BOOKS ARE HAPPENING FOR RIF OF NOVA schools!
RIF of NOVA and the schools we serve have held many book distributions throughout the years. The photos below capture just a few of the events held at various schools and sites where children have been able to pick out a book of their own -- and sometimes even more than one -- thanks to special grants and to gently used book donations from our community! Here are a few samples!
Cora Kelly Cougars Get Ready for Summer Reading!
On the same day students participated in a June field day outside the Cora Kelly School (Alexandria), inside the library, students were choosing books to take home for summer reading. Led by librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Cathy Guthrie, they heard a story and picked out their choice book to take home forever. One young reader exclaimed: "These books are so beautiful, I wish I could have one hundred!"
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A Celebration of SUMMER at Bel Air Elementary -- Anything is Popsicle!
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During their last week of library classes, Bel Air students chose a NOVA RIF book to take home for the summer. Activities included summer-themed coloring pages of popsicles and other fun summer images, summer-themed word searches, and a "Summer Dessert I Spy" page. Students could enjoy listening to summer-themed read aloud videos on the library's SMART board including, The Couch Potato by Jory John, Goldfish on Vacation by Sally Lloyd-Jones, Penguin on Vacation by Salina Yoon, and And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner. Finally, as an additional enrichment activity, students used Legos, Lego Duplos, and Mega Blocks to construct their dream summer vacation!
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"Spring into Reading" at Polk Elementary School
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At James K. Polk Elementary's RIF of NOVA book distribution in Alexandria, K-2 students learned about butterflies and their life cycles. With librarian Leslie Broughton at the helm, the children read Eric Carle books and colored Carle illustrations to create their own spring works of art.
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Children in grades three through five made origami bookmarks during this April book distribution. Notice anything these sweet faces have in common? Yep! All were happy ... to have new RIF of NOVA books to call their own!
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Kenmore Middle School Students Send a Thank You!
NOVA RIF special friend Tharren Clark -- shown above with his most recent donation -- has been purchasing and contributing books to children in our community for several years! Kenmore Middle School students got to choose some of those books during a distribution in April, organized by school librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Claire Prisock. Students were delighted with their new books, and they said so in a big thank you note!
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Treasures in a Bin at Hoffman-Boston Elementary
In a bin outside Ms. Freeman-Moore's pre-school class at Hoffman-Boston Elementary in Arlington, children were able to find all kinds of book treasures. Many of the books came from an event called Munch and Mission sponsored by a Women of Faith group at Clarendon United Methodist. The event was spearheaded by RIF of NOVA board member Gayle Kelley. Thanks to school librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Jennifer Walter for arranging for this distribution of gently used books from our community.
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Hutchison's "Gobble Up a Sweet Read!"
What a sweet way to encourage reading! Herndon's Hutchison Elementary School librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Marci Hoyt welcomed her students to a week-long reading fest in early March with books and some sweet treats, too! Those lucky enough to pick the right lollipop were able to choose TWO books to take home forever! How sweet is that!!! 
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Crestwood Elementary Holds a Contest: Who is that Mystery Reader?
At Crestwood Elementary's RIF of NOVA book distribution in Springfield, students in kindergarten through 6th grade played a guessing game as "Mystery Readers" read the book The Day the Crayons Quit. While classes listened to the story as part of the school's news show, they could watch the pages being turned on the TV screen. Afterward, students voted on the identities of the mystery readers.
Librarian and RIF of NOVA liaison Eileen Findley charted the students' votes on a poster. After the contest, each child was able to choose a new NOVA RIF book and a scented bookmark to go with it. And who were those mystery readers? Crestwood personnel, invited by Eileen Findley to participate during Read Across America Week! What a great way to get everybody involved! |
Credit -- Publisher: Philomel Books; Author: Drew Daywalt; Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers
Drew Daywalt's book The Day the Crayons Quit features a little boy named Duncan and a striking box of crayons. In the story, Blue crayon needs a break from always coloring bodies of water. Black crayon wants to be used for more than just outlining. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking — each believing it is the true color of the sun. What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons? As the Crestwood children listened to the story, they found out! Such fun!
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Patrick Henry's Book Character Costume Day!
Children at Patrick Henry K-8 in Alexandria picked out NOVA RIF books in late February dressed in book character costumes. Library media specialist and NOVA RIF liaison Lauren Neal led the way in her unicorn costume! A serious blast for all! 
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"The Love of Books" at Even Start
The Even Start Family Literacy Program in Arlington, led by director Sara Mulrooney, held a NOVA RIF book distribution in mid-February with the theme "The Love of Books." Even Start is a free family literacy program for APS parents who have children under the age of 10, with the goal of empowering parents who are learning English to be effective partners in their children’s education. Children picked out books and helped their moms make Valentine cards using pictures of their children reading. Delight was all around ... helped by a visit from a very special red guest!
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Valentine Bingo at Ashlawn
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Pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade students in the Language Arts Program at Ashlawn Elementary School in Arlington played Valentine bingo during their February NOVA RIF book distribution. Led by liaisons Allison Gordon and Jennifer Ellington, the children read Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems, followed by choosing a book to keep.
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ACCA Readers Love their New RIF of
NOVA Books! The ACCA Child Development Center in Annandale provided books to its little readers during a distribution in early February 2022. Just look at these faces to see that RIF of NOVA books have an impact even on the younger set! 
