D.E.A.R. Day, April 12th

New! Beverly Cleary Answers Your Questions!

Have you ever wanted to ask author Beverly Cleary a question about her much-loved books, the vivid characters she created, or her life as a writer? We asked our readers and you responded with more than 500 entries, and we selected about a baker's dozen for Mrs. Cleary to answer. Listen in as Mrs. Cleary talks about her favorite teddy bear, where the character Ralph came from, the pleasures of reading and writing, and much more. You can also read the interview transcript here.

2008 National Drop Everything and Read Day

National Drop Everything and Read Day draws near and on April 12th, families are encouraged to take at least 30 minutes to put aside all distractions and enjoy books together. What will you be reading?

National D.E.A.R. Day partner, First Book, a national nonprofit organization that has given more than 55 million new books to children from low-income families, is pleased to offer books that kids will want to drop everything for! First Book is making four wonderful Beverly Cleary titles, Ramona the Pest, Dear Mr. Henshaw, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, and The Mouse and the Motorcycle, available in both English and Spanish.

These deeply discounted titles are available through the First Book Marketplace only to schools, libraries, and other programs serving children from low income families. Books are sold in full cartons only and free shipping is included. To learn more please check out the First Book Marketplace's D.E.A.R. titles or visit the main Marketplace.

First Book also distributes about 8 million free books to programs serving children from low-income families for free each year. If you would like to receive free books from First Book, please register your program.

And if you still need ideas for how to celebrate on April 12, check out our D.E.A.R. Day resources. Also, make sure to request your free D.E.A.R. poster by March 21, 2008 at the D.E.A.R. website.

A video interview with Beverly Cleary

Watch a video interview with Newbery-Medal winning children's book author Beverly Cleary.

• Go to interview

Read Ramona the Pest

Read a special D.E.A.R. serialization of Beverly Cleary's Ramona the Pest online at the Newspaper Association of America Foundation:

• Go to website

D.E.A.R. Day resources

Send an e-card

Send an e-card to your favorite readers and get them excited about D.E.A.R. Day. The card features a picture of Ramona Quimby, who now has a fresh, modern look from illustrator Tracy Dockray.

• Go to e-card

Family reading tips

Here are some easy ways to make your home reading-friendly!

• Download reading tips (129K PDF)*

Event ideas and books

You'll find ideas on how to celebrate D.E.A.R. Day, booklists, a reproducible bookmark, information about Beverly Cleary, and much more.

• Download ideas (3.4M PDF)*

Stickers

Here are some D.E.A.R. Day stickers for students. Print them on Avery labels 5294. The stickers are in color but can be printed on a black and white printer.

• Download stickers (145K PDF)*

Poster

Print out this colorful poster to celebrate reading together. It can be printed as large as 25.5" x 22". (Choose the option "shrink oversized pages to fit" if you want it on a smaller piece of paper.)

• Download poster (562K PDF)*

T-shirt

Celebrate D.E.A.R. Day in style with a t-shirt! Adult and kids sizes are now available in a variety of colors and styles.

• Buy a t-shirt

Articles about silent reading

• Just Think of the Possibilities: Formats for Reading Instruction in the Elementary Classroom by Kimberly Kimbell-Lopez (Reading Online)
• “Sustained Silent Reading” Helps Develop Independent Readers (and Writers) by Gary Hopkins (Education World®)
• Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) Excerpted from The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease (Penguin)
• Byron Middle School Library and Silent Sustained Reading From the “Reading Projects” section of the Byron (IL) Middle School site
• Reading From the English Language Arts area of Saskatchewan (Canada) Education's Elementary Language Arts: A Curriculum Guide for the Elementary Level
• What Works in Fluency Instruction: Independent Silent Reading Excerpted and adapted from Teaching Children to Read, the report of the National Reading Panel.

Information about D.E.A.R. Day

D.E.A.R. stands for Drop Everything and Read. Schools often have D.E.A.R. time (sometimes called D.I.R.T., S.S.R., U.S.S.R., S.Q.U.I.R.T., F.V.R. or P.O.W.E.R.). It's when kids can read and enjoy the books they want, just for the pleasure of reading and with no questions asked!

On April 12, 2008, the birthday of beloved Newbery Medal-winning author Beverly Cleary, we're celebrating National "Drop Everything and Read" Day. It's a partnership effort of Reading Rockets, the National Education Association (NEA), the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, First Book, the Newspaper Association of America Foundation, the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), and HarperCollins Children's Books. The concept of "Drop Everything and Read" is referenced in the second chapter of Ramona Quimby, Age 8.

The aim of this nationwide initiative is to encourage families to designate a special time to "drop everything and read" at home. So, on April 12, families will be encouraged to take at least 30 minutes to put aside all distractions and enjoy books together.

Teachers can request one free set of D.E.A.R. materials, which includes a poster, reproducible handouts, teachers' guides, and a DVD featuring Beverly Cleary. Materials are available in English and Spanish! Please see the D.E.A.R. website for details.

• Go to website