(http://www NULL.sfgate NULL.com/cgi-bin/article NULL.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/25/EDB11JK75V NULL.DTL&ao=all)

This article appeared on page A – 11 of the San Francisco Chronicle

School’s Out, Visit your Local Library

Raising A Reader congratulates all the preschoolers transitioning to kindergarten. Librarians eagerly await their visits to the library with their blue bags. While many students will not have the benefit of Raising A Reader (http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/program-and-impact/how-it-works/)over the summer, we encourage all families to visit their local libraries and sign up for the summer reading program. This year’s theme is  One World, Many Stories.

Visit the links below to find out what your library local libraries have to offer. (http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/summer-reading NULL.png)

• Alameda County Library (http://www NULL.aclibrary NULL.org/kids/default NULL.asp?topic=kids&cat=Kids)
• Berkeley Public Library (http://www NULL.berkeleypubliclibrary NULL.org/children/programs-and-events/summer-reading/)
• Hayward Public Library (http://www NULL.hayward-ca NULL.gov/newsandevents/?cat=4)
• Oakland Public Library (http://www NULL.oaklandlibrary NULL.org/links/kids/index NULL.html)
• San Francisco Public Library (http://sfpl NULL.org/index NULL.php?pg=2000341901)
• San Leandro Public Library (http://www NULL.sanleandro NULL.org/depts/library/news/details NULL.asp?NewsID=223&TargetID=22)

Click HERE (http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/One-World-Many-Stories_LibraryThemeSong_PromoVersion NULL.mp3) to listen to Billy Gorilly’s song -  One World, Many Stories.

In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage month (http://asianpacificheritage NULL.gov/), we are highlighting some culturally relevant books by Rosanne Thong (http://www NULL.greenfield-thong NULL.com/index NULL.html), illustrated by Grace Lin (http://www NULL.gracelin NULL.com/).

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/red-is-a-dragon NULL.jpg)

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/one-is-a-drummer NULL.jpg)

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/round-is-a-mooncake NULL.jpg)

These vibrantly colored books provide an opportunity to explore colors, shapes and numbers. Concept books lay a foundation for learning. Share a book with your child today.

Community Calendar of Events for the week of May 16th

Wednesday, May 18 * 11:15am (http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/ClaraYen_storyteller_medium NULL.jpg)

Storyteller Clara Yen and her Chinese folk, family and fairy tales
Oakland Public Library- Elmhurst Branch (http://www NULL.oaklandlibrary NULL.org/branches/elm NULL.html), 1427 88th Ave. near International Blvd.
Stories, songs and fingerplays for children, ages 3 to 5 years old. Groups, please call in advance, 510-615-5727.

Saturday, May 21 * 11:00am -6:00pm (http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/AHSC_Poster NULL.jpg)
7th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration (http://asianfairsf NULL.com/fair-info/)
San Francisco Civic Center to Little Saigon – Larkin Street, from Grove to Ellis Streets
Free Admission – Cultural Procession – Art & Crafts Alley – Specialty Foods – Two Stages – Family Fun!

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/intl-dance NULL.png)Saturday, May 21 * 10:00am -6:00pm
6th International Children Dance and Food Festival (http://www NULL.sfkidsfest NULL.org/)
Golden Gate Park – Music Concourse “Bandshell”
This annual festival celebrates children’s heritage through country-specific dances and foods. Admission is FREE

Information about other Asian Pacific Heritage Month events can be found online at http://www.apiaheritagesf.org/calendar.shtml (http://www NULL.sfkidsfest NULL.org/)

Blue Bag Bonanzas and More

Thank you to all who supported our Mother’s Day fundraising campaign!  One hundred twenty mothers will be honored with books donated in their name to Raising A Reader’s circulating collection. Today is the last day to submit an order to honor a mother (http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/mothers-day-2011/)with a Raising A Reader commemorative Mother’s Day bookplate.

