Many thanks to News4Jax for having READ USA’s CEO Rob Kelly on The Morning Show this past weekend! You can watch the segment here:
We have officially kicked off “Touchdowns for Tomorrow,” our partnership with the Jacksonville Jaguars and TIAA Bank. For every touchdown the Jacksonville Jaguars score this season, TIAA Bank will donate 100 books to READ USA. The books are distributed to elementary schools during the Jaguars’ Literacy Locker Room events, where Jaguars players read books to elementary students during surprise visits.
We are also looking forward to our first Literacy Locker Room event next week at Normandy Village Elementary, generously sponsored by Whataburger. We look forward to sharing pictures soon!
Thank You, Steve & Diane Halverson
As we get closer to this year’s Peace in the Pages event, we wanted to say THANK YOU to our generous Presenting Sponsors, Steve & Diane Halverson, whose donation has underwritten the entirety of our annual event. Steve & Diana have been ardent supporters of READ USA for years and we could not be more thankful for their ongoing support of our important work.
Peace in the Pages event reminder!
October 7, 2022
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
TIAA Bank Field
Presented by Steve and Diane Halverson
Attendance to Peace in the Pages is currently reserved for our generous donors who support READ USA at $1,000 a year or more and their guests. NOW is the time to donate and reserve your seat! Click here to donate now.
We Appreciate Our Generous Sponsors!
READ USA is incredibly grateful for the following individuals and organizations who have generously supported READ USA in our efforts to close the literacy gap in Duval County and beyond!
Founders for the Future
The Baker Family Fund
The Chartrand Family Fund
The Dubow Family Fund
The Edelman Family Fund
Leach, Oberholtzer & Schlesinger families
Michael Ward & Jennifer Glock Foundation
Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund
Ellen & Jim Wiss Family Fund
Sheila and Claude Collier
Tim and Stephanie Cost
Diane and Steve Halverson
VyStar Credit Union
Literacy Game Changer ($25,000-$49,000)
CSX Foundation
Literacy Champion ($15,000-$24,000)
Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF)
Literacy Partner ($10,000-$14,000)
Black Knight
Blue Lagoon Foundation
Breeze Homes
C&ES Consultants
David A. Stein Charitable Trust
Lory Doolittle
Florida Blue Foundation
Gunster
Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation
JB Coxwell
JB Foundation
Literacy Advocate ($5,000-$9,000)
Comcast
Gate Petroleum
JM Family Enterprises/Southeast Toyota
Marand Builders/Marand Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. David C. Miller
PGA Tour
Mr. and Mrs. Brent L. Trager
Dori Walton
Literacy Angel ($1,000-$4,000)
Kevin and Fay Blake
Aimee Boggs
Brooks Rehabilitation
Sheila and Claude Collier
Community First Credit Union
The Community Foundation
Cindy and Scott Cooper
Danis Construction
Dorothy Dorion
Spence and Nancy Edwards
Preston Haskell
Lori Hershey
Carrie A. King & Christina N. Wirth
Charlene Landen
Gregory Matovina
Matthew A. Minnick
Pajcic & Pajcic
Deirdra M. Robinson
Mr. and Mrs. Gary D. Silverfield
Terracon Consultants
Tom Bush Regency Motors
Unitarian Universalist Church
Ms. Linda W. Watkins
Please join us in saying THANK YOU to these fabulous individuals and organizations who are making a difference in our community!
by Katherine Applegate
Children’s Book: Odder
This is a sweet story about an Otter named... “Odder.” Odder lives off the coast of central California, near the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Curious humans watch her playfulness, tricks, and quirky moves. She puts on a show with sea urchins, twists, dives, and quick turns. One day, Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark. Soon, Odder begins to question everything she’s known about life, about herself, and even about the humans who work to save her.
Giving a nod to and inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that “pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers,” this adorable and poignant tale helps readers discover the true hero’s journey from euphoria, to abyss, then bravery, healing, and finally self-discovery and awareness. As a gift, our beloved author Katherine Applegate tells the tale in lyrical free verse.
Odder is ready to win your heart and help you discover your own value.
Submitted by Tabetha Cox, Tutoring Program Director
Education Corner:
Genres and Formats
Growing readers need options from a full range of genres and formats to capture their interest, build their background knowledge, and to show that reading is not only educational, but can also be enjoyable! In the book, “From Striving to Thriving,” by Stephanie Harvey and Annie Ward, the authors share the potpourri of genres available to readers.
Nonfiction shows us the world is endlessly fascinating!
Series books like Baby-Sitters Club, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Little House on the Prairie, Piggy and Elephant, and so many others become friends that provide predictable entertainment and adventure.
Graphic novels appeal to our most reluctant readers while offering full-length texts, unlike their predecessors, comic books.
Poetry has the power to capture striving readers’ ears. Look for playful poetry from Jack Prelutsky or Shel Silverstein.
Wordless picture books draw us into a world where anyone can successfully read a fantastic story.
Coffee Table books invite readers to explore a topic visually while building reading skills. The possibilities are endless: space, castles, history, and much more.
History, mystery, fables and folk tales! Adventure awaits as your reader explores a wide variety of genres while building their background knowledge and exercising their reading muscles!
