I admit my kids aren't the readers that I was when I was a child. No, Wii and DS weren't around back then. Although my grandparents had an Atari that I enjoyed playing when I was at their house, my parents' house didn't have games. Eventually we had some for our computer, and we got a PlayStation at some point, but really, all that happened way past elementary school: my grammar-school education was through books.
My favorites included the Betsy-Tacy series, and B is for Betsy. (Okay, I guess it is a miracle I don't have a child named Betsy - although I have two friends who have daughters named "Tacy.") I wasn't a big Nancy Drew fan, although I read a couple Hardy Boys and Bobbsey Twins. I was huge into Encyclopedia Brown and of course all the Judy Blume books (mainly Ramona ones.) I also liked the "A Very Young..." series (A Very Young Dancer was my favorite, followed close behind was A Very Young Gymnast) Then it is with a nostalgic tear in my eye that I recall how I loved Maggie Adams, Dancer, and struck up a pen-pal relationship with the now-late author Karen Strickler Dean.
Fortunately, even in the electronic age, there are ways to promote reading. I reviewed the LeapFrog TAG, and am a big fan of game-based educational products in general; they appeal to my boys, are "with the times" and do teach plenty of important skills.
Leapfrog is sponsoring a One Million Reading Hours Pledge in support of the National Education Association's Read Across America for "National Reading Month." By pledging to set aside at least 10 minutes a day, parents can contribute to the national goal of 1 million reading hours committed. Plus, Leapfrog is offering special offers; for example, check out the coupon on the upper righthand side of the reading pledge sign-up: $10 off a TAG LeapFrog system or $4 off any book in the TAG library. Plus, they are offering prizes, such as the one they are offering to my readers!
What Can You Win?
* One (green) Tag reader + 5 books (chosen by LeapFrog) for personal use
* An expanded-memory LeapFrog School Tag reader + 10 books (chosen by LeapFrog) to donate to the winner's local library.
HOW Can You Win?
FIRST, Make a Pledge. THEN:
* Leave a comment here telling me how much time you have pledged in the LeapFrog 1 Million Reading Hours Campaign
* Earn an extra entry by tweeting this contest (send me the link to your tweet so I know you did it!)
A winner will be randomly selected at the end of the month.
Get Reading!
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Comments are now closed -- thank you all for your reading pledges and tweets about Read Across America! The winner will be announced shortly...
Comments (31)
We pledged 30, but we already read that much, so we're going for 45 minutes a day.
Posted by Azul | March 17, 2009 8:09 AM
Posted on March 17, 2009 08:09
I pledged to read 20 minutes a day to my daughter. thanks
Posted by Shawn | March 20, 2009 12:45 PM
Posted on March 20, 2009 12:45
I pledged 20 minutes a day with my little ones.
Posted by Kristie | March 20, 2009 1:22 PM
Posted on March 20, 2009 13:22
I pledged 20 minutes with my 2 children.
Posted by Amy B. | March 20, 2009 3:04 PM
Posted on March 20, 2009 15:04
Hello! I think this is wonderful! I pledged 20 min. but I know we read more than that:) My little one loves being read to! Thanks!
Crystal
Posted by Crystal Adkins | March 20, 2009 3:10 PM
Posted on March 20, 2009 15:10
I pledged 30 minutes a day.
Posted by MJ | March 20, 2009 4:13 PM
Posted on March 20, 2009 16:13
I pledged 20 minutes a day!
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
Posted by Bebemiqui | March 20, 2009 5:16 PM
Posted on March 20, 2009 17:16
I pledged 20 minutes of reading/day with my 4 year old son!
Posted by Sarah | March 20, 2009 8:42 PM
Posted on March 20, 2009 20:42
We pledged 20 minutes a day. We already read 30 a day during the week, but are slack on the weekend. I will try to step that up.
