Students, parents and teachers are challenged to read 30 minutes for 30 days in March in honor of the celebration, Maryland's version of the National Education Association's annual Read Across America program.
O'Malley kicks off the month-long effort at noon Monday at the Annapolis Library. The governor will read a selection of Dr. Seuss books to an audience that will include school children and state and local officials.
The reading challenge begins on Tuesday, Dr. Seuss' birthday. The library will have 30-day reading calendars for you to mark your progress, or download one at www.readacrossmaryland.org.
If you post a favorite reading experience as a comment, photo or video on www.readacrossmaryland.org or e-mail to wbusse@mseanea.org between March 2 and April 7, you will be part of a random drawing for two Amazon Kindles. Find rules at www.readacrossmaryland.org.
For local library information, visit www.aacpl.net.
Read the NEA's "6 keys to help a child become a good reader" at www.hometownannapolis.com/art/storypics/2010RaisingReadertips.pdf .
See educator's top 100 book list below.
Branches note birthday...
Crofton Branch - The Seuss is Loose, 7 p.m. Tuesday. Laugh and play for Seuss' birthday. Stories, songs and crafts for families. 1681 Riedel Road. 410-222-7915.
Brooklyn Park Branch - Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss, 3:45 p.m. March 4. Celebrate the author's birthday with stories, games and a craft. For elementary school-aged children. 1 E. 11th Ave. 410-222-6260.
Mountain Road Branch - Read Across America Day Celebration, 1 to 8 p.m. Monday. Visit the children's area to read Dr. Seuss' books. Long Point Mall, 4730 Mountain Road, Pasadena. 410-222-6699.
CityDance brings ‘Jungle Books’ to life at Md. Hall
Capturing the imagination of young and old alike, CityDance Ensemble presents its original adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Books” at 3 p.m. Sunday at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase St. in Annapolis.
This animated blend of movement, music, mischief and magic tells the timeless stories of Mowgli, Shere Khan, Baloo, and other characters from the classic tales.
The Washington, D.C.-based professional contemporary dance company mixes original choreography with an original score to create a world of enchantment in this colorful family show.
Tickets are $23; $15 for children and include face painting, which begins at 2 p.m. and continues following the show.
Visit www.marylandhall.org for more information or tickets.
Black History Month family day
The Smithsonian kicks off Black History Month with its free “Black History Month Family Day Celebration,” from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the American History Museum.
The following activities are planned:
- 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Family activity: Create a cut-out genealogy book led by artist Carol Barton (first floor, East Wing, near the John Bull locomotive)
- 11:30 a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m. — “Join the Student Sit-Ins,” an award-winning interactive theatrical presentation (second Floor, East Wing, Greensboro lunch counter)
- 1, 3 and 5 p.m. — The musical program “Sing for Freedom,” which celebrates the role of freedom songs in the Civil Rights movement (second Floor, East Wing, Greensboro lunch counter)
- 1 to 1:30 p.m. — Andrea Pinkney signs copies of her children’s book “Sit-In” (outside Mall Museum Store, second floor)
- 1:30 p.m. — The puppet show “Can You Spell Harlem?” (first floor, Lobby, near Carmichael Auditorium)
The American History Museum is on the National Mall, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue Northwest in Washington, D.C. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Admission is free.
For more information, visit americanhistory.si.edu or call 202-633-1000.
Educators’ Top 100 Children’s Book List
Which books do educators send to the head of the class? The National Education Association asked educators to name their favorite children’s books. The results produced some classics, some newbies and some surprises.
Here are the results.
