Category Archives: Reading

Center Elementary welcomes special guests for inaugural Book Showcase | dailyrepublic.com

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Eugenia Yoh, designer on the children’s books team, and Olivia Guimaraes, children’s editorial team member, from San Francisco’s Chronicle Books, shared inspiring stories at Center Elementary’s recent First Book Showcase.

The event was designed for third- through fifth-grade students to celebrate creativity, literacy and student voice as young authors shared their original book projects with peers, teachers and special guests from the publishing world.

Yoh and Guimaraes shared insights into the world of children’s publishing, from design to storytelling, before serving as judges for the showcase.

Source: Center Elementary welcomes special guests for inaugural Book Showcase | News | dailyrepublic.com

Second-grade class gets book published – a tradition at Laurel Creek | dailyrepublic.com

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A classroom of second-graders at Laurel Creek Elementary School have joined past students to become published authors.

“Last year’s story grew from my grandchildren’s experiences of losing their beloved stuffed animals,” Shawna Hafner, teacher of the class, said in a statement released by the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District.

The book, “The Everyday Hero,” was completed in the spring.

Source: Second-grade class gets book published – a tradition at Laurel Creek | News | dailyrepublic.com

KI Jones, Green Valley win Battle of the Books challenges | dailyrepublic.com

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Students celebrated reading and teamwork in friendly districtwide showdowns.

“The spirit of literacy, collaboration, and academic enthusiasm took over as students gathered for two much-anticipated 2025 FSUSD Battle of the Books events – one for elementary and one for middle school students,” the school district said in a statement.

The 2025 district champions were KI Jones Elementary School and Green Valley Middle School.

Source: KI Jones, Green Valley win Battle of the Books challenges | News | dailyrepublic.com

Callison Elementary goes all out for literacy – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Robin Miller

The evidence is clear: Children who read — and who are read to — perform better in school.

Studies show that experiencing and engaging in language-rich interactions helps children develop communication skills, patience, empathy, and literacy — all critical to success in school and beyond. Additional positive effects of reading together include better recognition of sounds and letters, knowledge of a wider range of vocabulary, increased listening skills, and a deeper understanding of how stories work.

Source: Callison Elementary goes all out for literacy – The Vacaville Reporter

Students get personalized pack of books for reading needs | dailyrepublic.com

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First-grade students at Sheldon Academy and Tolenas Elementary, and third- through fifth-grade students at Anna Kyle Elementary, are receiving personalized packets of books tailored to their reading needs.

The giveaway is part of a pilot program aimed at strengthening early literacy through engaging and accessible decodable texts, said the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District.

Students participating in the Just Right Reader pilot program get a personalized selection of 30 books to keep. The books are chosen to encourage students to build their home libraries and are selected based on each student’s assessment data.

Source: Students get personalized pack of books for reading needs | News | dailyrepublic.com

A new chapter comes to Vacaville – The Vacaville Reporter

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BY Nick McConnell

The Vacaville Cultural Center Library will close its doors for at least the next year Friday at 5 p.m. for a major renovation and expansion project, its first in over 20 years. Adding on 3,600 square feet and improving the amenities, the $24.5 million project funded through the Vacaville Libraries District will take about 15 months to complete, according to Solano County Libraries.

The library hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon, inviting county, city and school board officials to visit the site and commemorate the beginning of the renovation efforts.

Source: A new chapter comes to Vacaville – The Vacaville Reporter

County, schools respond to grand jury book banning report | dailyrepublic.com

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By Todd R. Hansen

Solano County supervisors this week approved their response to a 2023-24 civil grand jury report on a new law addressing banning books in school and public libraries.

The law, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September 2023, “bans rejecting public school library materials based on content. It focuses on the contributions of people from different cultures, racial backgrounds, sexual orientation, or gender identities.”

The grand jury looked into the procedures public and school libraries have for how to request banning a book.

Source: County, schools respond to grand jury book banning report | News | dailyrepublic.com

Cub Scouts leading local youths in literacy | dailyrepublic.com

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Cub Scouts at Pack 720, based at Fairview Elementary School in Fairfield, took an urban hike from their school to the Fairfield Civic Center Library downtown in order to take a tour, learn about the library, get their first library card and sign up for the library’s Summer Reading Program.

