literacy

Fifteen young authors will sign books as part of a summer reading camp that teaches children how to write, illustrate and publish their own books.

The books include stories about making new friends, good grades and a comical ghost search.

Third- and fourth-graders worked with Arts Partners, educators and graduate students from Wichita State University's creative writing department to create the books.

Prisca Barnes is founder and CEO of Storytime Village, the nonprofit that hosts the camp.

Andon Shriver comes to the Mulvane Public Library every Monday and Tuesday. On this afternoon, he’s reading a poem book from the "Bad Kitty" series.

"Meow, hello, what do we have here?" the third-grader reads aloud.

He stumbles over a word here and there, but his audience today – a 12-year old cocker spaniel named Barney – doesn’t seem to mind. He simply listens.

The children’s area in the new Advanced Learning Library in Wichita will feature a new approach to book displays.

The Wichita Public Library is one of four public libraries nationwide that will soon be offering machines that print short stories on demand and free of charge.

The library is expected to receive three short story dispensers by June.

Wichita Public Libraries director Cynthia Berner says these short story dispensers will help promote literacy and encourage reading.

"It’s a simple kiosk, you’ll be able to hit a button, make a few choices and then you’ll get the paper that comes out with your story," Berner says.

Kansas and the rest of the country have been stagnant when it comes to math and reading scores over the last decade. But that lack of progress is also true for achievement gaps.

New test scores for what’s often referred to as the "Nation’s Report Card" are out today for Kansas and the rest of the country.

Grandparents and their grandchildren are part of the focus of a statewide literacy event in Wichita on Saturday.

The Grandparents Brownbag Lunch is part of the Kansas Children's Literacy Conference and Festival. Prisca Barnes, with Story Time Village, says the event will feature a reading from a classic children's book called "The Napping House."

She says children under the age of 8 are learning to read, and after the age of 8, they are reading to learn.