Read All About It!

Last week, Open Books had the privilege of writing with some brilliant freshmen from Chicago Talent Development High School in W. Garfield Park. I tell you what: this group made our lives easy!  We said “write,” and they were off to the races.  The following story made everyone in the class swoon. Enjoy it!

I Met My Girl

By Titus

There she goes, the girl that passes me by every day. I see her with her pretty long black hair, brown smooth eyes and a nice walk. I think to myself, “she don’t have time for me.” By the way, her name is Kyla.

One day my boys and I were in the park playing, hanging out, doing boy stuff. We were about to call it a day, and there she came with some friends of her own. I didn’t want to go, but I had to. While I was walking away, she said “hey.” I was stuck but my best friend AJ helped me out. “His name is Titus, he likes you a lot, so get to know him.” I was so embarrassed, but it worked. We talked and exchanged numbers and talked on the phone.

We really liked each other.  We had so much in common that we began dating. After three weeks we became boyfriend and girlfriend. I like her a lot. Since then, we stayed together for a year. I think she could be the one. The reason I like her, there are many things. She helps me when I need it. She’s always there when I feel down. She never brings me down. She’s always by my side through thick and thin. I like she way she calls my name. She’s very good with my sisters. I know she would make a good mom and wife one day. I like her smile, eyes and how she looks at me. I like her everything. Matter of fact, she is the one.

This past Tuesday was Read Across America day, a little holiday celebrated

Gather ye, enSEUSSiasts of the world.

by the National Education Association and multitudinous fans of reading. March 2 was specifically chosen for this holiday because it also marks the birthday of one of the greatest children’s authors known: the ubiquitous Theodor Seuss Geisel (also known as Dr. Seuss).

However, for those of you that missed the official Read Across America day, have no fear. The intention was not for a single day of reading, but was rather meant to encourage reading and writing for 365 (or 366, depending on the year) days of the year. It’s a celebration of books and other fantastic reading materials (such as comic books). However, the books published by Dr. Seuss are certainly the most popular during this day; also, the characters within them are essentially the stars of the day for NEA’s programming.

That’s not all, of course. The NEA is currently making a “Cat-A-Van” tour of several of the U.S. states, which began on February 25 and will continue until March 7. During this tour, the NEA team goes “across” the country reading and writing and giving away tools essential to literacy. In addition to these giveaways, they also drag the Cat (in the Hat, who else?) alongside a miniature trailer home with windows on all sides. Finally, the Cat knows how the fish in the fishbowl feels…

Cat in the Hat plays Fish in the Fishbowl.

The NEA website says “Thousands of dollars in cash grants are being provided to public schools and their libraries.” Sounds like NEA and Open Books are on the same page (pun completely intended). HOORAY for literacy!

Read Across America began in 1998, after the members of the NEA decided that kids needed to get more excited about reading—as much as they do about football during pep rallies. Research has proven that motivated children will be more willing to read, which in turn helps them do better in school.

To find out more about the awesome programs NEA supports and spearheads, visit their website here!

More fun facts about our favorite children’s author:

“Dr. Seuss” was not his only pen name. He also used the name Theo LeSieg for a few books.

Geisel was inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2008 by Governor Schwarzenegger.

In summation (and in the author’s own words): “Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”

March’s vol-star is none other than the fabulous Heidi Massey! Heidi’s presence at Open Books is fantastic. It is possible that she has helped you find the perfect read at the Open Books store. Perhaps you have admired the even coats of paint that she rolled onto the walls of our literacy center. If you’re lucky, you’ve seen her in action at Perspectives Charter School as one of our awesome Big Buddies. Heidi is a wonderful asset to many of our programs, and is also an absolute champ at spreading the word about Open Books and our mission. Thank you so much, Heidi! We are lucky to have you on our side.



Here's Heidi painting the Slam Studio!

Name: Heidi Massey

Neighborhood: Highland Park

Job: Creating Dot 2 Dot: The Nonprofit Connection, an organization that will facilitate collaboration between nonprofit organizations, corporations and the rest of the world.

Open Books programs/events you’ve participated in: Chicago Reads Day, Volunteer Work Days, Adventures in Creative Writing Field Trips, Open Books Buddies: Perspectives, Bookstore Volunteer



The 10 Questions We Always Ask

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

This is really hard! First thought: birthday cake! I love birthdays!

