The Squid Calendar

Sponsered by the Tolkien Society, today is Tolkien reading Day.  It’s not J.R.R. Tolkien’s birthday, and it’s not the anniversary of his death.  It’s not Frodo’s birthday, or the day Lord of the Rings was published.  Today, March 25th, marks the Downfall of Sauron.

There are many great pages I can recommend for Tolkien Reading Day, so I have decided to direct you to one that features many others.  Take a look at these LOTR lenses by Tinw.

Today starts Banned Books Week which celebrates the freedom to read. Banned Books Week runs from September 27 to October 2, 2010.

It is amazing that an act like banning books is still happening throughout the country. According to the American Library Association there were at least 460 books banned in 2009, and that 70-80% of banned books are never reported.

Check out Top Ten Banned Books by BigGirlBlue

Books photo by gadl used by CC 2.0

Today, September 8th, is International Literacy Day.

Being 2010, here are some startling statistics:

More than 780 million of the world’s adults (nearly two-thirds of whom are women) do not know how to read or write, and between 94 and 115 million children lack access to education.

CreativeArtist has put together a great page of advice for literacy tutors and students: Literacy and Phonetics.

Scott O’Dell, born May 23, 1898, was an American author of children’s literature. O’Dell wrote 26 novels for children including Island of the Blue Dolphins, and The Black Pearl. In 1982, O’Dell created the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction.

This year’s winner is The Storm in the Barn. Since it started, The Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction has recognized such great books as Sarah, Plain and Tall, Out of the Dust, Chains, Elijah of Buxton, and Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule.

(Thanks to Jimmie for bringing this award to my attention.)

J.R.R. Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892.  He was “father” of modern fantasy literature.  With The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, he changed the world.  He created high fantasy like no other.

Tolkien has inspired the works of MANY – writers, artists, filmographers, musicians.

Tinw describers herself as one who “loves the myth and magic of Tolkien’s Middle-earth”.  It is clear that is the truth.

November 9-13 is National Young Readers Week, co-sponsored by Pizza Hut and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Pizza Hut runs the Book It! program and does a lot to encourage children to read. As a former Book It! kid, I know that this is a valuable program.

I believe that the best way to get kids to read is to give them a GREAT book – a story they would enjoy and want to read. One amazing book can do a lot to foster the love of reading.

LindaJM has made a series of lenses on Newbery Award Winning Books. This is the perfect place to look for extraordinary children literature.

If you are looking for a way to actively encourage reading, consider Mentoring Children through ePal Program (by mbgphoto).

(photo by t.blue)