Posted by DEBIJOT | March 20, 2009 10:52 PM
Posted on March 20, 2009 22:52
I pledged to read 30 minutes with my kiddies. I'm a library lady...so reading is on the top of my list!
seeryusfam@msn.com
Posted by Sky | March 21, 2009 11:08 AM
Posted on March 21, 2009 11:08
20 minutes a day!
Posted by TheDreamer | March 22, 2009 5:52 AM
Posted on March 22, 2009 05:52
I pledged 20 minutes a day for 2 of my grandchildren who live with me. Thank you so much!
Posted by judy brittle | March 22, 2009 5:23 PM
Posted on March 22, 2009 17:23
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/kewpiedoll04/status/1372907544
Posted by judy brittle | March 22, 2009 5:23 PM
Posted on March 22, 2009 17:23
We put 30 minutes a day... frankly I think we already do that, but I haven't kept track before now. I'm kind of interested to see how much we actually do!
Posted by Kelly | March 22, 2009 7:11 PM
Posted on March 22, 2009 19:11
I pledged 20 minutes a day. We usually do more though.
Posted by melissa | March 22, 2009 8:46 PM
Posted on March 22, 2009 20:46
I pledge 30 minutes a day! I think that is a pretty easy goal, since I'm pretty sure we do that every day already!
Posted by Patti | March 23, 2009 6:16 AM
Posted on March 23, 2009 06:16
I pledged 20 minutes a day with my daughter.
Posted by Charlotte | March 25, 2009 9:25 AM
Posted on March 25, 2009 09:25
I pledged to read 30 minutes a day to my daughter. We just love to read so this will be fun!! Thank you for the chance to win.
Posted by Mandee | March 28, 2009 1:16 PM
Posted on March 28, 2009 13:16
Great giveaway! Not sure how much we are reading now..I will pledge 30 minutes a day :)
kathy
www.handfulofellers.blogspot.com
Posted by kathy Eller | March 28, 2009 11:16 PM
Posted on March 28, 2009 23:16
I pledged to read 20 minutes a day to my daughter. thanks.
Posted by Shawn | March 30, 2009 5:25 PM
Posted on March 30, 2009 17:25
I pledged 30 minutes daily!
Posted by Rebecca C | March 30, 2009 9:27 PM
Posted on March 30, 2009 21:27
Tweet: http://twitter.com/wastebasket/statuses/1422483356
Posted by Rebecca C | March 30, 2009 9:28 PM
Posted on March 30, 2009 21:28
I plegded 30 mins per day! We are a book loving family. Thanks for the chance.
Posted by Andria | March 31, 2009 4:53 AM
Posted on March 31, 2009 04:53
We pledge 45 minutes a day! What a fantastic giveaway, this would bless our tiny urban library so much! thanks...
Posted by DesignHER Momma | March 31, 2009 5:30 AM
Posted on March 31, 2009 05:30
I pledged 20 min a day.
Thanks
Posted by Danielle E. | March 31, 2009 5:37 AM
Posted on March 31, 2009 05:37
I pledged 30 minutes a day
jceko77@yahoo.com
Posted by Jo | March 31, 2009 8:08 AM
Posted on March 31, 2009 08:08
i pledge 20 minutes a day thanks
Posted by toni jensen | March 31, 2009 11:06 AM
Posted on March 31, 2009 11:06
I try to read 15 minutes at naptime and at bedtime with my daughter, so I pledged 30 minutes a day. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Posted by xenia | March 31, 2009 1:33 PM
Posted on March 31, 2009 13:33
We pledged to read for 30 mins a day with my nieces on the days they are here.
Posted by lace | March 31, 2009 8:25 PM
Posted on March 31, 2009 20:25
I just pledged 30 minutes per day to read to my darling dear son who passionately loves books! : )))
Thanks so much for this fabulous give~away! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
Posted by Leah | March 31, 2009 11:23 PM
Posted on March 31, 2009 23:23
I also TWITTERED about this give~away.......username: mamaleahita.
http://twitter.com/mamaleahita/status/1429845898
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
Posted by Leah | March 31, 2009 11:24 PM
Posted on March 31, 2009 23:24