"York Reads" and raising the youngest readers
By Children's Librarian Kathleen Whalin
Take "A Walk in the Woods" with the Third Annual York Reads: One Book/One Community program, offered by the York Public Library and York Adult and Community Education. York Reads is a chance for friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to read the same book and join in events based on the book. This year, the York Reads Committee has selected Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods," a humorous tale of two friends hiking the Appalachian Trail that is as enlightening as it is inspiring. Bryson, a travel writer, has written an adventure, a comedy and a history of the trail - all rolled into one. Members of the York Reads Committee gathered in front of Town Hall on Monday to celebrate the start of this year's program. Pictured, from left, are Carrie Eisner, Robert Waldman, Lou Hargan, Polly Stanwood, Jean Lincoln, Anne Poubeau and Mary-Anne Szeniawski. Hargan noted a number of area artists have been responsible for those fun and fancy boots you may be seeing around town to hail the start of York Reads, including Milt Davis. Gloria Gustafson. Rosalyn Fedeli, Marianne Baumann, Gail Claes, Ellen Minnehan and students from York High School. The boots were designed by Boris Reininghaus and produced by Matt Rovnak with materials donated by Maine Coast Lumber. The goal of York Reads is to encourage reading while bringing community members together. Books may be purchased for $6 at York Adult and Community Education, the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce, Town Hall or the York Public Library. For more information, call 363-7922 or 363-2818.
Photo by Melissa Wood
YORK VILLAGE - For the past three years, residents of the town of York have joined together in a community reading project, "York Reads."
As we look to next month's celebration of reading and, specifically, a celebration of the spirit of this year's title, "A Walk in the Woods," it's worthwhile to remember that reading begins at home. Attitudes and actions of parents and caregivers can help a child become a lifelong reader.
A study done at the University of Michigan concludes that a child's brain achieves 90 percent of its adult weight by the time the child is three, and that children spend as much time watching television in one day as they spend reading in an entire week.
Children benefit when they experience a rich range of language, when they are read to, talked to, or sung to. We want our children to be successful adults and to have a range of options for their life's work. Being able to read is an essential skill in today's world.
The good news is that there's so much that adults can do to encourage readers. They can take the time to talk to children, to read to children and surround children with books and writing materials.
When children observe adults reading and enjoying books, newspapers and magazines, they can see the pleasures literacy can offer. Bring your child to the library for programs and to borrow books. Show your child that reading is an important part of your family's day-to-day life.
Be part of this year's "York Reads" and give your child the gift of the pleasure reading can bring.
