Kids become storytellers for National Grandparents Day

Grandparents will be read to as part of a program by literacy groups.

By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE, Times Correspondent
Published September 6, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - It is always a special treat for grandparents to introduce their grandchildren to the marvels of the written word by reading them bedtime stories. A special event this month will allow children to swap roles and do the reading themselves.

Local literacy groups will be celebrating National Grandparents Day and International Literacy Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Brooksville Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Children 7 and older are invited to write about their favorite books and why they would like to read them to their grandparents.

Kids 6 and under may draw pictures of their favorites books that they would someday like to read to their grandparents. The children are invited to bring these stories or pictures to Wal-Mart at the rocking chairs for a prize drawing.

There will be surprise guest speakers and an opportunity to read to grandparents or "adopted grandparents." The first 300 children will receive new books to read to grandparents or "adopted" grandparents."

The Hernando Literacy Coalition is organizing the event to highlight the joys of reading. The coalition is a group of community members and school personnel working to fight illiteracy in Hernando County.

In January 1987, educators formed the Hernando's Education for Adult Readers in Training, or HEART, Literacy under the umbrella of the Hernando County School District.

It began as a part-time program and has grown to include not only reading but basic education and GED (General Educational Development) test preparation for adults interested in earning a Florida high school diploma; as well as math, language and English as a second language.

As HEART Literacy grew, so did the need for coordination with other county agencies, which led to the formation of the Hernando Literacy Coalition.

The coalition members meet about five times a year to share information about their organizations or schools and to help identify adults who might benefit from HEART Literacy services and coordinate opportunities for them.

The coalition is led by president Edna Rohland, Bright House Networks community affairs manager for the tricounty region. The group is a United Way agency, and Denise Moen, school district adult literacy and volunteer program coordinator, announced that it had been chosen to receive the Star Agency Award for 2007.

Moen's office at 801 N Broad St. in Brooksville is one of four where adults can go for GED test preparation. The hours are 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

Other locations are Career Central, 7361 Forest Oaks Blvd., where adults can study English as a second language from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and adult basic education (ABE) and GED preparation from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays; Northcliffe Baptist Church, 10515 Northcliffe Blvd., open 9:30 a.m. to noon Mondays and Wednesdays; and Grace World Outreach Church, 20366 Cortez Blvd., from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursday. All classes are free and most sites offer free child care.

For information about the adult education program, call 797-7018 or fax 797-7118.

.Fast Facts

Books of interest

Here are some books kids and grandparents can enjoy together:

- Grandma & Grandpa,

May I Come Over? Contains 52 inexpensive and easy activities from the Family Learning Association.

- My Grandmother and Me - A Memory Scrapbook for Kids. Also My Grandfather and Me. From Kids Can Press.

e_SBltTo Grandma's House We...Stay by Sally Houtman. Especially of interest for households headed by grandparents.

For more books, activities, history and more, go to www.grandparents-day.com

[Last modified September 5, 2007, 20:39:14]