During March 2022, libraries across Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties will celebrate family literacy by launching their first community read program: One Book, OWWL Kids. The program will highlight the importance of sharing books in early literacy development. Reading together develops vocabulary and comprehension, nurtures a love for reading, and can strengthen family and community bonds.
The inaugural One Book, OWWL Kids selection is Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival. Sarah Matthews, Children’s Librarian at the Wadsworth Library in Geneseo who helped develop the program, explains, “Ruby Finds a Worry was selected to be the first One Book, OWWL Kids title as a response to two years of pandemic worries, anxieties, and unknowns. The selection committee appreciates that Ruby’s story both connects with young children and empowers them to cope with their worries and fears in healthy ways.”
Krystina Dippel, Children’s Librarian at Victor Farmington Library who worked alongside Matthews on this project, said, “I’m excited for the 42 OWWL Libraries to be able to share this story with the children in their communities. The discussions sparked by Ruby Finds a Worry will be important for both children and caregivers. Learning to talk about big feelings can help open communication within families and empower children to express themselves more freely.”
Participating libraries will hold a special storytime that will include a read aloud of Ruby Finds a Worry and related activities. Each family will receive a copy of the book for their bookshelves at home. To learn more, visit here.
The One Book, OWWL Kids program is sponsored by the Pioneer Library System, a non-profit organization that supports library services in Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties. Visit the website here.
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