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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><a name="gd_top"></a><img width="600" height="96" style="width:6.25in;height:1.0in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/MILOM/2016/07/955771/982571/ecrr_crop.png" alt="every child ready to read"><o:p></o:p></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white">Every Child Ready to Read in Michigan - November 2017</span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:13.5pt;line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0043FA">In This Issue:<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="#link_1469732773998"><span style="color:#0000EE">Early Reading (Beginning to Read) Books and Reading Levels
</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:5.25pt;line-height:140%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="#link_1469732820000"><span style="color:#0000EE">Recommended Websites on Leveling Books</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:5.25pt;line-height:140%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="#link_1469732850443"><span style="color:#0000EE">New Books of the Month</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:5.25pt;line-height:140%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="#link_1469732916102"><span style="color:#0000EE">Reflections...</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
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<span style="font-size:13.5pt;line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0043FA">This Month's Wisdom...<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">"If we follow Fountas & Pinnell’s recent suggestions, also recommendations by the American Library Association, we will stop levelling, and have parents and children
follow the five-finger rule."</span></i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="gdp" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:140%">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">~ Sue McCleaf Nespeca<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<a name="link_1469732773998"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red">Early Reading (Beginning to Read) Books and Reading Levels
</span></a><span style="font-size:18.0pt;line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="child reading" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:201pt;height:133.5pt;z-index:251658240;mso-wrap-distance-left:5.25pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:5.25pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap="f">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="268" height="178" style="width:2.7916in;height:1.8541in" src="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/MILOM/2017/11/1669332/1634106/depositphotos-10000513-s-2015_crop.jpg" align="left" hspace="7" alt="child reading" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026"><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">I
have been teaching graduate library school students at Kent State’s iSchool for 20 years now, and one of the most common questions I hear from students is why do different publishers have different reading levels for their “I Can Read” or “Beginning to Read”
books. They are frustrated that there is no universal standard. It is also a subject discussed often by public librarians --- “How do you arrange your easy reading books? "What system do you use?”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Over the years, I have heard many librarians state that they arrange their easy readers using one of the most popular and widely used reading systems, developed by Irene
C. Fountas, professor in the School of Education at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, and Gay Su Pinnell, professor in the School of Teaching and Learning at Ohio State University, called the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient. I am imaging librarians’
shock when Fountas and PInnell recently stated (October 12, 2017, School Library Journal) that they felt librarians should not arrange their books using their system, nor should they organize by levels, but rather librarians should “guide readers by interest,
not by level.” Both researchers were adamant that “their leveling system was designed as a teacher’s tool, not a child’s label.” And, “levels have no place in classroom libraries, in school libraries, in public libraries.” For more information on their interview,
see the recommended website link below.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">So what do librarians do now? If they already arranged their easy reader books using the Fountas & Pinnell system, do they completely redo their arrangement, and how
should they shelve the books now? Many librarians also feel pressured by parents to arrange books by certain levels. If we follow Fountas & Pinnell’s recent suggestions, also recommendations by the American Library Association, we will stop leveling, and have
parents and children follow the five-finger rule. Here is a description of this rule by the Reading Rockets site.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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Finger Rule<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">1. Choose a book that you think you will enjoy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">2. Read the second page.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">3. Hold up a finger for each word you are not sure of, or do not know.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">4. If there are five or more words you did not know, you should choose an easier book.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Still think it may not be too difficult? Use the five finger rule on two more pages.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">So, if you decide to have children use the five-finger rule, and you wish to stop leveling books, what arguments can you use to discontinue leveling? Here are some reasons
to stop leveling:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">1. You are limiting the child’s range of books based on their interests. The books they can choose from will be more narrow and restrictive, and not necessarily on subjects
that will interest him/her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">2. Leveling can influence a child’s sense of confidence while choosing books, since they are often restricted to picking books from just one level.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">3. Children can be frustrated (just like librarians) due to the various levels publishers use, and the inconsistency between different publishing houses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">4. Leveling books can take the joy out of reading for children, and reading books may no longer be considered fun. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<a name="link_1469732820000"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red">Recommended Websites on Leveling Books</span></a><span style="font-size:18.0pt;line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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and Pinnell say, "<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcxMTI4LjgxNTkwNDcxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MTEyOC44MTU5MDQ3MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDcxMDE1JmVtYWlsaWQ9TGFuY2FzdGVyQzVAbWljaGlnYW4uZ292JnVzZXJpZD1MYW5jYXN0ZXJDNUBtaWNoaWdhbi5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&100&&&http://www.slj.com/2017/10/literacy/fountas-pinnell-say-librarians-guide-readers-interest-not-level/"><span style="color:#0000EE">Librarians
Should Guide Readers by Interest, Not Level</span></a>." School Library Journal, October 12, 2017.
