2022 Program Theme: (animals/wildlife)

Wild Wonders

2022 official program dates: November 7 – 13

This year’s Idaho Family Reading Week theme is all about animals – “Wild Wonders.” Think wildlife. Think conservation. Think animal adaptations. Think Idaho State Emblems! Maybe you’ll teach kids the importance of pollinators, help them build a bee hotel, and place it in the community. Maybe you’ll feature jobs where people work with animals and then bring in speakers from different careers, like a vet or an animal rescue worker. Maybe you’ll  take the WILD About Early Learners Workshop, then use the accompanying guide to teach children about the Idaho state fish, the Cutthroat Trout (see the Wildlife Express State Emblem Magazine, described below). The possibilities are endless and totally up to you and your library staff.  Scroll down to “2022 Program Resources” to view tons of ideas and resources gathered by ICfL so your library can offer great literacy-oriented Family Reading Week activities. Registration opens September 15th (see below).

We have some great community partners this year: Idaho Fish & Game and Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (IAEYC). Read on for details…

Program Objectives

The primary objectives of the Idaho Family Reading Week program are:

  • To emphasize the importance of daily family/caregiver reading time and its support of early childhood literacy.
  • To connect families/caregivers of young children with the early literacy resources their local public and school libraries have available to help them prepare their child for school success.
  • To help every family/caregiver obtain a public library card and visit a public and/or school library

By applying for the Idaho Family Reading Week program, the library agrees to:

  • host at least 1 family reading/literacy event (via in-person, virtual,  curbside services, or a combination of these delivery methods) by November 30, 2022 (event does NOT have to be Nov 7-13 only; can be anytime in the month of November); NOTE: The primary literacy should NOT be the viewing of a movie with children. It can be part of the program offerings, but it should not be the core element.
  • promote library programming/resources and library cards/library access for all families/children;
  • connect with parents and caregivers about the many free resources your library can offer them in support of literacy;
  • submit a summary event report including numbers served, narrative responses and program/resource feedback by December 15, 2021 (You can preview the report questions below.)

Program Overview for 2022:

  • We have the capacity to serve 100 Idaho libraries. Public and school libraries may register for this program. School libraries are encouraged to partner with an applying public library and submit one registration form for a joint event. If the local public library cannot partner, the school library may apply on their own. We want to serve as many children/families as possible so we encourage community collaboration and discourage duplicate requests.
  • Program Registration: approx. September 15 – until filled  (based on a first-come, first served protocol; it will remain open until filled or until we reach the closing date)
  • Libraries that register will receive: 4-5 themed, newer, hardcover books (either for library programming/the collection or for participants), access to the themed artwork/graphics, marketing collateral, Wildlife Express magazines, optional Idaho Fish & Game WILD About Early Learners Workshop and Guide, recommended reading lists, animal fact bookmarks, and paperback books to give to participating families (limits will apply).
  • Libraries that are unable to register before we reach our maximum capacity of 100 libraries: You can still offer the program with the help of our free, downloadable marketing collateral, the book activity links and recommended reading lists, and the printable Student Achievement Journals. You may also consider if your event meets the requirements of the “Outreach for Underserved Children” program.

  • Aug 1 – Aug 31: Idaho FRW website updated with the new art, themed activities, handouts, and other resources. FRW registration form posted for preview before opening for submission.
  • Sept 15: Idaho FRW Registration opens! (closes when registration hits 100 libraries)
  • Oct 1 – Oct 15: Requested books, kits, and resources mailed out to participating libraries. Libraries who do not register before we hit capacity can use all program art, activity templates and other resources listed on the FRW website without registering.
  • November: Idaho FRW events held – any day in November or during week of Nov 7-13 (the official week of FRW).  FRW coincides with the national Children’s Book Week organized by Every Child a Reader (check out their program resources as well).
  • December 15: Idaho FRW event summary reports due to ICfL for all participating libraries

Want to learn more about Idaho Family Reading 2022 and our “Wild Wonders” theme BEFORE registration opens?

Missed the virtual information session on September 8th??

View the recording of this 30-min session here.

