Let's Read. Let's Move.

Secretary Duncan's Kick Off of Let's Read. Let's Move. was an apparent success, thanks to Target's fabulous donations of refreshments, equipment, and games! This initiative is to help support the First Lady's Let's Move program to end childhood obesity by also highlighting the necessity of summer learning and community service. While this is a fantastic idea, it clearly hasn't caught on in our neck of the woods. I have not seen one gathering or activity focusing on either initiative. The First Lady and Secretary Duncan have grand ideas, but there's clearly issues in implementation countrywide. After reading through the article, they had a series of pictures from the Kick Off including the Secretary's wife playing hopscotch, children playing with hula hoops, and some reading on bean bags. Now, keep in mind, all materials were donated - check out what the little boy is reading ; )

Yeah, that's right - it's BONE, a COMIC BOOK (feel free to look it up in the Amazon side bar). Awesome. How does the U.S. Department of Education suggest we get kids to read? Give them something interesting! Comic books, which have been considered a dieing medium, can clearly gain a new momentum through utilizing these countrywide initiatives. What is fantastic is that either Jeff Smith, author and publisher of the Bone comics, or a huge fan took advantage of this event to thrust comics back in to the limelight. The only book pictured in conjunction with the Let's Read. Let's Move. Kick Off event is Bone. What this message sends is to increase the number of comics and graphic novels available to children in our libraries, both school and public. Contrary to popular belief, comics and graphic novels have merit not just men in tights. So get out, get moving, grab a comic, and get in to it ; )