Share a Story-Shape a Future: Wrapping Up 2010

As I mentioned the other day, I delayed writing a wrap-up post because I was still working through some of the posts and discussions generated  by them, as well as catching up on some of the Writing about Reading responses from last week. 

In her Monday post at Booklights, Jen Robinson offers a day-by-day, link-laden summary of Share a Story - Shape a Future 2010, so I'll point you there rather than repeat it here. At Tif Talks Books, Tif offers similar post-by-post coverage for each of our participants. Jen and Tif offer different perspectives: Jen's is a more straight forward recap; Tif shares why she found the article valuable/relevant/helpful/etc.

So what's left to talk about? The Village!!

The children's book and literacy blogospheres reach far and wide, which is what makes the Share a Story ~ Shape a Future blog tour possible. That's a good thing, and a problematic thing. It is large and evolving, so it is impossible to know everyone. Last year (our first year) we had lots of familiar faces participating as hosts, guests, and commenters. This year, we expanded beyond "the known" in lots of different ways.

* We had contributors from three continents, not just two! In addition to Australia and North America, we had folks in the UK. We are a global village.

* There were lots of new participants as guest bloggers, interviewees, commenters, and writers. To be honest, I wasn't sure how the Writing about Reading event would go. It was clearly a great way to expand the event, and I found lots of new blogs and great discussions, too.

*Together, the formal posts and informal comments/discussions have created another "quilt" of great ideas and ways to engage kids. I particularly enjoyed the discussions about books-to-film.

* Our giveaways captured interest, as well, and spanned traditional and 21st century literacies, with both books and eBooks.

The Worldwide Web allows us to share ideas, encourage and reassure each other, and reach beyond the places we live. But it doesn't allow us to make a personal connection - that critical ingredient we all talked about - to help kids get excited about reading. 

• By talking about being a reading mentor, we can share the joy that comes with "rolling up your sleeves." The kids are so excited and we get as much from the experience as we give.
• By from and placing books in our community libraries, we are creating opportunities for kids. Not only are we helping them read, we are expanding their worlds.

Our hope is that you found something valuable in the discussions last week and that you are energized to participate  in your community: start a book club with your child or your neighbor kids; volunteer at the library; become a reading mentor for an at-risk reader; donate books or time to a literacy nonprofit ... It takes a village to raise a reader, and I, for one, am so happy to be living here with you.

My thanks to everyone who in any way contributed to Share a Story ~ Shape a Future 2010. Its success is all because of your passion for and dedication to kids and literacy!

We would love to know your thoughts about Share a Story ~ Shape a Future 2010. What worked for you? what didn't? Were there things we should have covered and didn't? What could we do different next year?

Image credits: It Takes a Village logos created by Susan Stephenson using ToonDoo.com.