Here are some pictures from the event:
Thank you so much to Nichole and her family! It was so nice to meet so many amazing authors, who also happened to be spectacular people!
Until next time,
Riley
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Boston Book Event
Last week I traveled to Wellesley, Massachusetts and took part in a wonderful parent-child book event. Author Nichole Bernier was kind enough to open up her home to me and fellow middle-grade book authors Chris Abouzeid and Carol Cronin. It was an honor to read with Chris and Carol, and the kids were a fantastic audience. I also loved meeting authors Randy Susan Meyer and Kathy Crowley.
Here are some pictures from the event:
Thank you so much to Nichole and her family! It was so nice to meet so many amazing authors, who also happened to be spectacular people!
Until next time,
Riley
Here are some pictures from the event:
Thank you so much to Nichole and her family! It was so nice to meet so many amazing authors, who also happened to be spectacular people!
Until next time,
Riley
Friday, March 18, 2011
Back From Memphis and More Events
Hi all!
I've had a busy few weeks! Last Monday, March 7th, I spoke to two schools in Memphis, Tennessee: Immaculate Conception Cathedral School and St. Louis School. Both audiences were fantastic! I loved their enthusiasm and energy. A big thank you to both schools for having me!
On Wednesday, March 9th, I participated in World Read Aloud Day. I had the privilege of Skyping with three different classrooms: Katherine Soklovski's 5th grade class in Illinois, Karla Duff's 6th grade class in Oelwein, Iowa, and Shannon Miller's 6th grade class in Van Meter, Iowa. The students asked excellent questions about my books and about writing. I loved hearing about their favorite books and how much they love to read!
In other news, I will be traveling to Boston, Massachusetts on April 6th to take part in an event hosted by the fabulous author, Nichole Bernier, with authors Chris Abouzeid and Carol Newman Cronin. On April 12th and 13th I will be at Family Literacy Nights in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Stay tuned for more news!
Riley
I've had a busy few weeks! Last Monday, March 7th, I spoke to two schools in Memphis, Tennessee: Immaculate Conception Cathedral School and St. Louis School. Both audiences were fantastic! I loved their enthusiasm and energy. A big thank you to both schools for having me!
On Wednesday, March 9th, I participated in World Read Aloud Day. I had the privilege of Skyping with three different classrooms: Katherine Soklovski's 5th grade class in Illinois, Karla Duff's 6th grade class in Oelwein, Iowa, and Shannon Miller's 6th grade class in Van Meter, Iowa. The students asked excellent questions about my books and about writing. I loved hearing about their favorite books and how much they love to read!
In other news, I will be traveling to Boston, Massachusetts on April 6th to take part in an event hosted by the fabulous author, Nichole Bernier, with authors Chris Abouzeid and Carol Newman Cronin. On April 12th and 13th I will be at Family Literacy Nights in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Stay tuned for more news!
Riley
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The Power of the Written Word
In honor of Share a Story, Shape a Future Week, I wanted to share some of the experiences I have had working with children’s literacy. I have been fortunate enough to see first-hand the effect a book can have on a child’s life. We don’t often consider how valuable a single book can be. But one book can change a life.
I deliver books to many classrooms in high-need middle and elementary schools for my nonprofit, Breaking the Chain, and I usually have the opportunity to speak with the students who receive the books. It is impossible to adequately convey the joy and excitement expressed by the children when they see the books. As soon as their teacher allows them to, they run to the boxes and grab as many books as they can to take back to their desks. They smile, they laugh, they dance around. It’s better than a birthday party. Often, they’ll ask if they can take a book home to keep. Many have never owned a book of their own.
Those children are delighted to have a book in their hands for the pure enjoyment it brings to them. They aren’t aware of the frightening statistics about literacy; that a child will likely remain illiterate for the rest of their life if they don’t learn to read by age of 10, or that two-thirds of children who do not know how to read by the end of fourth grade will end up in jail or on welfare. They don’t realize that knowing how to read will change their lives and give them the chance to choose their own destiny. They only know that they love books.
When I see the children who receive books from Breaking the Chain, I am always reminded how important reading has been in my life. From a very early age, my mom was reading to me and my brother. We were constantly surrounded by books. Books were like old friends and a constant source of entertainment; nothing else provided the same level of enjoyment and escape. As I grew older, I began to realize how much I gained from those books. I loved every book for a reason, each of them took me somewhere I had never been before, showed me a different perspective, or taught me something new. I learned who I am through books. I learned what I believe, what makes my nose crinkle in dislike, what makes my heart soar, what I aspire to be, and what I dream of.
I firmly believe that the most important thing we can do as a society is provide all children with a better future by teaching them how to read. All it takes is one book, one story, and a child becomes enthralled with the magic found only in books. Nothing else provides children with the escape that they crave and, no matter the topic, gives them a sense of wonder, adventure, and connection.
It only takes one book, one magical experience, and a child becomes a lifelong reader. The ability to read profoundly affects every minute of our lives; literacy is the single-most important component of becoming a functioning adult. As United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said, “Literacy is not just about reading and writing; it is about respect, opportunity and development.”
Literacy begins with a single book. Dreams begin with a single book.
So this week, share a story with a child you care about. There is no greater gift.
