Reading To Children

IF THERE ARE MUSES who watch over children, they must sleep over at JoAnn Fruchtman's Children's Book Store.When she set up shop 20 years ago in South Baltimore, Fruchtman had read every book on the shelves. After a move uptown to Harborplace and then way uptown to Roland Park, Fruchtman's store at 737 Deepdene Road is much bigger but no less crowded.The proprietor says she and her employees have read every author represented in a store stocked floor to ceiling with marvelous children's literature.

THERE'S A LOT to like about home schooling.By definition, home schools are everything the big public schools aren't. They're small, they aren't tied up in regulatory knots, parental participation is guaranteed. (So is homework.) By necessity, they're resourceful.I saw an example the other night at the Arundel Homeschoolers Support Group workshop and used curriculum fair, held at a church on the outskirts of Annapolis.While some parents attended seminars with titles like "Developing Biblical Gender Roles in a Politically Incorrect World," "The Joy of Teaching Science at Home" and "Help for the Struggling Reader," others crowded around tables to barter in previously owned curricula.

In a message marking the end of the school year, Gov. Parris N. Glendening has issued a report card of sorts on the state's Reading Across Maryland program that challenged children to read at least 10 books.The program promised a "Rising Star" reading certificate for each child achieving the 10-book goal."As the school year comes to a close," Glendening said, "we are happy to report that the children tackled my challenge with gusto and earned over 300,000 certificates. This means children in Maryland read at least 3 million books since November."

Children who lag behind in reading skills in kindergarten and first grade will be getting extra one-on-one help starting this spring through a $250,000 federal grant just awarded to Carroll County schools.The money will be used to provide daily tutoring for 15 to 20 minutes for pupils who are in the lowest 25 percent of the class in reading skills."We wanted to advance those lowest-performing children, so they can exit first grade as competent and confident readers," said Dorothy Mangle, director of elementary education.

Proclaiming November as "Maryland Family Reading Month," Gov. Parris N. Glendening urged parents yesterday to turn off their televisions and read with their children.During a ceremony at the Baltimore County public library branch in Towson, Glendening read to a group of students and stressed the importance of reading to children, even at a young age."The love of reading is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child," Glendening said.To promote the effort, bookmarks will be available at schools and libraries.

Baltimore pediatricians will soon be adding a new staple to their medicine kits -- books.In a citywide initiative that first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton announced in Baltimore yesterday, doctors and nurses will include daily doses of "Goodnight Moon" and "Curious George" in their prescriptions for infants and toddlers."

Martin McCoy stands before a bookcase just able to peek over the first shelf.The 17-month-old toddler is usually energy in motion, but a colorful case of books has his full attention now."You get to choose one," his mom tells him. "Go ahead, let's get one you want."The sweetly round-faced youngster considers his options and then plucks a book from the lowest shelf. "Lets see what you got," says his mother, Danyel McFarlane. Martin holds the book upside down for his mother to see."Oh, 'I Am A Puppy,'" she says, reading the title.

The preschoolers were excited even before Mr. Walt and Ms. Val wheeled the big Read Rover van in front of Sandalwood Elementary School in Essex for a holiday story stop."

The principal is coming to Kelsey Kolb's house in the middle of the afternoon.But Kelsey can't be in trouble. She's only a year old and just beginning to walk and talk.And the principal is smiling and bringing a balloon.What's wrong with this picture?Not a thing, says Linda Proudfoot, the principal of Battle Grove Elementary in eastern Baltimore County.Kelsey is at just the right age to be read to, and the school wants to be sure her parents know this. So Kelsey is receiving a "Happy Birthday, Baby" visit from her friends at the neighborhood school.

Name: Jane Andrew of Severna ParkVolunteer work: Jane Andrew was one of three county residents recently honored at the J. C. Penney Golden Rule Volunteer Awards ceremony held at Martin's West in Baltimore.Mrs. Andrew was recognized for her work in founding Baby's First Step, a program that promotes adults reading to infants and toddlers.A county resident all her life and a member of the Board of Education from 1983 to 1989, Mrs. Andrew believes in the importance of getting preschoolers interested in reading.