As temperatures outside continue to plummet, what better way is there to pass time than behind the warmth of a good jacket—a book jacket, that is.
Students at Robert Moore School here have been doing just that. As part of a literacy incentive program, students in the school’s Mustangs Book Club have been reading books.
Once completed, they get a small cutout of a mustang with their name on it to add to a growing chain of cutouts lining the walls of the school.
The club was formed last year and has grown from 22 students to between 30 and 40 this year. Members meet each Monday over lunch to read.
“It’s great that the kids are getting more excited about reading,” said Jackie Dupuis-Brandli, the school’s librarian. “It’s also a great opportunity for them to share what they’re reading with other students.”
The Fort Frances Public Library also is taking advantage of the cold weather to promote reading.
Head librarian Margaret Sedgwick is on the committee of the new Borderland Reads International Book Club, which has been formed in conjunction with the public library over in International Falls.
Sedgwick said the club will begin meeting soon, but first a book must be chosen to read. At a committee meeting held Monday in the Falls, 10 books were chosen as candidates.
Now the public has until Feb. 10 to vote on the book they’d like to read.
“I think we’ve tried very hard to choose something that would be interesting to both U.S. and Canadian readers,” said Sedgwick. “It’s also difficult to get a book that both men and women will find interesting.”
The books were chosen by these criteria: a simple, easy read; some level of name recognition of title or author; can’t “smell of homework”; must be uplifting; available in paperback; and take into consideration Canadian authors and perspective.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the books and voting for your preference should drop by the library or high school in either community. The book club is free to join.
And finally on the reading front, the Fort Frances Public Library is holding a Family Literacy Day celebration this Monday (Jan. 27) at 6 p.m.
As part of the celebration, residents are being asked to send in pictures of their family reading. The “Catch Your Family Reading” photo contest runs until this Friday (Jan. 24), with the winners to be announced at Monday’s celebration.
More than a dozen pictures have been submitted to date. “Everyone has wonderful photos,” said Sedgwick.
The winner will receive a family pizza supper sponsored by Pizza Hut. Second place will be a pizza lunch for four.
Other special activities planned for the Family Literacy Day celebration include door prizes with a literacy theme as well as guest speakers and readers.
Fort Frances Citizens of the Year, Jean and Lin Boileau, will be on hand to read, as will Barrie Blake of B93 FM and Josh Baxter, the captain of the Borderland Thunder hockey team.
Maureen Ricard, literacy co-ordinator for the Rainy River District School Board, also will be on hand to give parents tips on promoting reading to their children.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
