Here are excerpts from our February '00 newsletter.

Delivering Books for Babies!

The second Annual Family Literacy Day on January 27, 2000 was a great success. It was especially a delight to have Lois Hole, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, and Marlene Smith, Mayor Bill Smith's wife, lend their support by distributing book bags to all the new moms and babies at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in promotion of our Books for Babies program. The hospital staff had arranged for young parents to meet Lois Hole and to talk to the media. Lois was perfectly at home as she read the book "Read To Your Bunny" to baby Quinn, only 20 hours old. Will Quinn remember all the excitement and attention he receive that day?
St. Albert Sturgeon Hospital and Leduc Community Hospital also received book bags for their new born babies on Family Literacy Day. Many thanks to Capital Health for all the hard work that went into organizing this event. We were fortunate to receive publicity throughout the day on all the Edmonton TV stations as well as terrific coverage and colour photos in The Edmonton Journal and The Edmonton Sun.
Dr. Ruth Hayden, Professor of Elementary Education at University of Alberta, was interviewed on CFRN and ITV promoting the importance of reading to children from birth. West Jasper Place Health Clinic also received visits throughout the afternoon from University of Alberta students who volunteered their time to read to families and children who were visiting the health clinic that day. even the local schools and community agencies wanted to be involved in helping to promote family literacy as we received many requests for posters and other promotional materials to be sent to them.

What is Books for Babies all about?

The aim of the program is to help families develop strong foundations in literacy by encouraging parents to read to their babies from birth on. In a relaxed, supportive way the program reaches parents of very young children and encourages them to sit down every day and read to their babies. Reading books together also gives the message that reading is valued and is a powerful tool in the world.

Beyond supporting parents in early literacy skills, this program is about positive parenting, nurturing the mind and spirit, and building healthy, loving relationships in families.

It's Never Too Early to Read to your Child!

Read to your child every day, starting at birth. It's a simple activity to do, but has lasting benefits.

Parents - you are your child's first teacher. By reading to your child, you can have a positive influence on how your child learns. What you do now with your young child will help him or her develop the language, listening and early literacy skills necessary for success in learning to read and write.

If you read to your child, he or she has a better chance of becoming a good reader. Some simple, everyday things you can do to help your child as they grow include:

• Sharing bedtime stories
• Writing notes and shopping lists together
• Writing birthday cards and letters
• Reading the school newsletter together
• Reading labels and signs in stores and around your community while you're out for a walk.

Ann Wylie

Moo-ving Down the Hall...
New Pastures for Anne Force

After working for about four years as the student coordinator I have taken on the new challenge of Coordinating the Classroom on Wheels (c.o.w.) project in family literacy. This means I'll probably be moving down the hall, that is, when I'm not out on a bus loaded with children's books.

I have really enjoyed these past few years in the Tutoring Program. Of course, I'll miss all the students an tutors that I have gotten to know, but, hey, I still expect to see your around Prospects!

In the meantime look for a school bus that looks like a cow. It will be outfitted as a travelling library for children 0 to 7 years old to use with their parents. Actually there are five c.o.w.'s (Classroom on Wheels) - two Headstart c.o.w.'s, a Science and Technology c.o.w., a transportation c.o.w. and ours, called the Literacy c.o.w. This is a joint project with Prospects, Success by 6® / United Way and The Rotary Club. Right now the bus is being designed while materials are being collected and processed, and programs and sites are being planned. It's an exciting new project and dear to my heart because it involves supporting parents to help their children. Keep your eyes open for the different c.o.w.'s all around Edmonton and I'll keep you posted about our literacy c.o.w.

Anne Force

New Project

Prospects' new project LIFT or Literacy and Immigrant Families Together, has had an enthusiastic welcome in the immigrant community. There was an excellent turnout of 30 people who attended our introductory meeting. Our first training sessions are set to go with thirty people who want to lead Rhymes That Bind programs in their mother tongues. We also have agencies willing to host the programs. This is an exciting adventure in enhancing preschool literacy in many languages.

Christina Arnold

Going to the Beach
by Rufus Rosery

When I was fifteen I went to the beach with my brothers and one sister. My brother John, Riist my nephew and I were playing in the ocean. Sophie my sister was watching us while she cooked lunch over an open fire. My older brother Ryan was also watching us. Suddenly the water became rough. The undertow swept us into deep water and we were in trouble. John could swim better than Riist and I. Riist grabbed me by the neck and started to pull me under. John swam to shore. Ryan was coming to help us. We both were swallowing lots of water. Suddenly Ryan reached us and pulled us to shore. Riist was unconscious. We pushed the water out of him and he became conscious. I had to rest for awhile on the beach. My brother Ryan though we were too far out and he was mad at us. God was there for us that day.