1. “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White and Garth Williams
2. “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak
3. “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein
4. “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss
5. “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd
6. “Love You Forever” by Robert N. Munsch and Sheila McGraw
7. “Because of Winn-Dixie” by Kate DiCamillo
8. “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss
9. “The Little House on the Prairie” by Laura Ingalls Wilder
10. “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg
11. “Skippyjon Jones” by Judy Schachner
12. “Thank You, Mr. Falker” by Patricia Palacco
13. “The Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss
14. “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss
15. “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” by Kate DiCamillo and Bagram Ibatoulline
16. “The Mitten” by Alvin Tresselt
17. “Crunching Carrots, Not Candy” by Judy Slack
18. “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” by Mo Willems
19. “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling
20. “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle
21. “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” by Judith Viorst
22. “Are You My Mother?” by P.D. Eastman
23. “Corduroy” by Don Freeman
24. “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse” by Kevin Henkes
25. “Stellaluna” by Janell Cannon
26. “Tacky the Penguin” by Helen Lester
27. “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis
28. “The Velveteen Rabbit” by Margery Williams
29. “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
30. “Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type” by Doreen Cronin
31. “Harold and the Purple Crayon” by Crockett Johson
32. “Horton Hatches the Egg” by Dr. Seuss
33. “Junie B. Jones” series by Barbara Park
34. “Little House in the Big Woods” by Laura Ingalls Wilder
35. “Make Way For Ducklings” by Robert McCloskey
36. “The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster
37. “Piggie Pie!” by Margie Palatini
38. “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper
39. “The Monster at the End of this Book” by Jon Stone
40. “The Tale of Despereaux” by Kate DiCamillo
41. “A Bad Case of Stripes” by David Shannon
42. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” by Judi Barrett
43. “From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler” by E.L. Konigsburg
44. “Inkheart” by Cornelia Funke
45. “Maniac Magee” by Jerry Spinelli
46. “Officer Buckle and Gloria” by Peggy Rathmann
47. “Olivia” by Ian Falconer
48. “The BFG” by Roald Dahl
49. “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn
50. “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett
51. “The Sneetches and Other Stories” by Dr. Seuss
52. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle
53. “Tikki Tikki Tembo” by Arlene Mosel
54. “A Little Princess” by France Hodgson Burnett
55. “Bark, George” by Jules Feiffer
56. “Bunnicula” by Deborah and James Howe
57. “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl
58. “Charlie the Caterpillar” by Dom Deluise
59. “Chrysanthemum” by Kevin Henkes
60. “Dear Mr. Henshaw” by Beverly Cleary
61. “Frederick” by Leo Lionni
62. “Frindle” by Andrew Clements
63. “Frog & Toad” (different books on these two characters) by Arnold Lobel
64. “Guess How Much I Love You” by Sam McBratney
65. “Harris and Me” by Gary Paulsen
66. “Harry the Dirty Dog” by Gene Zion
67. “Hop on Pop” by Dr. Seuss
68. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss
69. “I Love You, Stinky Face” by Lisa McCourt
70 “Is Your Mama a Llama?” by Deborah Guarino
71. “Gingerbread Baby” by Jan Brett
72. “Knots on a Counting Rope” by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
73. “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott
74. “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel” by Virginia Lee Burton
75. “Miss Rumphius” by Barbara Cooney
76. “My Father’s Dragon” by Ruth Stiles Gannett
77. “My Many Colored Days” by Dr. Seuss
78. “My Side of the Mountain” by Jean Craighead George
79. “No David!” by David Shannon
80. “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” by Dr. Seuss
81. “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein
82. “Stephanie’s Ponytail” by Robert N. Munsch
83. “Swimmy” by Leo Lionni
84. “The Hundred Dresses” by Eleanor Estes
85. “The Boxcar Children” by Gertrude Chandler Warner
86. “The Dark is Rising” by Susan Cooper
87. “The Empty Pot” by Demi
88. “The Five Chinese Brothers” by Claire Huchet Bishop
89. “The Giver” by Jeannette Sanderson
90. “The Grouchy Ladybug” by Eric Carle
91. “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien
92. “The Important Book” by Margaret Wise Brown
93. “The Last Holiday Concert” by Andrew Clements
94. “The Napping House” by Audrey Wood
95. “The Quiltmaker’s Gift” by Jeff Brumbeau
96. “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats
97. “The Story about Ping” by Marjorie Flack
98. “The Stranger” by Chris Van Allsburg
99. “The Thief” by Megan Whalen Turner
100. “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” by Jon Scieszka
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