Why I Read and Write

I have a bad day. I read. I have a great day. I read. And everywhere in between… I read. If I can have a opportunity to encourage reading I will take it! Stories have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I loved how stories could take me to a different reality, to another time, make me understand my own life in a deeper way. This is something I wish I could teach. But I’ve quickly understood that this is something that someone learns through experience. I can’t force it. So what can I do? Tell as many stories as possible and hopefully give that experience to people who hear/read them.

As well as being a children’s book author, I am also an after school teacher at Madison Elementary with the “Learns” program, a job I adore. “Learns” is a wonderful program. We do homework, fitness and have amazing enrichment opportunities.

How am I celebrating Read Across California ? 

I read a book to the kids I teach every day.  It’s not part of the normal lesson plans, but something I think is important to be made time for. I also plan on continuing past this month. My goal is for them all to read because they love it not because they have to. Dr. Suess wrote so many wonderfully imaginative books, a style I admire (but would never attempt). They are filled with such important messages. This is one of my favorite quotes of his:

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

If only we all embraced that…

I also do “crazy story time” with my own kids every night before bed. A tradition I accidentally started when my girls were very much resisting going to bed and I was at my wit’s end. So I blurted out, “But wait! If you get in bed, we will do CRAZY STORY TIME!” Mind you I had no idea what this was at the time. It just popped out of my mouth. But it worked. I’d never seen Frankie get into bed so fast and Zoe scaled her crib like Spiderman. Crazy Story Time was born. I read a book and act it out like a crazy person. And they LOVE IT. I do a killer Five Little Monkey’s Jumping on the Bed.  I look like a fool, but anything to get me to my glass of wine and “Walking Dead” quicker. But seriously… I love that they love stories. Frankie asked me the other day when we can start reading Harry Potter. I cried tears of absolute joy.

Dr. Suess wrote: “KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!… Your mountain is waiting… So…get on your way!”

This is what I try to get across when I write and when I teach at school and at home.

Your mountains are waiting kids!! Go find them. Books let you believe in ANYTHING. Books teach you. Book are doorways to worlds waiting to be discovered. They can change everything.

And a special shout out to the kids at Madison Elementary:

You all are amazing. You work (and play) so hard! Keep reading! I’m so proud of you.

Love, Miss Beth

Beth Navarro is author of two picture books available on Be There Bedtime Stories: Kiko the Hawaiian Wave and Grambo. She also writes a mom blog (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mother-naked/111636188964108). You can find out all she is working on at: http://www.bethnavarro.com

Celebrate Read Across CA w/ Some of Our Favs

Opinions Are Like Belly Buttons…

…everybody has one. That said; here are some of our opinions on what you shouldn’t miss when choosing a FREE story to read this weekend! Yes, all “Webtime Stories” are FREE all weekend long in celebration of Read Across California. What’s your cup of tea? Clever & funny? Educational? Short and sweet? Let us help you get the ball rolling.

What’s more clever than a send up of the classic Poe short story  ”The Tell-Tale Heart”? Author Natalie Rompella adapts the theme and tells the VERY amusing story of:

“Edgar, Allen and Poe and the Tell-Tale Beets” Cleverly written by Natalie Rompella; colorfully illustrated by Francois Ruyer.

 

 

 

Here are 2 more clever stories for your consideration:

“When Pigs fly”   by Valerie Coulman / Illustrated by Roge

“Hot Hands and the Weirdo Winter”                     by Derrick Brown /                                       Illustrated by Matthew Carver

Want to make your storytelling experience short and sweet? Might I recommend…

“Animals Are Sleeping” by Suzanne Slade
Illustrated by Gary R. Phillips

“Too Many Kitties” by Jeff Clineff            Illustrated by Marina Movshina

“What If the Moon” by Tracy Ahrens     Illustrated by Tracy Ahrens

 

 

 

 

Educational books are, more often than not, quite clever and engaging. Here are 3 winners that will keep any kid’s gray matter engaged and maturing.

“Meet the Planets” by John McGranaghan / Illustrated by Laurie Allen Klein

“If You Were a Parrot” by Katherine Rawson / Illustrated by Sherry Rogers

“My Half Day” by Doris Fisher and Dani Sneed / Illustrated by Karen Lee

And hey, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by too many choices, let me remind you that throughout the month of March you can buy one story and get one FREE! Perfect time to “Dog-ear” a story using the link, right on the book page. Then it will be saved to your Account for your next visit.  As easy as PIE!

But don’t take our word for it. Dive into the great, big pool of stories and see for yourself.

Happy storytelling!

Celebrate Read Across California!

Did you know that Be There Bedtime Stories is based in California? Did you know that California just passed a statewide resolution to celebrate the entire month of March as Read Across CA Month? Did you know that the kickoff on March 2nd is in conjunction with Read Across America Day AND Dr. Seuss‘ birthday?

We value the many partnerships that we have with leading literacy organizations throughout the US! So when we heard about the legislation marking March as Read Across California month, we were thrilled about a campaign that was planning to promote reading 30 minutes a day for 30 days. What better way to keep the activity of reading fresh and fun, and to share with others, than to read aloud in front of your webcam!

We’re passionate about literacy and proud to be Californians - which is why we’re celebrating this new holiday month with special discounts all month long. Heck, we even developed the ReadAcrossCA.org website! Here’s how reading with Webtime Stories™ helps:

• A United States Department of Education analysis found that children who were read to at least three times a week by a family member were almost twice as likely to score in the top 25 percent in reading than children who were read to less than three times a week.
• Reading out loud to children increases their interest in mastering reading and exposes children to proper vocabulary, grammar, and phrasing, and enhances the development of their own reading skills.
• The Public Policy Institute of California’s report, “Lessons in Reading Reform: Finding What Works” (2010), highlights the fact that struggling elementary and middle school pupils who are given extra time for reading can make sizable gains in literacy.
• According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 1994 Reading Assessment, 87 percent of pupils who reported reading for fun on their own time once a month or more performed at the proficient level, while 13 percent of pupils who reported never or hardly ever reading for fun performed at the basic level.

Source: Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 62 (ACR 62) Relative to Read Across California Month 

Reading Webtime Stories™ is a great way to engage with multi media while still reaping the benefits of reading aloud, to build literacy. Take a look around the bookstore and dog-ear books to your account to record during the month of March, so you can take advantage of the promotional discounts we’ll be offering all month long.

After all, a kids college transcripts depend on it!