Firefighter Read Me a Book!

Firefighter-Read Me a Book! explains how to organize and publicize a Guest Readers Program, a unique and exciting way to motivate children to read. It is designed for teachers, librarians, parents, youth counselors, scout leaders, and anyone else working with children who wants to create stimulating programming for them and further the cause of literacy. The Guest Readers Program recruits people from the community at large to read stories that relate to their own occupations or special areas of interest. Story time is followed by demonstrations and discussion. Not only does the program inspire children to read, but it also broadens their view of the world. Most schools find it financially prohibitive to sponsor field trips. The Guest Readers Program brings the world to the classroom. In addition, the program offers the community an opportunity to be involved in educating our youth. Anderson offers ten specific program plans, each including a suggested Guest Reader, such as baseball player, sanitation worker, or ballet dancer; estimated time frame; title of a read-aloud book, with a summary of the story line; suggested introduction of Guest Reader and book; discussion topics and ideas for demonstrations; and related follow-up activities, including songs and poems. Each plan includes a bibliography of related books.