| 2006-07 Announcement of book selections for Saint Paul Reads Citywide Book Club. |  | Saint Paul Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen and Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman announced their choices for the Saint Paul Reads Citywide Book Club on Monday December 4, 2006 at Garrison Keillor's new bookstore, Common Good Books. For adults and secondary students, they chose “The Things They Carried,” a collection of 22 interrelated, short fictional episodes about Vietnam by Tim O’Brien, a Minnesota native.
In addition, they are recommending six other books by Minnesota authors for younger students—“The Birchbark House” by Louise Erdrich and the following picture books:
“On the Day You Were Born,” written and illustrated by Debra Frasier;
“The Best Pet of All,” by David LaRochelle and illustrated by Hanako Wakiyama; “Children of Vietnam,” by Marybeth Lorbiecki and photographed by Paul P. Rome); “If You Want to See a Caribou,” by Phyllis Root and illustrated by Jim Meyers; and,“Song of the Water Boatman,” by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beckie Prange.
“The idea this year that the Saint Paul Reads Citywide Book Clubs rallied around was our school district’s 150th anniversary,” Dr. Carstarphen said, “so the book selection committee chose as its theme Minnesota authors.”
Mr. Keillor was recognized for his work in championing Minnesota authors and Minnesota talent in general.
Mayor Coleman talked about how the book, "The Things They Carried" affected him when he read it several years ago.
Although Tim O'Brien was unable to join the media announcement, the other six authors attended.
Please continue to check this site for events surrounding these book selections.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST YEAR:
10 million books read!
Little did Janet Ryan, Saint Paul Reads book coordinator at Mississippi Creative Arts Magnet, know that she was reporting on the 10 millionth book read for Saint Paul Reads 25 when she reported the school’s total for March. But that’s exactly what happened. Since Saint Paul Reads began in the 1999-2000 school year, Saint Paul Public School students have read more than 10 million books! It is a milestone and accomplishment to celebrate with a big dose of pride.
A central goal of Saint Paul Reads is to help students improve their reading skills. Research shows that reading improves a student’s comprehension, grammar and vocabulary skills. This in turn improves a student’s capacity to learn in all areas.
Each year, Saint Paul Public Schools challenges students to read at least 25 books. The results of this initiative have been important.  | | City councilmember Lee Helgen listens as students from Mississippi Creative Arts Magnet explain their art projects, which were based on "Esperanza Rising," the Saint Paul Reads 2005-06 book selection for young adults. |
Since Saint Paul Reads was initiated, student test scores in reading have continued to improve.
The power of books is remarkable. Not only do they spark and expand our imaginations, they also push us into creative action day-to-day.
This is true of the Saint Paul Reads book selections for 2005-06: “A Place Where the Sea Remembers” by Sandra Benitez, and “Esperanza Rising” by Pam Munoz Ryan.
Manzanillo, Mexico is the secondary city in “A Place Where the Sea Remembers.” Beginning in September, Saint Paul Reads was able to offer support to our Saint Paul/Manzanillo Sister City Organization. The Sister City Organization, together with The Pioneer Press and The Friends of the Library, announced that it would donate to Manzanillo a bookmobile. The library system in Manzanillo is informal and the bookmobile, in fact, carries more books than their library system.
In late fall, a book signing with Pam Munoz Ryan proved to be extremely popular. As students waited patiently in line, the excitement in the air was electric. Some schools identified money to bring classes to see the world premiere of the play “Esperanza Rising,” which opened at The Minnesota Children’s Theatre in March 2006. The book also inspired many projects throughout the district. For example, Mississippi Magnet and two partners, St. Paul Travellers and Highpoint Printing, launched a professionally-printed art exhibit that will also be open to the public soon.
In February, national “I Love to Read” month, Horace Mann School (K-6) held its second annual read-a-thon. Students read more than 381,700 minutes to raise $10,555, which will be used for capital improvements at the school.
“The wonderful students at Horace Mann School should be very proud of their accomplishments,” said Mayor Chris Coleman, master of ceremonies at the event and a key partner in Saint Paul Reads. “Not only have they engaged the community to help support the school financially, they have also expanded their horizons through the power of reading. As a gateway to knowledge, reading is a powerful skill that is essential to the success of our Saint Paul students.”
BENJAMIN E. MAYS MAGNET is #1 !
On October 5th, Benjamin Mays students assembled in their atrium,
waving flags and banners, and pledging to read more than 25 books
each this school year.
