Newsletters

Fall 2022 Newsletter - Back to School with Folktales
We thought it might be helpful to kick-off the fall 2022-2023 school year with an
overview of why folktales are more relevant than ever.
In this newsletter, we’ve organized four major sections that highlight the unique
contribution that folktales can make in today’s challenging world.

February 2022 Newsletter - Random Acts of Kindness
"One can never go wrong with random acts of kindness, and there can never be too much kindness in our world. Every small act of kindness is significant. It may seem like it doesn’t accomplish much, but one act of kindness can lead to more positive outcomes."

Fall 2021 Newsletter - Supplemental Reading More Important Than Ever!
Supplemental Reading More Important Than Ever! With so many distractions, returning to school has been more challenging than ever this year. However, one aspect of back to school is still critical every fall: finding ways to reinvigorate kids with a love of learning while also determining each child’s specific reading strengths and needs.
One consistent trend we’ve noticed is that Story Cove usage typically spikes in Kindergarten through 2nd grade classrooms during the first 12 weeks of the school year. This trend is true for both the online version and the 8x8 paperback picture books with differentiated lesson plans.

Spring 2021 Newsletter - Kindness Tales Launches April 7th
Kindness Tales Launches April 7th
What could be more timely than a book about kindness in today's divided and often hostile world?
Kindness Tales is the long-awaited third book in a trilogy that includes Peace Tales and Earth Care from award winning author and highly-respected folklorist, Margaret Read MacDonald. Margaret has curated a collection of her favorite stories that celebrate the timeless power of kindness to make our world a gentler, safer, and more loving place.
Kindness Tales contains more than forty folktales that illustrate the transformative power of kindness through leading, sharing and caring for one another.

November 2020 Newsletter - Sharing Stories Is More Important Than Ever – Especially During the Pandemic
Sharing Stories Is More Important Than Ever With so many schools still using remote learning or a blended learning model, kids (and their families) often feel more isolated and alone. One way to help kids feel more connected with their teachers and classmates is to help them share their personal stories about their experiences during the pandemic and the ways their lives have changed (in some cases dramatically).
Sharing stories, whether remotely over Zoom or in a physical classroom setting, can have a profound impact on kids, not only on their sense of personal well-being but also on their academic proficiency. In fact, there is a growing body of research that supports the efficacy of using the age-old tradition of storytelling and its potential impact on learning readiness.

August 2020 Newsletter - Back to School
Featured Author: Bill Harley, Book of the Month: America's Outlaws and the Treasurers They Left Behind by W.C. Jameson, New Releases: Sweet Tamales for Purim by Barbara Bietz and Bear's All-Night Party by Bill Harley

July 2020 Newsletter - Why Are Multi-Cultural Stories So Important Today?
Why Are Multi-Cultural Stories So Important Today? At a time of so much social upheaval, many people are naturally questioning the relevance of many cultural traditions. So let’s use this opportunity to discover how timeless stories from other cultures have enriched and influenced our society.

Fall 2019 Newsletter - Why Are Scary Stories So Important?
From time to time, parents and even some educators have asked me about reading scary stories with young children. In some cases, they were concerned about how kids might react to a truly horrifying character or a particularly creepy situation. Sometimes, they were worried that a child might feel overwhelmed by the intensity of a scene. In other situations, they were afraid that kids might believe in the power of witchcraft or magic.