This was the first of two visits to the library in July. The next visit will be on Tuesday, July 30, in order to submit their summer reading results, and participate in the library’s programs: a live animal show at 3 p.m. Both visits were organized in cooperation with children’s librarian, Joan Parker.

Source: Cub Scouts leading local youths in literacy | News | dailyrepublic.com

Celebrating reading, learning and having fun – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Isabella Bautista, 9, loves to read “Dork Diaries,” a children’s book series.

“It’s about a girl who’s going through life,” said Isabella, referring to the 14-year-old protagonist, Nikki Maxwell, in stories by Rachel Renee Russell, written and illustrated in a diary format and also uses drawings, doodles and comic strips to tell the tale.

Speaking in Megan Coxe’s third-grade classroom on Friday at Callison Elementary, Isabella relished the day, because it was Literacy Character Day, part of National Read Across America Day. Created by the National Education Association, it is a day to encourage children to read and to inspire lifelong learning.

Source: Celebrating reading, learning and having fun – The Vacaville Reporter

Community members come together for a day of reading | dailyrepublic.com

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By Susan Hiland

Students at Jean Callison Elementary School were immersed in literacy this week as part of Read Across America.

The big finale on Friday was Literacy Character Day, which was a special event promoting the love of reading and lifelong learning, according to Principal Kacey Ramos.

Each year, National Read Across America Day is celebrated on March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. The annual event is part of Read Across America, an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association.

Source: Community members come together for a day of reading | Education | dailyrepublic.com

Local author ‘enchants” youthful audiences at migrant centers | dailyrepublic.com

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Two Family Literacy Nights were recently held, each featuring local children’s book author Leticia Ordaz.

“Ordaz enchanted the young audience with a reading of one of her children’s books, ‘The Carousel King,’” a statement released by the Solano County Office of Education said.

“This uplifting bilingual book features text in English and Spanish, together with vibrant and creative illustrations. Her animated bilingual storytelling brought the characters and adventures to life, captivating the hearts and imaginations of the young listeners. Each child attending the events received a signed copy of one of Ms. Ordaz’s books in hopes of encouraging reading and creating lasting memories for the young readers and their families.”

Source: Local author ‘enchants” youthful audiences at migrant centers | News | dailyrepublic.com

Summer reading program kicks off June 1- Daily Republic

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Solano County Library will begin its Summer Reading Challenge program on June 1.

The program is open to all ages: children, teens and adults. Library users can sign up at any Solano County Library location.

“Log your reading or complete activities to earn prizes. Read anything you want: books, eBooks, graphic novels, magazines, audiobooks – (they) all count,” Library Services said in a statement. “New this year, all children will receive a book of their choice when they sign up. Everyone receives prizes for reaching their reading goal. Adults will earn a commemorative enamel pin, and teens and children will earn book prizes.”

Source: Summer reading program kicks off June 1

KI Jones Elementary wins Battle of the Books 2023 – Daily Republic

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KI Jones Elementary recently hosted the Elementary Battle of the Books 2023, an annual competition celebrating reading and critical thinking skills.

The May 4 event was open to all fourth- and fifth-grade students in the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District. More than 330 students participated in site battles. More than 50 students participated in the district event, including students from the Virtual Academy via Google Meet.

Source: KI Jones Elementary wins Battle of the Books 2023

Celebrate Children’s Day at the Fairfield Cordelia Library – Daily Republic

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Help celebrate Children’s Day and Book Day – El día de los niños, El día de los libros – at the Fairfield Cordelia Library.

The event begins at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

“Families can enjoy the imaginative play, “Where the Forest Meets the Sea.” Featuring audience participation and bilingual storytelling, this program is sure to delight. One free book per child while supplies last,” organizers said.

Source: Celebrate Children’s Day at the Fairfield Cordelia Library

SPI Honors Read Across America Week – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond visited the Jordan Academy of Language and Computer Science in the Orange Unified School District on Friday morning. Thurmond joined students, parents, and teachers in celebrating Read Across America Week in remembrance of the late Dr. Seuss.

