Reading around the World

Fourteen children visited Germany without leaving the Market Café in Wegmans on Amherst Street in Buffalo one Saturday in November. They traveled in a time-honored tradition—by book—thanks to Buffalo State students and their instructor Kim Truesdell, associate professor in the Elementary Education and Reading Department, and to Wegmans’ hospitality in hosting the Global Book Project.

"When Buffalo State proposed the program to us," said Amy Pastore, assistant store manager, "we thought it was an awesome idea. We’re glad to have this connection with Buffalo State, especially because it benefits folks in the community."

The event, held every Saturday at 11:00 a.m. during the college year, is in its second semester. It’s part of a service-learning course, which requires students to perform community service to deepen their understanding of the course material while contributing to society.

At the beginning of each session, the young travelers get their passports stamped by Katie Sclafani, a graduate student in the literacy specialist master’s program. Wegmans provides two round rugs for the children to sit on while Buffalo State teachers-in-training present a geography and vocabulary lesson.

The children are divided into three groups, each headed by a Buffalo State student who reads aloud to them. Wegmans provides a snack along with a lesson in nutrition. Eva, a customer service person, passed out the snack along with a chart and stickers so the children can take part in Wegmans’ Eat a Rainbow program by recording the colors of fruits and vegetables they eat each week. “We have to eat lots of different fruits and vegetables,” Eva told the children, “because each one has different things that are good for us.”

On one recent Saturday, the children visited Germany by way of Little Red Riding Hood, based on the fairy tale recounted by the Brothers Grimm. The group already has visited Australia, India, Columbia, Uganda, and Mexico. “We try to introduce a fruit or vegetable from the place the story is from,” said Pastore.

The course prepares teachers to present literacy practices that support diverse populations. The families who take part in the Global Book Project represent ethnic backgrounds as diverse as the books they read. However, reading and friendship—and maybe the snack—are the biggest draws. Bridget Bell, whose ten-year-old daughter Briaden was absorbed in the story, said, "Briaden looks up the country before we come. And she reminds me to buy different-colored food when we go shopping.”

Christobel Anandaraj has been bringing her son Bazil since last spring. “He likes reading books,” she explained. Bazil added, “I like the activities and the snacks, too.”

Over the course of the semester, each Buffalo State student must complete several activities, including presenting the introduction, which includes a geography lesson; a vocabulary lesson; reading aloud; and an art activity. Each student also attends one session as an observer. “I’ve never heard of anything like this,” said Jessica Clark, an elementary education major. “It’s a great experience.”

Colisha Smith, another student, said, “It makes me feel more confident, because we have to read out loud and come up with a creative activity.”

This Saturday, the activity, which was led by art education majors Jennifer Walsh and Sara Yarosh, was making an amulet out of cardboard, yarn, and aluminum foil. “It will keep away big bad wolves,” Walsh told the children.

“Reading out loud to children is a special skill,” said Truesdell. “You have to put on different voices for different characters and read with a lot of expression.” Part of helping children develop literacy skills requires connecting the story to the world the children know, helping them develop a sense of narrative flow, and connecting the pictures to the story.

“Some families come every week,” said Truesdell. “We’re very excited about this program.”