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:5.25pt;line-height:140%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcxMTI4LjgxNTkwNDcxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MTEyOC44MTU5MDQ3MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDcxMDE1JmVtYWlsaWQ9TGFuY2FzdGVyQzVAbWljaGlnYW4uZ292JnVzZXJpZD1MYW5jYXN0ZXJDNUBtaWNoaWdhbi5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&101&&&http://www.slj.com/2017/08/feature-articles/thinking-outside-the-bin-why-labeling-books-by-reading-level-disempowers-young-readers/#_"><span style="color:#0000EE">Thinking
Outside the Bin: Why labeling books by reading level disempowers young readers.</span></a>” School Library Journal, August 28, 2017.
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:5.25pt;line-height:140%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcxMTI4LjgxNTkwNDcxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MTEyOC44MTU5MDQ3MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDcxMDE1JmVtYWlsaWQ9TGFuY2FzdGVyQzVAbWljaGlnYW4uZ292JnVzZXJpZD1MYW5jYXN0ZXJDNUBtaWNoaWdhbi5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&102&&&http://bookweb.org/news/booksellers-publishers-decode-leveled-books-early-readers-34059"><span style="color:#0000EE">Booksellers,
Publishers Decode Leveled Books for Early Readers</span></a>.” By Liz Button. American Booksellers Association, July 20, 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:5.25pt;line-height:140%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">American Library Association. “<a href="libguides.ala.org/recommended-reading/leveled-reading"><span style="color:#0000EE">Recommended Reading: Leveled Readers</span></a>”
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-bottom:5.25pt;line-height:140%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcxMTI4LjgxNTkwNDcxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MTEyOC44MTU5MDQ3MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDcxMDE1JmVtYWlsaWQ9TGFuY2FzdGVyQzVAbWljaGlnYW4uZ292JnVzZXJpZD1MYW5jYXN0ZXJDNUBtaWNoaWdhbi5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&103&&&http://www.readbrightly.com/just-right-book-reading-levels-explained/"><span style="color:#0000EE">What
Is a ‘Just Right’ Book? Reading Levels Explained</span></a>.” Melissa Taylor. Brightly. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
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<a name="link_1469732850443"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red">New Books of the Month</span></a><span style="font-size:18.0pt;line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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is a Good Story</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">. Adam Lehrhaupt. Simon & Schuster, 2017.<br>
ISBN: 978-1-48142-935-1. $17.99.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The author of this book also wrote Warning: Do Not Open this Book! which won several awards and was an ALA Notable Book; also he is the author of Please, Open This Book!
So we know that he has a fascination with books and reading, which makes us as librarians very happy. This centers on HOW a book is written, and language arts teachers in the early primary grades are going to love this one. Children are introduced to what
comprises a setting in a story, how conflict should be added, what a plot is, how plot twists are necessary, and why revisions are essential, all done with humor, while a young girl tries to write a good story. This is a wonderful choice for any child who
likes to make up stories or wants to be a creative writer. There is “A Friendly List of Words Used in this Book” in the back of the book which is helpful, though some may be for a slightly advanced reader. (protagonist, antagonist). As one reviewer stated
about this book “This is a story within a story about the parts of a story.” (SLJ) That should be clear!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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Ate 9</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">. Tara Lazar. Disney/Hyperion, 2017. ISBN: 978-1-48471-779-0. $17.99.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">When I first heard of this book, two marketing folks from Disney/Hyperion did a tandem reading of the story at the ALA Midwinter Conference. I have been waiting for it
to be published ever since, because it contains the type of sarcastic humor that I love. And, to be honest, some of the humor will probably go over the heads of the very young, but don’t you love a book that has puns that only adults get, with enough jokes
for the younger set also. The letter “I” is a, well, Private I of course, a detective at the Al F. Bet agency. (Read the name of that agency again, in case you missed it.) Into his office runs number 6, who says he has it on good authority that number 7 ate
9. “And now he is after me,” quips number 6. ““Well, technically, he’s always after you,” answers Private I. "Stay here. I'll get to the root of this," says I. "I hope so," responds 6. "I fear my days are numbered," and so it goes. There is even a Café Uno
that serves Pi (okay that’s one for the parents). We get to ponder important issues such as whether being in “seventh heaven” is better than having “nine lives.” A wonderful tongue-in-cheek mystery; I dare you to read this book without laughing (or possibly
