Happy Zoroastrian New Year!

Commonly referred to as “Persian New Year,” the vernal equinox (first day of spring) is one of the biggest celebrations of the year in some countries and regions, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Albania, northwestern China, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kurdish Iraq, and Azerbaijan, among others. The holiday dates back approximately 3,000 years when the pre-Judaic prophet, Zoroaster, founded what is thought to be the world’s first monotheistic religion, Zoroastrianism. The faith describes a dualism in the world between order and chaos, truth and falsehood, good and evil. Zoroaster instructed his followers to think good thoughts, say good words, and do good deeds to keep negative forces away.

Once one of the world’s largest religions, today there are an estimated 200,000 followers, with approximately 20,000 living in the U.S. While the number of followers has dwindled, the Zoroastrian new year, called Now Roz (also, Norooz, Nowruz, Navrez, and others; literally “New Day”), is celebrated regardless of religion. Now Roz is a time of festivities, joy, and renewal, and depending on the country, the celebrations can last nearly two weeks. Renewal is observed by thoroughly cleaning one’s home, wearing brand-new clothing and shoes, and gifting newly minted banknotes and coins to children. Many regions have their own delicacies associated with Now Roz, and holiday tables are decorated with sprouted wheat, candles, goldfish, mirrors, coins, flowers, dried fruit, apples, sweets, and more, to indicate the good luck and fortune that the new year will bring. Children decorate eggs, receive money, and fill themselves on sweets and holiday foods.

There are several children’s books about Now Roz, including Leila’s Nowruz Adventure: Activity and Coloring Book, Gala and Her Friends Celebrate Norooz, Happy Nowruz: Cooking with Children to Celebrate the Persian New Year, and the DVD Babak and Friends - A First Norooz. The books include activities and crafts for children and the DVD is in English and Farsi (Persian).

The first day of spring falls on March 20 this year.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day …

… with an annual festival and parade in San Francisco, children’s activities, and a favorite holiday-themed children’s book.

In San Francisco, the 161st annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the parade starting at 11:30 a.m. The festival is a family friendly, alcohol-free event, and includes children’s rides and a petting zoo.

Another great way to teach children about St. Paddy’s Day while having fun is to engage them in thematic crafts and activities and Irish folklore children’s books.

St. Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. Patrick was born in Roman Britain, and was kidnapped and sent to Ireland to work as a slave at 16. After seven years, he escaped and went back to Britain where he became a priest. Patrick returned to Ireland years later to convert the Irish to Christianity, and though he converted thousands, he was largely forgotten about after his death on March 17, 461. Over the centuries, the folklore about Patrick’s work grew in Ireland, where was later honored as its patron saint.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

The literacy world is preparing for the nationwide reading celebration that takes place annually on March 2—Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Read Across America, a National Education Association event, seeks to motivate children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources.

Raising A Reader program coordinators and volunteers will visit classrooms in both San Francisco and Alameda counties to share the love of reading.

Our traveling book nook will be present at Garfield Elementary’ s Family Literacy Morning in Oakland. Activities will include free books, storytelling, art and crafts activities, and parent workshops. We will also be leading a workshop on book sharing with infants and toddlers at the Berkeley Home Base. On the other side of the Bay, Raising A Reader staff will be demonstrating interactive Read Alouds in preschool classrooms throughout San Francisco.

FOR EDUCATORS

East Bay Chidren’s Book Project will be open Thursday, March 1st, 3 to 6 PM to distribute Dr. Seuss books. Each professional may choose up of 15 books.

ONLINE RESOURCES

• Seussville Printable Activities
• a list of ideas on how to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday
• visit ObSEUSSed on Pinterest for Dr. Seuss themed crafts and experiential learning activities

Upcoming Black History Month Events at the Library

Wednesday, February 15
Rockridge Branch Library, 5366 College Ave, Oakland
African Stories on Film for Children - 4:00-5:00PM
Visit the library and watch fables, songs, & stories from Africa on the big screen. Snacks will be served. All ages welcome; Best for 5- to 10-year-olds.

Bayview Hunters Point YMCA (Bayview Branch Temporary Location) 1601 Lane Street, San Francisco
Kirk Waller - Storyteller 1:30 - 2:30PM
Kirk Waller has been entertaining and mesmerizing audiences for years with his electrifying musical and magical storytelling style. Listen to Kirk tell stories in celebration of Black History Month.

Saturday, February 18
Merced Branch Library, 155 Winston Drive, San Francisco
The African American Quilting Tradition 2:00 - 4:30PM
Celebrate Black History Month with members of the African American Quilt Guild of Oakland. You’ll learn a little bit about the history of the African American quilting tradition, plus get a chance to make a 9 patch pieced potholder to take home! For ages 7-12. Children younger than 9 will need an accompanying adult to assist them with this craft.

