In this VCR-crazy world of ours, statistics show that fewer and fewer of us seem to find the time to read for pleasure. And if we`re reading less, what kind of signal does that send to our children, especially after we lecture them about spending too much time playing Nintendo games?
A new Sunday morning program for children on WLIT-FM 93.9, ”Let`s Read,” aims to promote literacy and library use among children by encouraging parents and children to read together.
Airing at 7:30 a.m. on the first Sunday of each month, the half-hour program features books read by WLIT personalities, local children`s authors and special guests. Chimes tell the listeners following along at home when to turn the page.
”Let`s Read” is hosted and produced by WLIT news director Mary Anne Meyers, who came up with the idea last summer.
”I got the idea because I read to my 4 1/2-year-old daughter a lot, and she`ll listen day and night as long as I`ll read to her,” she said.
Meyers met with city and suburban system librarians, who are helping to select the featured books. The book choices are based in part on their availability, and are designed to appeal to kids ranging from toddlers to 12- year-olds.
Books to be featured are announced on the station ahead of time, allowing parents time to find them in libraries and bookstores.
”I had visions of this really being a family project,” said Meyers, a news veteran of WLS-AM and WMAQ-AM before coming to WLIT three years ago.
”The idea is to go out with your kids and find the books we`ll be reading. Then Sunday morning you`re lying in bed together with the radio on and you read together.
”It`s really fun, and I think parents will enjoy it as much as their kids.”
”Let`s Read” made its debut in January. February`s program featured Oak Park teacher Jim Ailsworth reading his book ”Two Terrible Frights,” a short tale about a girl and a mouse who live in the same country farmhouse.
”Mr. World,” an actor who speaks at schools about geography, read
”Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock,” a delightful story about a mischievous spider who gets his comeuppance. Meyers read ”Mufaro`s Beautiful Daughters,” an African folk tale, and joined with children`s author W. Nikola-Lisa to read a poem about the contrasting lives of a queen bee and a worker bee.
Books scheduled for the March 1 program are ”The House on East 88th Street” by Bernard Waber, ”Ming Lo Moves the Mountain” by Arnold Lobel, and ”The Littlest Tall Fellow” by Barry Runder.
Another thing that ”Let`s Read” does is combat the dearth of children`s programming on Chicago radio. About the only such programs are ”KidsRadio,” a magazine-format show heard at 7 a.m. Sundays on WLUP-AM 1000, and
”Pickleberry Pie,” on the College of Du Page`s WDCB-FM 90.9 at 7 a.m. Saturdays.
Meyers says that early listener response to ”Let`s Read” has been encouraging. Not surprisingly, librarians seem delighted with it, as well.
”Every time a kid reads, it`s a chance to grow in that skill and to develop a lifelong interest in reading,” said Trudy Jones, head of children`s services for the Evanston Public Library.
