Hey, Little Ant Essay Challenge Judged

Should the Ant get squished, should the ant go free? We leave the Kid with the raised up shoe. What do you think that Kid should do?
-Picture Book, Hey, Little Ant

A fine group of educators, parents and children's book authors gathered at the home of author, Phillip Hoose to judge the artwork entries by Kindergarten thru 3rd Graders to the Hey, Little Ant Essay Challenge. There was much concentration, debate, and laughter as the amazing submissions were reviewed.

Meanwhile across the country, 17 additional judges are reviewing the writing samples submitted online by kids in Grades K-3. Results will be announced on May 21, 2008 at The Hey, Little Ant Essay Challenge website.

More Photos
Photos by Mark Mattos

Young Readers Underserved in New City Plan

Is it Portland City Council's $30,000 cut to the library budget? Is it the Portland Public Library's hasty decision? Or is it the economy, stupid?

Either way, The Portland Public Library plans to close The Reiche Library, the only neighborhood branch in Portland's working class and low income West End. 60+ kids, parents, seniors and other citizens turned out for a near spontaneous protest of the closure.

PPL director Steve Podgajny bravely stepped into the fray of citizens who were asking, "why Reiche", "where will our kids go?" and "why not cut from other branches?" Podgajny's answers were about budgets, circulation rates, and tough choices, but no one walked away satisfied.

I have heard of further changes to children's services in the city as a result of budget cuts and the main branch's reconstruction that combined with the closure of Reiche will SERIOUSLY curtail children's book services in the city.

Adults can wait a few years for budgets and branches to shake out, kids CANNOT. A few years of limited access to free children's literature can have a huge negative impact on a child's development and literacy skills. HEALTHY LITERACY = EASY ACCESS.

I urge everyone in the city to attend the PPL Trustee Meeting at 4:00 PM on May 14th at the Main Branch. Changes to Children's Services will be on the table not only for the West End, but for the WHOLE CITY.

Portland Press Herald Article on Closure

Photos from Protest