Kids Reading Across Rhode Island Kick-Off May 7 at the State House

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Kids Reading Across Rhode Island, the ‘one book, one state’ initiative for students
 in grades 3-6, kicks off its 7th year with the 2016 Newbery Honor winning book, Roller Girl by Rhode Island School of Design graduate Victoria Jamieson. Grammy Award winning storyteller and author, Bill Harley, is the 2016 Chair of Kids Reading Across Rhode Island. A May 7th kickoff event with Jamieson at the State House includes a public program and activities and games presented by Rhode Island libraries and community organizations. Every family in attendance receives one copy of the book (while supplies last). Kids Reading Across Rhode Island is a partnership of the Rhode Island Center for the Book at the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities and the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services. Through Kids Reading Across Rhode Island, RI schools and public libraries join forces to bring the joys of reading from the classroom to summer vacation. About This Year’s Book The Newbery Honor Award Winner and New York Times bestseller Roller Girl is a fast-paced, honest, and funny graphic novel about friendship and surviving junior high through the power of roller derby. Author Victoria Jamieson photographed here by Herminio Jacome About the Author Victoria Jamieson received her BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design and worked as a children’s book designer before becoming a full-time illustrator. She has also worked as a portrait artist aboard a cruise ship and has lived in Australia, Italy, and Canada. She now lives with her family in Portland, Oregon, where she maintains a not-so-secret identity as Winnie the Pow, a skater with the Rose City Rollers roller derby league. Roller Girl, her first graphic novel is a New York Times and Indie Bestseller, and the recipient of the 2016 Newbery Honor Award. Kids Reading Across Rhode Island (KRARI), the summer reading initiative for students in grades 3-6, encourages students across the state to read the same book and engage in community discussions and programs that connect school and summer reading. Now in its 7th year, KRARI programming begins in classrooms, school libraries, and public libraries including opportunities to connect through discussion groups centered on the selected book. Students, teachers, parents, and librarians rally at the annual May Kick-Off Event at the State House where they hear from the author in-person, receive a free, signed copy of the book, participate in activities related to the themes of the book, and learn more about summer reading programs with local libraries and community partners. Programming continues in public libraries throughout the summer, expanding into summer reading programs that introduce new books and encourage continued reading beyond the assigned school curriculum. The 2016 statewide children’s summer reading theme is On Your Mark, Get Set !