Reading... One of my favorite things to do is sit down with a book, yes a book, and spend time in some other place.  Some of the characters are familiar and beloved and welcomed like old friends.  Some have been part of my life since I started reading.  I get to revisit them now with my kids, which is a priceless gift.  My mom is a teacher and I credit her for supporting our love for books and encouraging us to read.  When I was younger, Mom would always be reading something and would take us to bookstores, the library, the educational supply stores and let us choose books.  As many as we wanted.  I remember bringing home Scholastic and Troll book orders and sitting for hours pouring over them, heart beating with excitement at the thought of new books to read.  I have wonderful memories of days spent reading in the sun over summer vacation, rainy days spent reading on the sofa and taking books with us on trips and adventures.

I love sharing this passion with my children.  We have books all over the house.  It is a weakness of mine, I can hardly pass on a book order that comes home from the kids' schools.  They are great gifts from those special holiday visitors (the Easter Bunny leaves books in the kids' baskets, rather than candy).  I love reading with my kids.  We all settle onto the couch or into my bed and snuggle together and read our stories (because we never read just one).  We go to storytime at the library and each week, they get to choose new books.  I love watching the way each of the kids processes the experience.  My oldest daughter bases her choices on the book's color scheme or character portrayed on the cover.  The three year olds are a more indiscriminate about the process, choosing more based on what they can reach on the shelves and not really seeking out a certain type of book.  My oldest son likes mysteries and magical tales, like his mama, and my second son enjoys anything about animals or sports.  Watching their preferences develop and cultivating the practice of taking time out to read is a labor of love for me.  My oldest son, who records his reading for school, told me that this week he read for over three hundred and sixty minutes and he was beaming.  I am such a lucky mom.

We have great resources locally to support healthy reading habits: libraries, book stores and our schools.  Click here >> to find a book seller near you. 

Check our EVENTS CALENDAR for storytime schedules >>

Have a wonderful weekend!

Michele and the NorthSBCountyParent.com Team

Below is only a partial list of upcoming events and activities so be sure to click on our EVENT CALENDAR so you do not miss anything >>

Use the PARENT PLANNER to click on events and resources you are interested in and click PRINT MY PLANNER to print or email your list.

Reading to children gives them the opportunity to explore exciting new worlds and learn about people and places. It also creates an appreciation for the fun and educational value books offer, allowing children to expand their imagination. Parents and caregivers can build a foundation for literacy and strengthen the bond with their children by reading to them starting at an early age. Research shows that children whose parents read to them tend to become stronger readers and perform better in school.

In honor of the National Education Association's Read Across America Day on March 2, First 5 Santa Barbara County offers the following tips to encourage you and your family to explore the magic of reading together.

Highlight the Fun of Reading- Instill a love of reading in your child by making reading enjoyable.

Make Reading a Habit- Read together every day to help your child enter school better prepared.

Encourage Children to Explore the Library- Take a trip to the library to enjoy the latest books and free reading materials.

Read more tips here >>

On March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author, Theodore Seuss Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss, the National Education Association>> (NEA) will hold their 13th Annual Read Across America>>, a reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading.  Motivating children to read is an important factor in student achievement and creating lifelong successful readers and research has shown that children who are motivated and spend more time reading do better in school.  Read Across America calls for every child to be reading in the company of a caring adult on March 2, 2010. 

Let us know what your school/ community/library did to celebrate. E-mail us at info@northsbcountyparent.com.