Reading Across Rhode Island (RARI)
Reading Across Rhode Island (RARI) is Rhode Island’s only One Book, One State program focused on a single book selected to stimulate meaningful discussions across our state. Once the selection is made in October, bookstores, schools, and libraries spread the word and build up momentum toward our January RARI Kick Off event featuring local speakers and information about RARI resources. The Center provides thousands of books (all purchased at local bookstores) at no cost to schools and libraries to fuel discourse that flows from connecting over a shared story and then bolsters the program with an in-depth resource guide compiled by experienced teachers. The Center integrates dramatic and visual arts to enrich the reading experience. RARI penetrates every city and town in Rhode Island across all generations and classes of citizens. The Center collaborates with Rhode Island PBS, National Education Association of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Library Association, and statewide educators to provide high school educators across the community with the foundation, tools and resources for teaching and discussing the RARI book.
Kids Reading Across Rhode Island (KRARI)
Kids Reading Across Rhode Island (KRARI), the summer reading initiative for students in grades 3-6, encourages students statewide to read a special book and participate in community discussions and programs that bridge school and summer reading. KRARI is operated in partnership with the RI Office of Library and Information Services.
After a volunteer KRARI committee, comprised of Rhode Island librarians and schoolteachers, announces the book selection in March, KRARI programming commences in classrooms and school libraries, including opportunities to connect through online discussion groups. Students, teachers, parents, and librarians then gather at the May Kick-Off Event at the State House. Here, they hear directly from the author, receive a free, signed copy of the book, engage in workshops related to the book’s themes, and discover more about summer reading programs offered by local libraries and community partners. Programming extends into public libraries throughout the summer, enriching existing summer reading programs with new books and promoting continued reading beyond the assigned school curriculum.
Library of Congress National Book Festival
The Library of Congress National Book Festival is an annual literary event that brings together best-selling authors and thousands of book fans for author talks, panel discussions, book signings and other activities. The Library of Congress National Book Festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary ” in 2025, featuring the creativity and inspiration of some of the nation’s most gifted authors on September 6th. The event showcases the importance of books and reading. Every year, the Library of Congress asks each state Center for the Book to select a title that represents the state’s literary landscape to highlight at the National Book Festival, these titles are part of the Great Reads From Great Places Initiative. The Rhode Island Center for the Book has chosen The Wedding People and The Book of Whys as the Rhode Island Great Reads for 2025.
Writers-in-the Schools
Writers-in-the-Schools, RI brings professional writers into public school classrooms to help students produce, revise, publish and perform original imaginative writing. Working writers bring a particular energy and expertise to teaching writing that awakens the intellect and the imagination and which supports curriculum and strengthens skills. Students learn how to read as writers and write as readers, and about process, craft and genre. They are encouraged to explore language in new ways and, in turn, become increasingly invested and deliberate in how they use words. Children learn to take pride in the power of their words and translate that pride into power.
Writers-in-the-Schools, RI helps students to:
— enrich vocabulary, awareness of typography, punctuation and grammar, see how they are used to varying effect within the genre of poetry and beyond
— expand scope of reading experience, compare poetry with other genres, learn and compare forms within the genre
— expand the scope of writing experience through pastiche with on-site writing, editing and sharing at every meeting
— strengthen close reading skills by learning to unpack imagery and metaphor
— polish, publish and share work
— increase auditory skills through close listening, repetition, memorization, call and response
— practice public reading, understand how delivery impacts meaning
— become familiar with the names and works of great poets from around the world and across history
— see how poetry can connect and deepen understanding in any area of study, across the curriculum
— use reading and writing of poetry to observe, explore and understand the world and one’s self
Youth Poetry Ambassador
The Youth Poetry Ambassador program establishes a youth poetry advocate position for a Rhode Island high school student (grades 9-12). This initiative aims to bring poetry directly to our state’s youth and inspire young people through example.
Much like the State Poet Laureate affirms Rhode Island’s support of poetry, the Youth Poetry Ambassador validates and supports the creative potential of our young people. A Deputy Youth Poetry Ambassador will also be selected to assist with in-state duties as needed. The Youth Poetry Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador will be chosen by RI Poet Laureate Emeritus Tina Cane.
Opportunities for the Selected Youth Poetry Ambassador (contingent upon student’s ability and availability):
- An opportunity to record a reading for Tina Cane’s distance reading series, “Poetry is Bread.”
- A cash prize
- A guest writer spot in the Providence Journal “Second Sunday” Poet Laureate column
- The opportunity to have their poetry featured on RIPTA buses statewide through Poetry in Motion, RI