Little did these students know that Dr. Fretwell, their principal, was
going to announce that their school read more books than any other
elementary school in the district in 2004-05. To reward them for
reading 81,409 books, Dr. Fretwell and Clifford the Big Red Dog,
unveiled a Snoopy statue that the school gets to display for the entire
year.
Congratulations Benjamin Mays.
Cleveland Junior High is number one for reading the most Youth Books!
Cleveland Middle School took first place (for middle/senior high schools) by reading 15,661 books. It is the third year in a row Cleveland has placed first; no other school has ever achieved this distinction.
Cleveland keeps the “Lunar Snoopy” statue, sponsored by Lawson, as its award. The Snoopy statues are part of the Saint Paul Peanuts on Parade events that concluded last year.
The statues was awarded at a surprise assembly. Cheers and school pride were the order of the day, but at its heart was the importance of reading.
Saint Paul Reads is at the core of the school district’s literacy initiative and all students are expected to read at least 25 books. Since Saint Paul Reads began in late 1999, Saint Paul Public School students have read more than 9.3 million books. For more information about this program please visit www.saintpaulreads.org.
“There are two key elements that helped in our  | | In addition to being number one in reading last year, Cleveland students unveiled a banner to remind everyone that they have been number one for three years in a row! |
success,” said Dr. Graneze Fretwell, Principal at Benjamin E. Mays. “Our staff has an infectious enthusiasm in general and a commitment to literacy in particular. This also spills over from the commitment at the district level. Secondly, our kids are so determined. If we can get them hooked on reading at this age, their lives – both professionally and personally -- will be a success and we will have succeeded as educators.”
Cleveland Principal Jill Gebeke said, “As kids enter into the teenage years, reading is not their number one priority. So, it is up to us to be creative and to stay current on the books that will engage these young men and women.” She, too, credited her team, especially the school staff team that coordinates the Accelerated Reader (AR) program, which allows teachers to assess students’ reading skills and pinpoint instruction throughout the year.
Both exhilarating assemblies ended on a similar note: The principals challenged the kids to read even more books this year with the assumption that they would again be number one; and, they challenged any school in the district to try and beat them this year!
For more information about
Saint Paul Reads 25, click on the Saint Paul Reads logo on the right.
Book Selections for 2005-2006
Saint Paul Reads invites you to check out the new books for the Saint
Paul Reads Citywide Book Clubs chosen by Superintendent Pat Harvey and then-Saint Paul Mayor Randy Kelly.
The Saint Paul Reads Citywide Book Club for Kids recommends for youth
readers "Esperanza Rising," by Pam Munoz Ryan.
Esperanza
is faced with two cultures, two languages and two traditions, much like
many Saint Paul residents. When confronted by tragedy, she finds
a strength within her that she did not know existed.
The Saint Paul Reads Citywide Book Club encourages adults and secondary
school students to read "A Place Where the Sea Remembers," by
local author Sandra Benitez.
The book is set in Culiacan, Mexico, which happens to be one of Saint
Paul's sister cities. It begins with a painful event--the wait
for a drowned body to float to shore--and retraces the steps that led
to the character's death. "A Place Where the Sea Remembers"
explores how the smallest of actions can have a profound effect on many
lives.
NEW THIS YEAR!
This year, Saint Paul Reads is recommending pictures books for young
children that tie into the Latino theme. These books are "Elena's
Serenade," by Campbell Geeslin; "Erandi's Braids," by Antonio Hernandez
Madrigal; "I Love Saturdays y domingos," by Alma Flor Ada; and "Mice
and Beans," by Pam Munoz Ryan.
Saint Paul residents are encouraged to explore and celebrate the Latino
culture through reading these books throughout the summer and the 05-06
school year, and then participate in Saint Paul Reads events once the
new school year kicks off in September.
This past school year, Saint Paul students read more than 1.5 million books!
To get lists of books appropriate for different grade levels, click on Readng Lists in the menu bar on the left.
NEWS
Mayor, Superintendent announce book selections for 2005-06
In preparation for the 2005-2006 school year, Saint Paul Public Schools
Superintendent Patricia Harvey and Saint Paul Mayor Randy Kelly
announced a book for the Saint Paul Reads Citywide Book Club and one
for the Saint Paul Reads Citywide Book Club for Kids.
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AllBooks.pdf
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