ACCESS BOOKS AND "AIR LIFT TO L.A."

Access Books and Airlift to LA

All children should have the opportunity to learn to read!


ACCESS BOOKS AND "AIR LIFT TO L.A." DELIVER BOOKS TO COMPTON SCHOOL ON OCTOBER 2


Los Angeles – As part of their ongoing commitment to strengthen inner-city school libraries throughout Los Angeles and beyond, Access Books has joined forces with a team of Canadian authors to help impoverished families gain access to books. The event will take place at Ralph Bunche Elementary (16223 Haskins Lane, Carson, CA 90746-1092) on October 2, 2010 at 9 a.m. This school is one of 25 elementary schools in the Compton Unified School District (CUSD) that is in desperate need of books for its 450 students.

Access Books, "Air Lift to L.A." and a team of volunteers from Bunche will spend October 2nd revitalizing the library by painting murals and cataloging brand new books. In addition to the books, Access Books will provide a reading rug, rocking chair and sofa to create a warm and inviting environment for students. Five authors from Canada will be on hand for the event and to give fun and exciting presentations to the students.

The participating authors are:

Rob Weston, author of Silver Birch award winner Zorgamazoo

Kari-Lynn Winters, author Jeffrey and the Sloth, On My Walk, and other award-winning books.

Jill Murray, YA author of Rhythm and Blues and Break on Through

Wendy Kitts, Freelance Writer, Book Reviewer, and author of a soon-to-be published picture book from Nimbus Press

Helaine Becker, author of more than 40 books for children including Silver Birch award winners Boredom Blasters and Secret Agent Y.O.U.


Sadly, only 48 percent of Bunche's students are scoring "proficient" or "advanced" in English & Language Arts on the California Standards Test. Research has shown that the best predictor of how well a child will learn to read is the number of books to which he or she has access, but 61 percent of economically disadvantaged children don't have age-appropriate books at home. The students of Bunche Elementary fit this profile: 90 percent live at or below the poverty line. According to a 2009 report from the Jumpstart Foundation, communities ranking high in achievement tests share a common denominator: an abundance of books in their libraries.

California's Department of Education recommends 28 library books per student, according to the February 2010 draft of its School Library Standards. Bunche, however, has a mere three books per student. Therefore, Access Books has set a goal: Collect at least 5,000 books for Bunche's library and classrooms. Many of these will be brand new, popular fiction titles – books that have been carefully selected to get students excited about reading.

Access Books' partner for this endeavor, "Air Lift to L.A.," grew wings after Canadian children's author Helaine Becker visited a Long Beach elementary school and saw the empty shelves. Shocked and saddened, she rallied her Canadian colleagues and started a book drive. "The conditions [in Los Angeles] are on par with the worst of the Third World countries," she writes on the "Air Lift to L.A." Facebook page. "Actually, they are worse, because in much of the Third World, people are doing their best to raise their standards, while in Los Angeles, conditions have deteriorated abysmally in the last ten years."

Bunche has just moved its campus library into a new, larger space to afford room for growth, but unfortunately, many of the shelves are bare. The library assistant nicknamed the library "The Dream Shop," but with so few books, its dreams have yet to be realized.

California ranks last in the nation in funding for school libraries, spending less than one dollar per child. Although the 2011 federal budget proposal includes a $400 billion investment in education, there's no mention of federal funds specifically geared toward school libraries. According to Sandra Barnett, head of the American School Library Association, "the budget is proposing to take away the last access to literacy for these kids in high-poverty areas." The American School Library research data clearly shows that students with access to school libraries and good books score higher in state reading scores and are more interested in reading.

"I think the big issue is that we really need to make reading part of school and make reading fun and interesting," said Rebecca Constantino, P.h.D., the founder and executive director of Access Books. "And that starts with having a good library."


About ACCESS BOOKS: Access Books provides quality, high-interest books to Southern California's most impoverished school libraries. Since 1999, they have donated more than a million books to school and community libraries in the greater Los Angeles area. Access Books has been featured in USA Today, the L.A. Times, the New York Times and School Library Journal among many other media outlets. Access Books' founder, Rebecca Constantino, is a recipient of Oprah's "Use Your Life" award. She has published over 100 articles and a book in the areas of literacy development, equity in education, urban school and cultural perspectives of language acquisition.



Give a Child a Book, She'll be Happy

Give a Child a Library, She'll be Literate

P.O. Box 64951, Los Angeles, CA 90064

310-284-3452

www.accessbooks.net

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     I am offering editing services for children's books. I edit books that are aimed at children ages 3-8.
E-mail me for details: lily.erlic@shaw.ca

the silver anklet by mahtab narsimhan

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     The hyenas take Tara's brother and two friends away and it is up to her and her friends to find them. The story is set in Morni, India. Suraj, Tara's brother, needs them to rescue him. Can Tara overcome the obstacles she faces with Zarku, her enemy with the third eye? Can she prevent him from doing away with her? Can she convince him to let Suraj free?
     Here is another exciting excerpt:
                     The hyena's teeth ripped the edge of her kurta, but Tara
                     didn't stop. The snap of its jaws was unnaturally loud.
                     She reached the edge of the clearing. The hyena was
                     gaining on her, its teeth grazed her ankle. She shrieked
                     and went crashing into the trees.
     There are many exciting, nail biting chapters in this book. The Silver Anklet, a young adult book, is a great read. I give it four out of five books!
     Thank-you Mahtab for sending me an autographed copy!
     All the best, Lily

The Kayak by Debbie Spring

'The Kayak' is a novel published by Thistledown press. This novel was entertaining and a page-turner! It begins... "THE CHOPPY WAVES RISE AND FALL. My kayak bobs like a cork in the swirling waters of Georgian Bay." The first line enticed me to read the entire novel. It drew me in for more. Teresa, a sixteen year old, uses a wheelchair. Every summer she goes camping and kayaking. Her kayak is her freedom.

One day, she is out in the water during a storm and rescues a windsurfer named Jamie. Their relationship flourishes and she learns eventually that her insecurities can be conquered.

I give this novel four out of five books. It's a great read!

Stay tuned for the next review of the 'Silver Anklet'.

Children's Writing Consulting Services Available For Beginners

Are you looking to break into the children's writing field? Have you ever wondered what to do first? If you are, you can contact me for 'children's writing consulting services for beginners'. I will give you information on how I started writing and send you information about the steps on how to begin your children's writing career. Also, ask me questions about the writing process. Just send me a note through e-mail and I will tell you how to start. My e-mail is lily.erlic@shaw.ca.

The start fee is only $10.00. To pay for the consulting service, please see the paypal and credit card button below.

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"Monopoly is not a kid's game," Shelley declared.

"Last Summer everyone played."

"So, go play with everyone else," said Marcus.

"Kyle and I are busy."

Shelley was mad and sad.

Three children are camping together during summer at Gray Rock Lakes. Shelley finds a fossil and Marcus wants to have it. Did Marcus take the fossil? Read and find out.

I enjoyed reading this book. I give it 4 books out of 5 books!