Have you ever met (or even seen) anyone famous randomly in public? Who?

I saw Steve Kerr at a Fuddruckers when he was playing for the Chicago Bulls.  I tried, probably unsuccessfully, not to fawn like everyone else.  He was playing a game where the grand prize was a Bulls jacket, so I teased him about that.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

People who don’t live with passion and integrity!

What is the earliest book you remember reading, and why was it special?

When I turned 7, my brothers and sister gave me books for my birthday, one of which was Aesop’s Fables. I still have that book and I still remember every story!

What was your first job ever?

Other than babysitting?  I worked at the Limited, but hated missing all of the high school basketball games on the weekends, so I quit after a few months.

If you could instantly be good at any given thing, what talent would you choose to have?

Drawing.  I could NEVER draw even though I have always been very creative.

If you were a pattern, what pattern would you be?

I would be paisley combined with a very modern geometric design because I have a lot of old school but I pride myself on being cutting edge too.

Who is your favorite character from a fiction or non-fiction book?

I LOVE the little prince in “The Little Prince.”

If a book were written about your life, what would it be called?

The Long and Winding Road (Apologies to John, Paul, George and Ringo!)

Are you a dog person or a cat person?

I have 4 cats but am a total animal lover, so BOTH!

Bonus Question: What has been your favorite/most rewarding moment as an Open Books volunteer so far?

I volunteered at a writing field trip for 4^th graders from a Chicago Public School.  When the program began I was amazed at how low the children’s reading and writing skills were.  The children began the workshop with very disruptive behavior and less than positive attitudes but the Open Books staff continued leading, seemingly unbothered by the loud group.  Over the next few hours, I watched these same children become completely absorbed in the activities.  They wrote wonderful, expressive stories and presented them to the group with great pride and enthusiasm.  I was inspired by what I observed from the children and once again impressed by the staff at Open Books.

On our website at Open Books, there is only so much room to talk about each program and all of the amazing things we have going on each week.

McCutcheon Buddies get their read on.

However, as the newest intern, I have been appointed to give you, our delightful readers, a better look at what goes on behind the scenes, who’s helping, what is the best part of our week so far (so hard to choose!) and a few pictures documenting our awesome experiences.

So, this week, we started not one, but two new Buddies sites! One is in the Uptown area at McCutcheon Elementary, and the other is in the Roscoe Village area at Jahn Elementary. I lead at the former, and co-lead at the latter with fellow intern Jacob Wilson. Both sites were so much fun! It seemed that when we walked in everybody had a smile on his or her face. The volunteers were smiling, the kids were grinning, so we smiled even wider. The amount of reading and smiling and general nerdiness doubled by the end of Buddies on both of those days.

During this first day at new sites, we usually go through a process of helping everyone get to know each other, assign which student(s) will work with whom, make some super-cool pin-button nametags designed (colored) by the students, and of course: we read! Some favorite books this time around were The Little Mouse, The Big Red Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear, Yo Yes!, The Man Who Walked Between the Towers and of course: Olivia.

Reading the afternoon away with McCutcheon Buddies!

As for me, I’m working on my own section of our new program called Wordshops: Do you Haiku? In this workshop, I will teach students both how to read haikus as well as write an effective one. Sure, haikus can be about seasons. Yes, haikus can be three lines of five syllables, seven syllables, and five syllables again. Certainly, haikus may end with each line as a phrase. But these are rules, general guidelines. Haikus themselves are a good way to teach poetry because of these rules, but exploring a little bit outside of the box could create something beautiful, which is something I look forward to heading up in the upcoming months, and perhaps seeing some of you at one of our awesome Wordshops this summer!

Remember, if you have a great idea for a Wordshop you’d like to lead, you can tell us all about it by clicking on this handy link.

Well, the countdown has begun.  A lifelong dream is about to begin. A bike ride across America! Dipping my back tire in the Pacific Ocean at Dog Beach in San Diego on March 5th and 3098 miles and 59 days later dipping my front tire in the Atlantic Ocean in St. Augustine, Florida. And hopefully while I am biking, my 100+ friends are donating $30.98 (or more!) to Open Books, The National  Kidney Foundation of Illinois or the ALS Association of Greater Chicago Chapter. Just two weeks ago I decided to commemorate this journey by helping some favorite charities and just finished sending requests to friends. We will see how it goes!