2022 Program Resources:

“Wild Wonder” animal-themed hardcover books (4) to be provided to each of the 100 Idaho libraries who register for Family Reading Week: 

Waiting for Mama book cover
The Animal Toolkit book cover

Resources for Provided Hardcover Titles (these are the same resources linked in the Google slides 1-3 above):

Field Trip/Guest Speaker/Educator Resources by Idaho Regions:

Nature Centers-Resources in Idaho Flyer

Activity Ideas:

**See Google Slides 2 & 3 above for LOTS of library activity ideas and resources.

Other Handouts:

Library staff, consider requesting and distributing these additional themed resources to your youth participants at one or more of you Family Reading Week events:

       1. Paperback books about animals – 

In addition to the 4 themed, hardcover titles listed above, participating libraries may receive some FRW-themed paperback books to use as giveaways for children/families who participate in their event. (NOTE: Not every single book supplied will be about animals, but most of them will be!) In an effort to give some high-quality books to each of the 100 libraries who register and to streamline our internal book shipping process, ICfL will provide pre-set book amounts to each participating library based on the size of your library, ranging from 50-90 paperbacks. Specific details are included in the program registration form below.)

    2. Wildlife Express “Idaho State Emblems” Magazine – 

These fun and informative wildlife magazines, were designed specifically to fit our FRW “Wild Wonders” theme to children attending your Family Reading Week activities and events. Wildlife Express Idaho State Emblems Magazine preview & correlating Activity Guide preview – NOTE: ICfL has printed 7,500 color copies of the magazine however, libraries should download and print their own activity guide handouts. Magazine request amounts are limited, depending on library size, and will range from 50-100 copies. Details are in the registration form.

      3. Animal Facts Bookmarks (by Demco) – Limit 100 per library branch

      4. Kids of Idaho Love to Learn! Activity Kits – Created specifically for children ages 3-6, these books and kits will be available for all libraries; other ages will enjoy/gain from these books as well. Our partner, the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (IDAEYC) is providing 12,000 kits for distribution with Idaho Family Reading Week. Currently, these kits are limited to 200 per participating library for FRW use. The kits are available in English & Spanish. These will be mailed to you separately from our partners IDAEYC and Lakeshore Learning.

     

The Idaho Commission for Libraries has partnered with Idaho Fish and Game to offer a special WILD About Early Learners! training just for library staff prior to the start of Idaho Family Reading Week! The training has been adapted from a fee-based, in-person training and will now be offered free to all library staff as a virtual-asynchronous combination training.

Learn ways to integrate meaningful lessons related to Idaho animals and habitats into your library programs. They’ve tied almost every activity to a book, which is a bonus for you. Join us for one 45-min virtual session (required) where Lori Adams, curriculum designer, will introduce you to the Google Sites website format and content and then you decide how and when to work through the online content independently (participants will have access to the Google site indefinitely). ICfL will mail you one copy of the WILD About Early Learner Guide that can be used to boost your FRW programming and is yours to keep! In the specialized guide you’ll find activities, music and movement, resource lists, home connections, and much more! ICfL-IFG will offer the virtual session on three days, at three different times. Choices for the required virtual information session are:

  • Wednesday, September 21st from 12:15 – 1:00 pm (Mtn)
  • Friday, September 23rd from 9:15 – 10:00 am (Mtn)
  • Tuesday, September 27th from 5:15 – 6:00 pm (Mtn)

Registration open August 22 – September 20. Register here. 

Download and utilize themed “Wild Wonders” artwork designed by ICfL to promote your Idaho Family Reading Week event.  This artwork features our Idaho State Emblems – animals and some plants. Each piece of FRW artwork comes in English & Spanish, various sizes, some with FRW dates already included, some without dates, and some Word doc posters/flyers that leaves a customizable section at the bottom for your library’s use.

FRW Art in English:

Posters/Flyers – Customizable:

Posters/Flyers – Various:

Facebook Banners:

Website Banner:

FRW Art in Spanish:

Posters/Flyers – Customizable:

Posters/Flyers – Various:

Facebook Banners:

Website Banner:

Public Announcement Info: 

  • Sample Idaho Family Reading Week Proclamation (to share with your local media, partners, local government)
  • Sample Idaho Family Reading Week Press Release (customizable for your library)

Five Early Literacy Skills handouts  – library can download/print themselves or order from ICfL via “Support Materials Order Form”:

Talking is Teaching handouts – a national literacy information campaign:

Fostering Readers website – “Helping you plan fun, research-based literacy activities for children in K-3rd grade”

Check out all the great resources and ideas at:  https://fosteringreaders.weebly.com 

Event planning tips and ideas for a successful Idaho Family Reading Week event:

Program Registration

(Open September 15 –  until filled)

Summary Report

(Due by December 15th)

Idaho Family Reading Week Archives

Looking for great program ideas and activities?

Check out the Idaho Family Reading Week archives.

Questions? Contact Read To Me Project Coordinator, Kristina Taylor

Kristina Taylor

Kristina Taylor

Outreach & Community Engagement Consultant
Email / 208-639-4136
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