KUED, Natural History Museum of Utah, and The Salt Lake City Public Library kick off the 19th Annual Reading Marathon with LEAP into Science (SLC: Nov 14 - Dec 3)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Julianne Hancock
E: jhancock@slcpl.org
M:  801.455.3432

KUED, Natural History Museum of Utah, and The Salt Lake City Public Library kick off the 19th Annual Reading Marathon with

LEAP into Science

A Partnership with Utah's Public Libraries

November 14 - December 3, 2011
KUED is kicking off the 19th Annual Reading Marathon on November 12th from 2:00pm – 3:00pm at the Main Library in Salt Lake City, in partnership with The City Library and the Natural History Museum of Utah. Come join your favorite PBS characters for a fun afternoon of science exploration! Families will LEAP into Science through hands-on activities and children’s books. Children and parents will have fun experimenting with balance and exploring the science of sound. Each child who attends will receive a free science book, courtesy of the KUED Ready To Learn initiative, with a Reading Marathon bookmark. Everyone who attends will be entered into our prize drawing to win Natural History Museum of Utah passes and other prizes from our partners!
KUED's 19th Annual READING MARATHON, running November 14th through December 3th, 2011, encourages children and their families to spend quality time reading together. The literacy event is in partnership with Utah's public libraries and community agencies, including Natural History Museum of Utah, Utah’s Public Libraries, Salt Lake Head Start, Boys & Girls Clubs of Salt Lake, Utah PTA, Girl Scouts of Utah and many more. Last year, more than 3,000 children participated in the Reading Marathon and more than 1,800 children and their parents celebrated at the Super Reader Party with PBS pals “Sid” from Sid the Science Kid, “Buddy” from Dinosaur Train, and “Martha” from Martha Speaks at the Utah State Fairpark. The Super Reader Party is the resulting reward for spending a little time reading together.
Families may pick up a reading log at their public library or online at www.kued.org/reading <http://www.kued.org/reading> . Children of pre-school age through sixth grade have different reading goals to meet. Details are outlined on the reading log and online. Participants may read alone, read to someone else, or be read to by another person.
"KUED's Reading Marathon is a great way for families to spend time together," says Jacqui Voland, Community Outreach Manager for KUED. "Parental involvement is key to successful outcomes at school and KUED’s Reading Marathon, a part of the KUED Ready To Learn education initiative, is a fun way to promote literacy and the many fun and educational programs offered through PBS."
During the month of November, libraries and literacy partners statewide will host kick-off parties. For a list of locations and Reading Marathon requirements, visit the KUED website www.kued.org/reading <http://www.kued.org/reading> .
"Providing services online allows us to streamline the process for our community partners and viewers, allowing more time for fun," Voland explains. Mini-grant applications for libraries located 100 miles or more from Salt Lake can also be submitted online this year. Deadline for mini-grants is Friday, November 11th, 2011.    
Once children complete the marathon, they will be able to go online and enter their own reading hours. Super Readers can then print both a reading certificate and an invitation to the Super Reader party with our PBS Pals including “Cat” from The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!, “Martha” from Martha Speaks, “Buddy” from Dinosaur Train, “Curious George”, and new this year “Princess Presto” from Super Why. This year KUED will also be incorporating early science inquiry into our activities helping children learn more about everyday science and encouraging them to explore the world around them.
At the invitation-only Super Reader Party in January, hands-on learning activities, entertainment and free books are all part of the reward for being a KUED "Super Reader", including a high five from PBS kid’s characters for reading achievements.

For additional information on KUED's READING MARATHON, call (801) 581-6163 or visit www.kued.org/reading <http://www.kued.org/reading> .

See what's going on in your community and what's on the KUED Kids block KUED-Channel 7 by visiting www.kued.org/kids <http://www.kued.org/kids> , or keep in touch with us on our KUED Kids – FACEBOOK.
 

LEAP into Science is a partnership between The Franklin Institute Science Museum and the Free Library of Philadelphia, designed to promote engagement in science and literacy for children and families through a series of workshops that integrate hands-on science activities with children’s books.



Funder Credits:



The Utah LEAP into Science activities are made possible in part by a grant from WGBH, the Peep and the Big Wide World science initiative and the KUED Ready To Learn initiative.



The KUED Ready To Learn initiative is funded by the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, the Emma Eccles Jones Foundation, Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, R. Harold Burton Foundation, U.S. Bank, Herbert I. & Elsa B. Michael Foundation, The Boeing Company, JKS Family Foundation, The Castle Foundation, and Utah Medical Association Foundation.


KUED’s Reading Marathon made possible in part by Target, Salt Lake County, and the KUED Ready To Learn initiative.



In Kind sponsors: Utah State Fairpark, Cream O' Weber, Dairy Council of Utah, Nicholas and Company, Inc. and Utah Family Magazine.



Community Partners of KUED's 2011 READING MARATHON are Salt Lake City Main Public Library, Salt Lake County Library Services, The Library Park City and Summit County libraries, Davis County libraries, Utah State Library Division, Salt Lake CAP Head Start, Utah's Hogle Zoo, Utah Museum of Natural History, Intermountain Therapy Animals, Clark Planetarium,  Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake, Utah PTA, University Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI),  Davis School District, Mad Science of Greater Salt Lake, Utah Education Network (UEN), the Salt Lake City Section of the American Chemical Society, Thanksgiving Point, Utahn’s for Public Schools, Commission on Literacy, State of Utah Office of the Governor, Reach Out and Read, Bad Dog Rediscovers America, Discovery Gateway, Girl Scouts of Utah, Red Butte Garden and Safe Kids Salt Lake County.




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JULIANNE HANCOCK
Communications Manager | Salt Lake City Public Library
p: 801.524.8219 | m: 801.455.3432 | jhancock@slcpl.org