Principal's Guide | Contact Us     Spring 2007 – In This Issue:   • Rave Reviews for Klutz Build-a-Book Party   • Inspiring Kids to Read with Booktalks   • Reading Tips for Parents   • Book Buzz: Bridge to Terabithia Never underestimate the creative genius of children equipped with a pencil, paper, and markers in one hand and a glue stick, foam shapes, and googly eyes in the other. Case in point: St. Leo School in Leominster, Mass., where families recently participated in Scholastic Book Fairs’ Klutz Build-a-Book Party, a program that brings kids and parents together to write and illustrate their very own Klutz-style wire-o bound book. “We’re always looking for programs to promote reading and writing,” said Principal Carolyn Polselli. “This event not only engaged our students and teachers, it connected with families. It was terrific to see parents and their kids enjoying themselves together.” Read the full story.   Copy-and-Share Resources to Use in Your Own Newsletters. • Tips for Raising a Reader • Top 10 Ways to Bring Up a Lifelong Reader • Make Reading an Everyday Event • Reading with Young Children • 5 Ways to Connect with Advanced Readers Booktalking with Amy Cohn: A Booktalk a Day In our last issue, we encouraged principals everywhere to introduce teachers and students to booktalks – passionate but brief, informal yet powerful, presentations designed to inspire others to read a beloved book. Booktalking works. Research clearly shows peer-to-peer recommendations are the best way to inspire anyone – especially children – to pick up a book and read. And children reading more is practically the #1 goal of a school principal. Why not introduce booktalks to your school by giving a talk yourself? As educators, I think you will immediately sense the impact booktalks can have. Start a faculty meeting with one, or pop into a classroom to share a new title with students. Either audience is sure to be inspired by your enthusiasm. Ready to start booktalking? Try it yourself, or try one of ours. Visit our Web site for more booktalks that are sure to knock your socks off. Choose one, read one, and talk it up! About the Author – Amy Cohn has been booktalking for 25 years to small groups of parents at meetings, to large groups of teachers, librarians, booksellers, and publishers at conventions, to national radio and TV audiences, and to anyone who asks, "What's that book you're reading?" Just Ask Sharon: Reading Tips for Parents Guest columnist Sharon Darling is the president and founder of the National Center for Family Literacy, the worldwide leader in family literacy. Here she offers advice, planning strategies, and reading tips and resources for strengthening families through education and moving them toward literacy and self-sufficiency. Question: How can parents prepare their children for reading success at school? Answer: Parents know that reading is important for school success. Sometimes, though, parents don’t know the process of learning to read or how to help their child make this reading voyage. Learn how parents can help their children achieve reading success during various stages in life with these time-tested tips. Book Buzz: Katherine Paterson Talks About 'Bridge to Terabithia'   Katherine Paterson discusses her beloved children's book, Bridge to Terabithia, a coming-of-age tale of two lonely children who create a magical fantasy world where they can retreat from the unhappiness of their real lives. Winner of the 1978 Newbery Medal, Bridge to Terabithia remains one of the most acclaimed works of contemporary children's literature.