Welcome to BAM's Second Annual Summer Book Jam, a celebration of reading to encourage our kids to read over the summer and to raise desperately needed funds for our classroom libraries.

Why Are We Having a Book Jam?

Reading is a critical way for kids to become informed about their world, expand their imaginations, and enhance school achievement. Over the summer, reading is especially important so that students will keep up their good reading habits and be ready to learn when school starts in September. The Book Jam can:

• help our students to read over the summer.
• give families information and ideas about encouraging reading.
• give family members, neighbors, and community members an opportunity to acknowledge this important effort through sponsorships and contributions to BAM.
• support BAM's classroom libraries to help make our new literacy curriculum successful.

How Will Kids Get Credit for Reading?

In order that ALL kids can participate and feel good about reading, children should keep track of the books/minutes/pages they read on the enclosed book log. Kids who participate in the Berkeley Public Library and/or the BEARS summer program can count that reading towards the Book Jam, and use the reading logs they provide instead.

Did You Know?

• Struggling readers lose ground over the summer. By the time these readers reach middle school, this summer reading loss can accumulate to a two-year lag in reading achievement!
• Reading at least 4 books during the summer helps prevent summer reading loss.
• Children who have easy access to books READ MORE BOOKS!
• Berkeley has a great public library and 4 branch libraries and checking out books is FREE and EASY!
• This past school year, BAM's Reading Recovery program helped virtually all 1st graders read at or above grade level.
• Classroom libraries for BAM's new literacy program will cost about $2000 per classroom. BUSD will pay for only half of this cost.

Please participate in BAM's Summer Book Jam and prevent summer reading loss, all while raising funds for literacy at BAM!

Helpful links:

• Book Jam Reading Log
• Pledge Form
• Sample Pledge Letter