Richmond Branch Library 351 9th Avenue, San Francisco
Quilt Craft for Kids 2:00 - 4:30PM
Celebrate Black History Month with members of the African American Quilt Guild of Oakland. You’ll learn a little bit about the history of the African American quilting tradition, plus get a chance to make a 9 patch pieced potholder to take home! For ages 7-12. Children younger than 9 will need an accompanying adult to assist them with this craft.

Elmhurst Branch Library, 1427 88th Avenue, Oakland
Black History Month Family Storytime-3:00 pm
Stories, songs, and rhymes for all ages.

Saturday, February 25
81st Avenue Branch Library, 1021 81st Avenue, Oakland - 1:30 pm
and
Elmhurst Branch Library , 1427 88th Avenue, Oakland - 3:30 pm
Celebrate Black History Month with Crafts
We will be making our version of kente cloth and creating container gardens to celebrate both Ghanan and Kenyan heritage.

“Share the Love!” of Reading

Express your love this Valentine’s Day by giving a child the gift of reading in your sweetheart’s name!

Most people hold dear memories of their parents reading a favorite book to them. Raising A Reader rotates beautiful, multicultural books into the homes of limited-income families, making it possible for parents to share books with their children every day.

Studies show that regular, interactive book-sharing fosters healthy brain development, parent-child bonding, and the early literacy skills that are essential for school success. Raising A Reader aims to close the achievement gap one child at a time through the simple, yet imperative, tradition of cuddling up with a good book.

On Valentine’s Day, your loved one will receive a touching e-card, letting her or him know about your thoughtful gift. In addition, we’ll individualize each book you’ve gifted with a lovely bookplate that will carry your Valentine’s name, and it will be included it in the Raising A Reader book rotation, where it can inspire countless families to share the joy of reading!

Gift choices:

• $16 one children’s book
• $32 two children’s books
• $60 one red bag with four books
• $100 sponsor a reader (provides red bag and training for the child’s teacher and parents)
• $1,000 sponsor books and reading programs for a playgroup for infants and toddlers
• $2,500 sponsor books and reading program for a classroom for preschoolers

To make a gift, please go to https://give.rarbayarea.org/ to select your gift choice and personalize your card.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Lunar New Year 2012 Welcomes the Year of the Dragon

Red is a Dragon by Roseanne Thong with illustrations by Grace Lin is a popular read aloud this time of year. The concept picture book focuses on colors while introducing Asian themed vocabulary. Happy Lunar New Year!

Calendar of Bay Area Celebrations

January 21
Flower Market at San Francisco Botanical Garden

January 21 - 22
Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Bazaar

January 24 - February 18
Lunar New Year Crafts and Celebration, Oakland Public Library

January 28
Chinese New Year Guqin Music with Yiming Li , San Francisco Public Library Portola Branch

February 11
San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Events 2012

Monday, January 16^th is a day to commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Below are just a few of the many community events for families to enjoy:

• National Day of Service
  Enter your zip code on this national site to find service opportunities in your area

• Admission is FREE at the Museum of the African Diaspora 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
  The day’s activities will include chalk drawing, a Vision Board project, a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Fair and film screenings.

• Northern California Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Foundation
  Events in the vicinity of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and Gardens, include the annual march/parade, film festival, free museums day and children’s reading festival.

• City of Oakland
  Events range from musical tributes to a film festival at the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

• Golden Gate National Parks
  For those interested in outdoor adventures, volunteers are needed to help grow and restore these cherished national parklands.

• San Mateo County
  Catch the Freedom train headed to San Francisco.

Seasons Greetings

Wishing you happy holidays and a wonderful new year!

Our offices will be closed Monday December 26, 2011 through Monday January 2, 2012

Gratitude

Raising A Reader is excited to announce seven new supporters who joined our team this quarter. Six family foundations and one corporation made the commitment with Raising A Reader to work toward closing the achievement gap before it appears. Cheers to our new partners in early literacy and family engagement!

· The Bernard and Alba Witkin Charitable Fund

· Lisa and Douglas Goldman Foundation

· David B. Gold Foundation

· William G. Gilmore Foundation

· GGS Foundation

· Rogers Family Foundation

· Wells Fargo Foundation

Llama Llama Red Pajama

On Thursday October 6th, our community partner, Jumpstart will host their annual Read for the Record. Join the celebration to help set a new record for the most children being read the same book on the same day.

The Chavez Branch Library in Oakland is partnering with St. Mary’s College Jumpstart to celebrate 12:30pm - 3:00pm.

Check out the storytime schedule at various branches in San Francisco.

For more information about this celebration visit: www.readfortherecord.org