Synergy: Fatherhood Involvement

Fatherhood involvement focuses on the unique bond between a father and child. Children at every stage of development benefit from the involvement of a positive and supporting adult in their life. Regardless of the family structure, strong families and healthy relationships take patience, respect, and communication.

Read the recently published picture book, then learn more at the websites:

DADDY LET’S PLAY written by Rodney Freeman, Jr. and illustrated by Dorothea Taylor weaves together an endearing father-daughter story with relatable, contemporary themes including the pandemic, diversity, and social activism.

Milah and her father play video games together each evening. When her father ends up in the hospital, they figure out a way to stay in contact through their shared passion for gaming.

The brightly colored illustrations paired with the fast-paced text are sure to engage young readers. This accessible title is an effective way to introduce children to the growing number of picture books that represent fatherhood and specifically black dads in a positive light.

FATHERHOOD.GOV is part of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse supporting strong fathers and families. The website contains tips and hints for dads and kids along with programs and research. The marketing campaign including PSAs reflect ‘#Dadication’ to parenting. A search of the library section reveals dozens of articles focusing specifically on the needs and interests of black fathers.

To visit the website, go to https://www.fatherhood.gov/.

ARC courtesy of Preservation LLC.

App Review: Save the Park

SAVE THE PARK is a collaborative game launched to celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service.

Developed by Games for Change, this engaging app is intended to inspire young people and encourage a new generation of park lovers. The game focuses on ways volunteers can take an active role in preserving natural and historic resources.

Players take on the role of a park volunteer and complete tasks within particular settings such as a forest, desert, or coastal area. Information about national parks is woven throughout the game and links are provided to learn about real-world volunteer opportunities.

Librarians will find the game to be a fun way to introduce the concept of volunteerism and community service. Pair the game with a learning center containing books about civic participation. Youth will find the game to be easy and fun, but not much of a challenge.

The Games for Change website includes many other games that might be of interest to young people.

Visit the website at http://www.gamesforchange.org/.

To download the game, go to http://www.gamesforchange.org/savethepark/.

Web Review: Earth Day Special Event

Celebrate EARTH DAY on Wednesday April 22. Go to the Earth Day Network at http://www.earthday.org/2015 to get started planning your event.

The “Take Action” page provides a list of ways that you can get involved by signing a climate petition, supporting environmental education, reducing energy consumption, and creating art to raise awareness. Involve students in taking the Carbon Footprint Quiz. The “Actions” page provides lists of many more ways to act.

The “Newsroom” page features news, press releases, and blogs focusing on particular environmental issues. Be sure to explore their education postings on the blog for ideas.

The “Programs” section provides year-round ideas for promoting a healthy environment. It includes a Climate Education Week toolkit for planning activities. Go directly to these materials at http://www.climateeducationweek.org/.

The “Videos” channel through YouTube provides informational and educational videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/earthdaynetwork.

Go to the Compassion Games website to explore ways to serve Earth Week through games. Go to http://compassiongames.org/lovethisplace/.

In addition to Earth Day activities, remember to celebrate Arbor Day on April 24. To learn more about this celebration of trees, go to http://www.arborday.org/celebrate/.

App Review: Loose Strands

LOOSE STRANDS by Darned Sock Productions is an amazing e-book app for children. Demonstrating the full potential of the interactive reading environment, this full-length fantasy novel for middle grades will keep young people engaged for days.

The gorgeous artwork combined with the perfectly matched introductory music and animations makes this an interactive novel that children will cherish.

The story revolves around Roland Bartholomew Dexter the Third, a boy who lives with his parents in a mysterious barbershop. Trapped in world filled with hair, censored books, and realistic dreams, young Roland discovers the reality of his universe while readers unlock pages of this amazing book.

The instructions page informs readers to “follow the strands of hair” to move forward and backward through the story. Clicking the screen replays the animation. On some pages, readers have their choice of which direction to follow the strand of hair. Readers can also save bookmarks as they go. Much like a Choose-You-Own-Adventure book, readers decide their own fate. The story provides suggestions and hints along the way. There’s something incredibly fun and engaging about swiping different directions to reveal each new electronic page in this exciting adventure.

Readers are in control of this mesmerizing story that includes 20 hidden pages, 3 hidden diaries, and the option to explore Roland’s village. A built-in map allows readers to track their reading experience, explore Roland’s house, and revisit areas of the story. In some cases, readers see the consequences of their choices when options and pages disappear from the map.

Much more than your standard adventure, the story explores complex concepts about life choices, decisions, and consequences both in the real and imagined world. While readers are making decisions about how they will explore the story, the characters are making their own connections.

I’ve read dozens of interactive novels over the past several years, however this is the ultimate reading experience combining nonlinear reading, optional adventures, simple gaming, and a compelling story into one visually stunning app.

To download the app for iPad, go to https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/loose-strands/id867732804…
To download the app for Android, go tohttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details…