Instigated in 2005 Kansas Reads to Preschoolers is an ongoing Kansas program.
Public libraries, child care centers, and homes across Kansas look forward to the week before Thanksgiving to participate in reading events for children and families! Mayors, other government officials, high school
athletes, and families participate in programs by reading books chosen by the State Librarian to demonstrate a love of reading. Children’s librarians spend countless hours designing activities for children during this special week for this very
special project.
Our History
► 2007 |
2006 | 2005
2007
View Website
It’s Time to Call 911, by
Penton Overseas, Inc ,
Look Both Ways, by Diane Z. Shore & Jessica Alexander
Do Kangaroos Wear Seatbelts?, by
Jane Kurtz
The 2007
Kansas Reads to Preschoolers reading initiative, a project
conceived and implemented by the State Library of Kansas in
2005, was the most successful yet! It had several “firsts” and
was a last as well. This year instead of one book as in the
previous two years, a theme was identified and three books were
selected: It’s Time to Call 911: What to Do In An Emergency,
a board book with sound; Look Both Ways: A Cautionary Tale,
about the importance of looking both ways before crossing a
street; and Do Kangaroos Wear Seatbelts?, about a zoo
visit where a boy learns how animals and parents alike keep
their young safe. More libraries, childcare centers, and other
organizations then ever before partnered to present readings and
activities for children birth to age five during the last
Children’s Book Week held
November 11-27, 2007,
before the national week changed to May.
This reading
initiative for preschoolers was the first time a project of the
Kansas Center For the Book at the State Library of Kansas,
Governor Kathleen Sebelius was again the honorary chair for the
2007 Kansas Reads to Preschoolers project. The project received
its first honor, the Safe Kids Kansas 2007 Service Recognition
Award. Kansas Reads to Preschoolers was also specifically
identified as a contributing factor when the
Kansas
Center
for the Book received a 2008 Boorstin Center for the Book Award.
Sadly, 2007 was the last year Kansas Reads to Preschoolers was
coordinated by Vikki Jo Stewart, the Special Projects Director
at the State Library of Kansas, as she retired before the next
preschooler project started. She left a legacy of serving
thousands of
Kansas
children by facilitating the reading of books to preschoolers
and creating continuing partnerships to ensure the project’s
future.
2006
►
Read Full Report
Bunny Cakes
by Rosemary Wells
◄
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius | The 2006 Kansas Reads to Preschoolers reading initiative, a project that was conceived and implemented by the State Library of Kansas, was very
successful! The book, Bunny Cakes by Rosemary Wells, is a delightful tale about a brother and sister and the trials and tribulations of making a birthday cake for grandma! Children of all ages were at once familiar with the Max and Ruby
characters. Public Libraries, Childcare centers, and others partnered to produce activities for children birth to age five before and during Children’s Book Week, the week before Thanksgiving, November 13-19, 2006.
This reading initiative for preschoolers was initially kicked off at the first Kansas Book Festival, early Friday, September 30, at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium with Governor Kathleen Sebelius reading Bunny
Cakes to over 300 children! Governor Sebelius was the Honorary Chair for the 2006 Kansas Reads to Preschoolers project. Additionally, the Kansas State Historical Society provided many activities for children in relation to Bunny Cakes in the Children’s
Tent at the Kansas Book Festival. Many hundred’s of children made baker’s hats, bunny ears, and other coloring projects that first day of the festival.
2005 ►
Read Full Report
No Matter What
by Debi Gliori, author/illustrator
◄ State Librarian
Christie Brandau | Kansas Reads to Preschoolers 2005, the first One Book, One State project to highlight the importance of reading to preschoolers, had the benefit of
Governor Kathleen Sebelius as Honorary Chair. Christie P. Brandau, State Librarian, announced the selection of No Matter What by author/illustrator Debi Gliori on June 1, 2005.
Governor Sebelius read the book at a special story time at libraries in Syracuse, Colby, and Ulysses prior to the Children’s Book Week event week of November 14-20, 2005. The goal was to read to the
estimated 226,453 children birth to age 5 (according to the Kansas Action for Children 2004).
The project reached about 10% with a State Library donated budget of less than $10,000. Public and school libraries and countless day care providers, teachers, families, elected officials, and many
others embraced the reading initiative. New partnerships were created between libraries, Early Childhood programs and local civic organizations like Kiwanis, Lions clubs, and other organizations to purchase many thousands of dollars of books and other
programming needs.
