Northward, Ho! San Francisco BookPALS pioneer Jeff Redlick brings the joy of reading to kids in rural Cotati, California
We are so fortunate to have SF BookPAL and SAG-AFTRA member Jeff Redlick as a member of our team! Aside from winning the award for most tenacious BookPAL (it took us nearly 10 months to get our foot in the door in this rural community), Jeff Redlick also wins the award for most read alouds done within a few hundred feet of cows, sheep, and horses. Though, of course, the animals don’t appreciate him nearly as much as the children he visits on a weekly basis at Thomas Page Elementary School. On April 16, I got the opportunity to sit in on Jeff’s read aloud with Ms. Zacks’s K/1 classroom. He...
Read MoreBookPALS Magic at Mo’Magic!
This summer turned out to be busier than usual for SAG Foundation BookPALS, who never say no to an opportunity to share our special magic with kids who need us. When San Francisco BookPALS were approached to be “Mystery Readers” for the USF/Mo’MAGIC Summer Reading Program, we were immediately intrigued. Not only was this right up our alley—what BookPAL does NOT want to arrive as a special “mystery” guest reader to knock the socks off a group of delighted young readers?—but our missions aligned perfectly. Part of their goal is to help students identify positively as readers,...
Read More12 Angry Jurists Slideshow
Thanks again to all who participated in San Francisco BookPALS reading of “12 Angry Jurists,” in partnership with the adult literacy program Project...
Read MoreSF BookPALS Partners with Project Read
SF BookPALS brought their skills and talents to Project Read, the adult literacy program of the San Francisco Public Library, on March 27, where we read 12 Angry Men (reader’s theater-style) to the group gathered for the monthly Wednesday Night Readers’ Club. BookPALS’ reading of the play had visible impact on the learners and tutors gathered there, who all agreed that hearing the play read aloud by actors brought a deeper level of comprehension to all listeners. A lively discussion followed the reading, in which audience members examined key themes of the play, the perspectives of...
Read MoreHappy 15th Anniversary San Francisco BookPALS, and Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!
San Francisco BookPALS gathered today for their 15th celebration of Read Across America Day, at the very school where BookPALS began in San Francisco 15 years ago: Rooftop School. SF BookPALS Mary Dilts, Duncan Fife, Martin Ganapolos, William Hall, Roger Oyama, and Martha Stookey were joined by local author Ashley Wolff to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday and read his story Gerald McBoing Boing to over 350 kids. The kids enjoyed joining in at the end, practicing some “Boings!” and other sound effects along with SF BookPALS! Before and after this morning’s reading, BookPALS spent time in...
Read MoreWe Did It!
Over 160 books and who-knows-how-many rolls of wrapping paper later, we accomplished our goal of making sure children experiencing the stress of homelessness have a brand new book of their own to open on Christmas Day! I recently read an article about homelessness during the holidays, and it was heartbreaking to hear children expressing-among other things-their fear that Santa wouldn’t be able to find them. Knowing that a small but mighty group of us would be gathering to ensure the gift of reading-a truly magical and joyful experience-would reach them made me...
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