Sunday, May 22, 2011

Congratulations to America's Student Citizen Writers

Winners of Reading Rockets Citizen Writer Writing Challenge Announced

This year Reading Rockets challenged students across the country to think and learn about America's people, places, and ideals by writing--and drawing!--creative pieces prompted by civics, citizenship, and community. Prompts were provided in four categories, and our young people rose to the challenge!

The NCBLA congratulates the creative efforts of all these young people and invites you to check out their fabulous winning entries on ReadingRockets.org!

Read! Think! Act!
Learn More About Civics, Citizenship, and American History with Our White House!

You can help young people dig deeper into America's past and think critically about the future using the NCBLA's art and literature anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out. The illustrations, essays, short stories, presidential letters, personal reflections, and historical accounts in Our White House inform and entertain, offering a window on more than 200 years of American history.  Our White House is available in both hardcover and paperback. The new paperback edition features a NEW poem by Nikki Grimes about President Obama’s inauguration!
 
Complementing the book is the NCBLA's educational website OurWhiteHouse.org, which hosts a vast array of exclusive articles, primary sources, activities and discussion questions, and research resources. Be sure to check out "I Pledge Allegiance: Classroom Kit on Becoming an American Citizen" by Helen Kampion, "Presidents Are People Too" by Heather Lang, "A Taste of the Past: White House Kitchens, Menus, and Recipes" by Mary Brigid Barrett, "The Eloquence of 'Silent Cal'" by Katherine Paterson, and "Who Gets to Vote?" by Geri Zabela Eddins.