“A book can be a passport to any part of California or the world or a passport to the past or the future,” Thurmond said. “A book can help us understand where we are from, can teach us our history and the best way forward. Reading takes you on a journey, a lifelong journey of adventure. Books are valuable for many reasons—but I like to read mainly because it is fun.”

Jordan Academy of Language and Computer Science received a California School Boards Association Golden Bell Award as an innovative and sustainable program that makes a demonstrated difference with a focus on meeting the needs of all students.

Source: SPI Honors Read Across America Week – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

Callison Elementary celebrates Literary Character Day – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Rebecca Wasik

Callison Elementary School in Vacaville celebrated the 25th annual Read Across America Week, which began on Dr. Seuss’ birthday, with themed days.

Friday was Literary Character Day and participants from across the city — including public safety officers, Air Force personnel, local leaders and community members — volunteered to read to the students, some dressed as their favorite book characters.

The aim — to teach them about the importance reading has in their careers.

Source: Callison Elementary celebrates Literary Character Day – The Vacaville Reporter

Book it! Literacy festival returns to Vallejo this weekend – Times-Herald

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By Sharon Pearce

The Vallejo Kids Book Festival is returning for a fourth season on Saturday with an event Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum Executive Director Melinda McCrary is saying should be a “jam-packed day among stacks of books for those who need to or are learning to read.”

McCrary will host a gathering of reading enthusiasts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Featured this year will be giveaways of 200 to 300 books, a big jump from last season. There will be one free book given to each child, as well as snacks, storytime reads by volunteers and the much-loved inflatable forest imaginative visual from Astro-Botanicals.

The festival is produced in partnership with the Vallejo Literacy Alliance, a group of literacy-promoting organizations, all under the sponsorship of First 5 Solano, which funds partners who work directly with the community to provide services bettering the lives of children up to 5 and their families. It is under the auspices of Solano Cares.

Source: Book it! Literacy festival returns to Vallejo this weekend – Times-Herald

Academy of 21st Century Learning promotes love of books – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Reading is a powerful experience. Books can take readers to different worlds, engross them in a range of stories and broaden their horizons.

Unfortunately, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, 21% of adults have low literacy skills.

One of the Academy of 21st Century Learning’s goals is to bring that number down by promoting a passion for reading among its students early on, and one of the Vacaville private school’s avenues for doing just that is through its annual Literacy Awareness Night.

Source: Academy of 21st Century Learning promotes love of books – The Vacaville Reporter

SSPI Celebrates Read Across America Day – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

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As part of a celebration of Read Across America Day, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond yesterday visited Jordan Academy of Language and Computer Science in Orange, Calif., to read to students. Superintendent Thurmond today also partnered with Assemblymember Mia Bonta to introduce Assembly Bill (AB) 2465, a bill that would establish a grant program for community literacy and education enrichment through partnerships between schools and community-based organizations.

Superintendent Thurmond read “Say Something!” by Peter H. Reynolds after discussing the importance of literacy with students. Read Across America Day is an annual reading and awareness program of the National Education Association, which calls for schools and parents across the country to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.

Source: SSPI Celebrates Read Across America Day – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

SPI Announces New Digital Reading Partnership – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced a partnership with Renaissance that will provide unlimited access to myON digital books and daily news articles for all pre-K to grade twelve students in California from December 1, 2021, through January 31, 2022.

This initiative aims to give students The Gift of Literacy External link opens in new window or tab. during the winter break by providing opportunities to engage in reading at home, at school, and in the community and is part of the Superintendent Thurmond’s statewide literacy campaign to help all California students reach the goal of literacy by third grade, by the year 2026.

“I encourage every parent and student to use this free service to continue to read over the holidays,” said Superintendent Thurmond. “This is a great opportunity for our families to share the joy of reading and establish routines that support literacy growth for our students.” Literacy is a key benchmark in measuring and predicting student success, which is why Superintendent Thurmond is taking bold action to help students meet this important milestone. “We hope that free access to thousands of digital books will create and cultivate a lifelong love of reading that can continue to be nurtured by our school and local libraries,” Superintendent Thurmond said.

Source: SPI Announces New Digital Reading Partnership – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)