 2003 novel Deafening, set at the time of the First World War, was widely praised. CBC host Erika Ritter's most recent book is The Great Big Book of Guys. Jenifer McVaugh's second novel, Paradise, is an entertaining story about aging flower children returning to celebrate New Year's Eve at the communal farm they once called home. You can get started now on a good winter's reading!
Golden Oak Books
The Golden Oak Book Club encourages adult learners to read for pleasure. Any of our students can join, on their own or with the support of their tutor. Even if you don't want to join the club, their book lists can help you find a good book to read. This year's choices are:
- The Rescue of Nanoose by Mary Borrowman & Chloe O'Loughlin
- Fires by Tanya Lloyd Kyi
- The Heaven Shop by Deborah Ellis
- The Maybe House by Lynne Kositsy
- Maria Chapdelaine, based on the novel by Louis Hemon
For more information about the Book Club, visit the Golden Oak website
at
www.accessOLA.com/goldenoak
Painting Raffle
Maxine Golden has donated another lovely framed painting to raffle for Literacy Plus. The painting is on display at the office. Tickets are only 99¢ each. The draw will be held in May. Thanks to Maxine for her generosity with her talents.
Family Literacy Day
Friday, January 27, 2006, is Family Literacy Day, created in 1999 by ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation. This national day promotes the importance of reading and learning together as a family. Family literacy refers to the many ways families develop and use literacy skills to accomplish day-to-day tasks and activities such as writing a note to a child's teacher, sharing a bedtime story, making a shopping list or using a recipe. Here are a few good reasons for reading with your young children.
- Reading and telling stories to a child of 18 months are powerful stimuli for brain development in the early years.
- Children aged 2 to 3 who are read to daily do better in kindergarten at age 4 or 5 than youngsters who are read to only a few times a week or less.
- Having a parent or other caring person to read aloud with helps children learn listening skills, vocabulary, and language skills, as well as develop imagination and creativity.
- The time a parent spends reading aloud with his or her children will result in a higher level of attachment, a sense of security, and knowledge by children that their parent feels they are worthwhile people with whom to spend time.
A local Family Literacy Planning Committee is working on events for Renfrew County. Watch for notices of these in January.
Literacy Plus gratefully acknowledges its funder, the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.