groaning). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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Pair of Underwear</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">. Aaron Reynolds. Simon & Schuster, 2017. ISBN: 978-1-44240-298-0. $17.99<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Remember Creepy Carrots that won a Caldecott Honor for Peter Brown? The same author and illustrator team has paired up for a continuing story of Jasper the Rabbit. Jasper
is excited about his new green undies, but he does not realize that they glow in the dark until he turns off his bedroom light. He tries every way imaginable to get rid of them (stuffs them in laundry hamper; throws them in a garbage can; sends them off to
China) but like the cat in the song “The Cat Came Back,” so do his undies! When he finally gets rid of them, his dark bedroom makes him miss his undies, so off he goes to buy another pair. The humor and expressions on Jasper and the undies’ faces will guarantee
that this will be a good storytime choice. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<a name="link_1469732916102"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red">Reflections...</span></a><span style="font-size:18.0pt;line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="266" height="266" style="width:2.7708in;height:2.7708in" src="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/MILOM/2017/11/1669379/1634112/rural-workshop_crop.jpg" align="left" hspace="7" alt="storytelling" v:shapes="_x0000_s1032"><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">We
are now nearing the end of the two-year Early Literacy Initiative developed by the Library of Michigan. The focus was on the “Every Child Ready to Read" project, a parent education initiative commissioned by the American Library Association. Two divisions,
The Public Library Association (PLA) and Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) concluded that public libraries could have an even greater impact on early literacy through an approach that focused on educating parents and caregivers. Most public
libraries in Michigan received the ECRR manuals and face-to-face training was conducted in several locations throughout the state. Ten webinars were offered, and they were taped, so if you missed any of them and would like to hear them, they can be found on
the Library of Michigan's <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcxMTI4LjgxNTkwNDcxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MTEyOC44MTU5MDQ3MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDcxMDE1JmVtYWlsaWQ9TGFuY2FzdGVyQzVAbWljaGlnYW4uZ292JnVzZXJpZD1MYW5jYXN0ZXJDNUBtaWNoaWdhbi5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&104&&&http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/0,2351,7-160-18668_63014-301245--,00.html">
<span style="color:#0000EE">Webinar Archives </span></a>page. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Topics included: “ECRR Library Staff Workshop”; “Early Literacy & Learning Spaces”; “Storytimes for Babies with Early Literacy Tips”; “Early Literacy Tips for Storytime:
2’s and 3’s”; “Early Literacy Tips for Storytime: Preschool”; “Mixed Aged Storytime Tips”; “Every Child Ready to Read Family Engagement & Kindergarten Readiness”; “Developmentally Appropriate Storytime Basics”; “Working with Early Childhood Educators and Volunteers
for Early Literacy”; and “Supercharged Storytimes & the Very Ready Reading Program.” There were also 19
<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcxMTI4LjgxNTkwNDcxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MTEyOC44MTU5MDQ3MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDcxMDE1JmVtYWlsaWQ9TGFuY2FzdGVyQzVAbWljaGlnYW4uZ292JnVzZXJpZD1MYW5jYXN0ZXJDNUBtaWNoaWdhbi5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&105&&&http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/0,2351,7-160-18668_34169-370596--,00.html">
<span style="color:#0000EE">newsletters </span></a>that can still be accessed online.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">It has been a pleasure to work with the State Library on this initiative, and I hope that many of you will continue to encourage parents to use early literacy practices
with their children, and that you will include early literacy tips within your storytime programs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:13.5pt;line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0043FA">About Sue<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1033" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Sue McCleaf Nespeca" style='position:absolute;margin-left:40.3pt;margin-top:0;width:91.5pt;height:126.75pt;z-index:251665408;mso-wrap-distance-left:5.25pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:5.25pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap="f">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="122" height="169" style="width:1.2708in;height:1.7604in" src="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/MILOM/2016/07/955807/982598/sue-mccleaf-nespeca_crop.jpg" align="right" hspace="7" alt="Sue McCleaf Nespeca" v:shapes="_x0000_s1033"><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Sue
McCleaf Nespeca is an early literacy & children’s literature specialist heading Kit Lit Plus Consulting. She is a trainer for the Every Child Ready to Read Project and The Very Ready Reading Program. In addition to her M.L.S., she has an M.Ed in Early Childhood
with a specialty in early literacy.<b> </b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:140%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">This project is made possible by grant funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the State of Michigan through the Library of
Michigan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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