“March into Reading” program sheds light on environmental issues and literacy

By: Monika Raczkowski
Posted In: News

O’Hare looked like a carnival. Children and parents scurried around the academic building with bookmarks and books. In a classroom, children sat in a circle watching frogs and other creatures during Critter Corner. Fun was not the only objective on the first Saturday of March. The true focus? The fifth annual “March into Reading,” a celebration of children’s books organized by Salve Regina University, local librarians, and the Aquidneck Collaborative for Education (ACE). Authors, illustrators, Salve faculty, and students came together to provide an event that would promote literacy in local schools.

This year’s program focused on science and literature with activities such as book signings, reading rooms, presentations by authors and illustrators, book sales, and a demonstration by Roger Williams Park & Zoo. All activities were centered on the environment and literacy.

“I think it’s a wonderful situation-it’s a great opportunity for kids in local schools to participate in literary discussions with authors,” said illustrator Ralph Masiell. “It brings a face to the book, and not some strange character.”

Masiello was a popular presenter known as the “Icky Bug Man” by his young readers. Before his presentation, he rolled up the sleeves of his grey sweatshirt, uncapped his marker, and began to draw an ouroboros, a tail-eating snake. Masiello taught the children about the history of the serpent dragon from ancient Northern Africa, which is also the origin of the infinity symbol.

“Reasearch is one of my favorite parts of my job,” Masiello said to the crowd. “Even when drawing fantasy I use real animals.”

The second presenter was Loree Burns, author of “Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion,” a book about environmental concerns in the ocean.

Burns began her presentation explaining that the scientists she researched utilized different tools than the average. For example, sneakers, rubber ducks, and plastic frogs. For these scientists, the ocean is a laboratory, and one man’s trash is another’s treasure. Burns explained that the locations of trash, like the rubber duck, has helped scientists study ocean currents.

“What I think is nice is to let children meet authors in real life,” said mother Moreen Sullivan. “The kids are always excited to get books signed and meet them. It’s important for them to see that authors are real.”

Bob Marshall, illustrator of “An Extraordinary Life: The Story of a Monarch Butterfly,” also spoke with students. Other noted authors that were available for signings included Todd Hampson, Gordon Morrison, and Laura Gates-Galvin.

“I would say that helping families and having fun with reading and science were the most important aspects of this event,” said Lissa Fernandez, professor of Children’s Literature.

Ann Coppola and Jennifer Kennedy presented a literature-related family center as a requirement for one of their classes. They made a large poster board containing the results of a popularity contest between the books “Chrysanthemum,” “Thunder Cake,” and “The Magic School Bus: Inside a Beehive.” Children also decorated bookmarks with the schedule for Aquidneck Island’s library-on-wheels, known as the Bookmobile.

“It gives my Early Childhood students the opportunity to create science centers and put them to use,” said Fernandez.

Coppola, a junior Education major, said she learned from the experience. She chuckled and said, “I learned that it is not as hard to talk to parents as you think it is. They are not as intimidating as you think.”

With so many organizations and people included, the event was a success. Fernandez explained that many people were involved in both the University and local community. The librarians, authors, and illustrators spoke at all but one school on Aquidneck Island the day before, and the ACE organized the two-day event.

“The experience makes reading real to them. Nowadays kids are reading more, it helps in school,” said Masiello. “They’re doing their own writing and it helps them realize that what they are doing in school has value.”