Get your young readers started in the You Are What You Read campaign with this convenient guide that includes supporting materials for talking about, and sharing, books with students.

You Are What You Read is a social networking site around books that celebrates the "great reads of our lives." A part of Scholastic’s global literacy campaign, Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life, it is a global community for discussing the books that have influenced our lives.

Teachers, parents and students — there is a separate community for kids — are  all invited to submit the five books that have helped shape who they are, what we call your “bookprint.” Share these great reads with fellow book lovers, discover new titles, and access a live feed of comments, reviews, and the latest book news on You Are What You Read at www.youarewhatyouread.com.

Also included in this guide is a Sample Letter for Parents for you to use to let them know about this program and how they can support your classroom activities at home. To access projects and information relating to older readers, please refer to the full Quick Guide for Teachers and visit You Are What You Read for Older Readers.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Best Books
Younger children want to learn to read! Help them stay excited about books. Surround them with a good mix of picture books and chapter books. Give them plenty of time to read, turn the pages, and enjoy the illustrations. Then ask them:
• What do you like about the book that you are reading right now?
• Is it funny?
• Does it have silly pictures?
• What is it about the book that makes you smile?

Give each child an opportunity to explain what it is about the book that he or she will remember tomorrow. Set aside time each week for the children to talk about the books they enjoy and remember.

Books Within Reach
Within the You Are What You Read Web site (www.youarewhatyouread.com/kids), students can select their own “bookprints” – the five books that have special meaning for them.

Once your students have selected their bookprints, have them trace their hand onto a piece of colored construction paper. Have them cutout the hand shape. In each finger of their cutouts, students can write a book title. Identify each student’s hand and hang it on the classroom wall to keep good books within reach.

Pass it On
Good books are often passed on from friend to friend. But how do you know what kind of books your friend likes to read? By asking questions. Working in pairs, have each student ask his partner a series of questions about what kind of books he or she likes. After the students have answered the questions about the kinds of books they like, have the partners comb the library shelves in search of the right book. Later, give the children a chance to give their impressions of the book that was recommended to them. Was it something they would recommend to someone else? Students can use this short and simple questionnaire or they may write their own questions.

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