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FCPS PreK and Early Head Start
The Fairfax County Public School PreK and Early Head Start program held December 2021 NOVA RIF book distributions with a bunch of fun! Led by Early Childhood Resource Teacher Sharon Goldman, students from the PreK classroom at Hunters Woods read The Color Monster and created their own monster masks. Students at Braddock Elementary danced to alphabet videos, marched in a storybook parade dressed in character costumes, and made a "thankful chart." Of course, every child chose a book to take home forever! "We really appreciate the work you do to get the books into the hands of students," Ms. Goldman wrote. Students also created thank you cards to show their appreciation. |
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Bel Air's Winter Festival
December brought three days of RIF of NOVA book giveaways in the Bel Air Elementary School library -- led by librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Rosanne North-Jack. Students from this Woodbridge school took home two books for their home library, decorated a winter bookmark, and challenged their vocabulary skills with word searches and I spy games. 
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Marumsco Hills: Books Bring Us: Friends, Together, Surprises, Laughter, Joy...
With NOVA RIF liaison and school librarian Julie Platt at the helm, Marumsco Hills Elementary School held a December distribution with the theme: "Books Bring Us: friends, together, surprises, laughter, joy, memories, adventure, magic, and fun!" The young Woodbridge readers could fill in with one of these words or pick another! They were then able to pick books for winter holiday reading. Wrote Julie: "I love seeing the kid's faces light up when we tell them they get to keep the books."
With NOVA RIF liaison and school librarian Julie Platt at the helm, Marumsco Hills Elementary School held a December distribution with the theme: "Books Bring Us: friends, together, surprises, laughter, joy, memories, adventure, magic, and fun!" The young Woodbridge readers could fill in with one of these words or pick another! They were then able to pick books for winter holiday reading. Wrote Julie: "I love seeing the kid's faces light up when we tell them they get to keep the books."
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Lynbrook's Camp Read A Lot
Lynbrook Elementary’s librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Julie Baker welcomed her students to Camp Read A Lot in November for a camping themed book distribution. Immersed in “nature,” these Fairfax County students enjoyed a “crackling” fire within their campsite, complete with pine trees, a large tent, a camping chair, and a cooler, while choosing books to own from RIF of NOVA and enjoying camp-themed word searches and activities. Julie was pleased to share that the students really enjoyed the experience and are loving their newly owned books.
Lynbrook Elementary’s librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Julie Baker welcomed her students to Camp Read A Lot in November for a camping themed book distribution. Immersed in “nature,” these Fairfax County students enjoyed a “crackling” fire within their campsite, complete with pine trees, a large tent, a camping chair, and a cooler, while choosing books to own from RIF of NOVA and enjoying camp-themed word searches and activities. Julie was pleased to share that the students really enjoyed the experience and are loving their newly owned books.
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Falls Church-McLean Children's Center
The FCMLCC held two distributions -- May 2022 and November 2021 -- with help from NOVA RIF partner, the New Dominion Women's Club. NDWC members read to the children and helped them pick out books to take home forever! The NDWC has partnered with NOVA RIF for many years to fund and distribute books to FCMLCC children. See more photos from the May and November events by clicking here.
The FCMLCC held two distributions -- May 2022 and November 2021 -- with help from NOVA RIF partner, the New Dominion Women's Club. NDWC members read to the children and helped them pick out books to take home forever! The NDWC has partnered with NOVA RIF for many years to fund and distribute books to FCMLCC children. See more photos from the May and November events by clicking here.
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Cora Kelly's Fall Festival
Alexandria's Cora Kelly Elementary School for Math, Science and Technology held an outdoor Fall Festival book distribution during a windy, yet sunny November school day. Librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Catherine Guthrie, along with library assistant Linda Berry, facilitated the distribution, noting that the donated books "will inspire students to read all through the upcoming holidays."
Alexandria's Cora Kelly Elementary School for Math, Science and Technology held an outdoor Fall Festival book distribution during a windy, yet sunny November school day. Librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Catherine Guthrie, along with library assistant Linda Berry, facilitated the distribution, noting that the donated books "will inspire students to read all through the upcoming holidays."
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Woodley Hills: "We Are Thankful for Books!"
The distribution theme at Woodley Hills Elementary School in November was: We are Thankful for Books! Students had the opportunity to choose two books and complete a thankful activity. According to librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Jill Connors, "our littles, colored Piggy and Elephant, based on the book we read the previous week. Our middle grades did a Pete the Cat directed drawing activity, and our older students created a thankful themed fortune teller. Great fun and gratitude was had by all. Once again, thank so much for all RIF of NOVA does to make this possible!"
The distribution theme at Woodley Hills Elementary School in November was: We are Thankful for Books! Students had the opportunity to choose two books and complete a thankful activity. According to librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Jill Connors, "our littles, colored Piggy and Elephant, based on the book we read the previous week. Our middle grades did a Pete the Cat directed drawing activity, and our older students created a thankful themed fortune teller. Great fun and gratitude was had by all. Once again, thank so much for all RIF of NOVA does to make this possible!"
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John Adams: Book It For Books!
John Adams Elementary School in Alexandria held a very special book distribution at its October Book It For Books One-Mile Fun Run. Over a hundred students and family members came out to walk and run and celebrate books! NOVA RIF liaison and John Adams librarian Emily Godfrey led the event with full support from her school community. See more photos of this event by clicking here.
John Adams Elementary School in Alexandria held a very special book distribution at its October Book It For Books One-Mile Fun Run. Over a hundred students and family members came out to walk and run and celebrate books! NOVA RIF liaison and John Adams librarian Emily Godfrey led the event with full support from her school community. See more photos of this event by clicking here.
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