For the LOVE of books!
RIF RAP
February 2020
Nurturing a Love of Reading at Every Age!

There are many tips and tricks parents can use to raise readers in the family. In fact, says Pamela Paul, it is a teacher's job to teach and assess reading skills, but it's a parent's job to teach a LOVE of reading. Paul edits the New York Times Book Review and is co-author of the book How to Raise a Reader. She offers several tips on making reading a fun, pleasurable, and special activity that is good for the entire family. Read the full article here to learn some of her inspiring ideas to get kids to love books and reading. (Image: R_Tee/iStock)
In Case You Missed this Book News...
The 2020 Newbery Medal, Caldecott Medal, and Coretta Scott King awards were announced last month. The Newbery award went to New Kid, an honest look at starting over in a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real. To learn more about this and the other American Library Association winners and honor books, click here. Congrats and good reading!
Books, Books, Books at Seven Corners Children's Center

The Seven Corners Children's Center held a RIF of NOVA book distribution full of excited children and their families just before the holidays. Seven Corners provides a quality, affordable educational program to 75 children ages 2 to 5 -- and they come from thirty countries! Celebrating more than 47 years of service, SCCC looks forward to its RIF of NOVA distributions every year. And, as you can see from the photos, so do the children! Learn more about the SCCC program and its emphasis on books and reading here.
So much fun and so much new reading to do! Picking out a book of one's very own is such a highlight!
Arlington's Even Start Gets Some New Books
Thanks to book donations from the MOM's Club of Fairlington and the White family of Arlington, the Even Start Family Literacy program was able to add new materials to its library. Even Start is a free family literacy program for Arlington residents who have children under the age of 10. Its goal is to empower parents who are new to the country to help their children be academically successful. English classes are held for parents five mornings a week.

RIF of NOVA liaison and teacher Sara Mulrooney leads the Even Start program, which is held at Barcroft Elementary School. Special thanks to Shannon Attanasio of the MOM's Club and Kathryn White for collecting books for RIF of NOVA to include in the Even Start library. So great!
Moms and kids enjoying new books in the Even Start library!
Moms gather for ESL classes every morning.
Board News -- Two Hellos and a Good-Bye
The governing body of RIF of NOVA is an all-volunteer board made up of members who care about literacy in our community. Two new volunteers have joined the board. Welcome Bradley Vineyard and Carylee Carrington. Sadly, one board member is relocating so has to leave us. If you are interested in volunteering to help RIF of NOVA, please let us know via this link: http://www.rifnova.org/contact-us.html.
Local children's author Carylee Carrington is one of two new members of the RIF of NOVA board. Her books Everyone, Just like Me and Pretty Hair focus on children embracing joy in their differences. Carylee hosts the "Read with Carylee Show," a digital podcast series that airs on YouTube and Facebook. This community inspired literary program introduces kids ages 3-9 to children's book authors from the region. Read more about Carylee here and about her podcast here.
New board member Bradley Vineyard helped this student pick out just the right book during a December distribution at Hutchison Elementary School in Herndon. Bradley and her husband Mark started supporting RIF of NOVA via their Vineyard Family Foundation in 2018. We are so so grateful for their financial support and even more delighted that Bradley's ideas and energy are coming to our board!
We are saying good-bye to board member, liaison, and Patrick Henry Elementary School librarian Kelsey Frey, shown here during the October 2017 Book It For Books 5K with her husband Chase. All the best to the Frey family as they start the next phase of their journey in Blacksburg, Virginia -- with a new baby, too! Kelsey, we will miss you!
When you donate to RIF of NOVA...

...smiles and excitement happen! Look no further than this photo to see a RIF of NOVA-inspired happy face! So please give generously. It's not only a great feel-good thing to do, it's an investment in a child's future. Thank you for supporting literacy in our community in this very hands-on way!

Here are several ways to donate:

1) Send a check to our mailbox: P.O. Box 7012, Arlington, VA 22207-0012.

2) Give at any time via PayPal on the RIF of NOVA website www.rifnova.org.
3) Register with smile.amazon.com . Type in Reading Is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, Inc. to select us as the charity you want to support. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to RIF of NOVA. With the holidays coming, the 0.5% can add up!

4) If your workplace holds a United Way campaign, designate RIF of NOVA as your chosen philanthropy. Our United Way # is 8959. Easy peasy!
Please share the RAP! Forward our newsletter to your friends and anyone interested in providing books to children who need them! Subscribe here !