I deliver books to many classrooms in high-need middle and elementary schools for my nonprofit, Breaking the Chain, and I usually have the opportunity to speak with the students who receive the books. It is impossible to adequately convey the joy and excitement expressed by the children when they see the books. As soon as their teacher allows them to, they run to the boxes and grab as many books as they can to take back to their desks. They smile, they laugh, they dance around. It’s better than a birthday party. Often, they’ll ask if they can take a book home to keep. Many have never owned a book of their own.
Those children are delighted to have a book in their hands for the pure enjoyment it brings to them. They aren’t aware of the frightening statistics about literacy; that a child will likely remain illiterate for the rest of their life if they don’t learn to read by age of 10, or that two-thirds of children who do not know how to read by the end of fourth grade will end up in jail or on welfare. They don’t realize that knowing how to read will change their lives and give them the chance to choose their own destiny. They only know that they love books.
When I see the children who receive books from Breaking the Chain, I am always reminded how important reading has been in my life. From a very early age, my mom was reading to me and my brother. We were constantly surrounded by books. Books were like old friends and a constant source of entertainment; nothing else provided the same level of enjoyment and escape. As I grew older, I began to realize how much I gained from those books. I loved every book for a reason, each of them took me somewhere I had never been before, showed me a different perspective, or taught me something new. I learned who I am through books. I learned what I believe, what makes my nose crinkle in dislike, what makes my heart soar, what I aspire to be, and what I dream of.
I firmly believe that the most important thing we can do as a society is provide all children with a better future by teaching them how to read. All it takes is one book, one story, and a child becomes enthralled with the magic found only in books. Nothing else provides children with the escape that they crave and, no matter the topic, gives them a sense of wonder, adventure, and connection.
It only takes one book, one magical experience, and a child becomes a lifelong reader. The ability to read profoundly affects every minute of our lives; literacy is the single-most important component of becoming a functioning adult. As United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said, “Literacy is not just about reading and writing; it is about respect, opportunity and development.”
Literacy begins with a single book. Dreams begin with a single book.
So this week, share a story with a child you care about. There is no greater gift.
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Wind Stone Release and Huntington Beach
Hi all,
The Wind Stone, Book Three of the The Reign of the Elements series, was released on Monday, 2/21! I think this is my favorite book of the series, so I'm very excited to share it with you! Check out my website for more information about the book here. Here is the cover:
On Tuesday, I traveled to Huntington Beach, California to speak at World Thinking Day 2011, put on by the Girl Scout Troops in Huntington Beach. The girls had put together tables dedicated to inspiring women from history. They were such a great audience and so enthusiastic about being empowered changemakers! A big thank you to Cadette Troop 262 for arranging for me to come. Here are some pictures from the event:
I will be traveling to Memphis on March 7th to speak at schools there and on March 9th I have three Skype chats with schools in the Midwest for World Read Aloud Day.
Until next time,
Riley
The Wind Stone, Book Three of the The Reign of the Elements series, was released on Monday, 2/21! I think this is my favorite book of the series, so I'm very excited to share it with you! Check out my website for more information about the book here. Here is the cover:
On Tuesday, I traveled to Huntington Beach, California to speak at World Thinking Day 2011, put on by the Girl Scout Troops in Huntington Beach. The girls had put together tables dedicated to inspiring women from history. They were such a great audience and so enthusiastic about being empowered changemakers! A big thank you to Cadette Troop 262 for arranging for me to come. Here are some pictures from the event:
I will be traveling to Memphis on March 7th to speak at schools there and on March 9th I have three Skype chats with schools in the Midwest for World Read Aloud Day.
Until next time,
Riley
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Denver School of Science and Technology and Other News
Hi Everybody,
I know it’s been awhile since I last posted, but a lot has happened recently. Throughout the fall, my literacy nonprofit, Breaking the Chain, gave thousands of books to dozens of classrooms and schools around the country. The Wind Stone: Book Three of The Reign of the Elements will be released in a few weeks by BookLight Press. I’m very excited!
The new year is shaping up to be a busy one with lots of speaking engagements lined up. Most recently, I spoke at Denver School of Science and Technology: Green Valley Ranch. The students and teachers were fantastic. They were enthusiastic, inquisitive, and motivated. The school is very committed to reading and has made each of the students commit to reading 5,000 pages during the school year. Here are some pictures from my visit there:
I have a busy few months ahead. In February, I will be speaking in Huntington Beach, California at World Thinking Day 2011. In March and April I will be traveling to Memphis and Boston for different author events.
Riley
I know it’s been awhile since I last posted, but a lot has happened recently. Throughout the fall, my literacy nonprofit, Breaking the Chain, gave thousands of books to dozens of classrooms and schools around the country. The Wind Stone: Book Three of The Reign of the Elements will be released in a few weeks by BookLight Press. I’m very excited!
The new year is shaping up to be a busy one with lots of speaking engagements lined up. Most recently, I spoke at Denver School of Science and Technology: Green Valley Ranch. The students and teachers were fantastic. They were enthusiastic, inquisitive, and motivated. The school is very committed to reading and has made each of the students commit to reading 5,000 pages during the school year. Here are some pictures from my visit there:
I have a busy few months ahead. In February, I will be speaking in Huntington Beach, California at World Thinking Day 2011. In March and April I will be traveling to Memphis and Boston for different author events.
Riley
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