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/blue-bags NULL.jpg)May is a busy month for Raising A Reader, as we kick off the spring Blue Bag Bonanzas. A Blue Bag Bonanza is a fun, collaborative event between a Raising A Reader preschool classroom, their families, and the local library branch. Children receive their very own blue Raising A Reader “My Library Book Bag” and learn more about the library and its resources.  Last week  began the first of five Blue Bag Events in partnership with the Oakland Public Library.  This week events will be held at 81st Avenue – East Oakland Community Library, Oakland Main, Chavez Branch, Asian Branch and Eastmont Branch. Oakland Public Library is a great community resource. Please read how Mayor Quan’s budget could severely effect library services in Oakland. (http://oaklandlibrary NULL.org/PR/OPL_FAQ_Mayor%27s_11-13_Budget NULL.pdf)

 Calendar of Events for the Week of May 9th

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/ClaraYen_storyteller_medium NULL.jpg)Wednesday, May 11 * 10:30am
In honor Asian Pacific Heritage  Month enjoy Storyteller Clara Yen and her Chinese folk, family and fairy tales
Oakland Asian Branch, 388 9th St., Ste. 190
Stories, songs and fingerplays for children, ages 3 to 5 years old. Groups, please call in advance, 510-238-3400.  Preschool story time meets every Wednesday.

(http://www NULL.farleyscoffee NULL.com/oakland NULL.html)Thursday, May 12 * 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Farley’s Non-Profit of the Month Happy Hour
Farley’s East, 33 Grand Ave near Broadway Oakland
20% of the evening’s sales will be donated to Raising A Reader. All Ages welcome!

(http://www NULL.youngatartsf NULL.com/events NULL.html)Saturday, May 14  * 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
25th Annual Young at Art Festival
de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Kick off the 8-day-long Young at Art festival celebrating the creativity of San Francisco students with exhibits and performances at the de Young Museum and the Concourse Bandshell in Golden Gate Park.

Saturday, May 14  * 11:30 am – 5:00 pm
KoreaTown CultureFest (http://koreatownnorthgate NULL.org/events NULL.html)
Telegraph Avenue from 24th-27th Streets, Oakland
CultureFest will celebrate the diverse and vibrant KoreaTown-Northgate Community Benefit District (KTO) neighborhood. This is a community that is overflowing with talented artists, musicians, great food and diverse cultures.

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/mothers-day-2011/) Staff Favorites for Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is May 8^th!  Honor a mother this year by donating a book to a child in need through Raising A Reader. Your gift book(s) will be personalized with a bookplate printed with your mother’s name, and then become part of the Raising A Reader book rotation, where it will continue to inspire new families to share the joy of reading! You can submit your order online (http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/mothers-day-2011/)or email us with any special requests. (motherday null@null rarbayarea NULL.org)

In honor of Mother’s Day Raising A Reader Program Coordinators share their favorite books that remind them of motherhood.

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/iremos-a-la-playa NULL.jpg)How Will We Get to the Beach?/Como Iremos a la Playa?
Brigitte Luciani; illustrated by Eve Tharlet; Spanish translation by Andrés Antreasyan

Ruth: This cute  guessing game story gives you the feeling of how special a baby is. When the mother finds out that her baby is missing, she says I can’t go to the beach without my baby – he is the most important of all!

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ismamaAllama NULL.jpg)

Is Your Mama a Llama?
Deborah Guarino; pictures by Steven Kellogg

Pat: Warm illustrations of baby animals and their mama accompany the llama’s journey to find his mother. The fun rhyme  provides the audience an opportunity to guess what animal is being described.

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/kissing-hand NULL.jpg)The Kissing Hand
Audrey Penn; illustrations by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak

Jo: My mom and I actually exchanged books a couple years ago for Mother’s Day and this is the book she gave me.  With beautiful illustrations, it’s a great reminder that no matter where you are or what new adventures you face, you always know that your mother loves you.

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/owlbabies NULL.jpg)Owl Babies
Martin Waddell; illustrated by Patrick Benson

Sara:  This is a simple narrative that all kids can relate to —separation anxiety and being away from your parents for the first time.

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/runawaybunny NULL.jpg)

The Runaway Bunny
Margaret Wise Brown;  pictures by Clement Hurd

Michele: This story is testing the strength of a mother’s love.