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Every participant was given a t-shirt proudly displaying a sense of connectedness through the wording 98“I AM” a part of this project and a cute bookworm. A parent stated that the t-shirt was their child’s “go-to piece in her wardrobe.” A staff member commented, “As a bookworm, I especially loved the t-shirts! I have been an avid reader since I was a young child and think any chance to recruit more children to read is worth the effort.” The t-shirts serve as a visual reminder of the attention, bonding, and communication among children and supportive adults which occurred through this multigenerational literacy project.
Conclusion
Multigenerational literacy projects provide opportunities to enhance children’s language skills and to create bonds across the generations. They also build community connections and foster partnerships for future endeavors. Literacy totes, such as those described in this paper, are inexpensive and reusable teaching tools which encourage readers to explore and respond to beloved picture books. Volunteers can carry out the activities suggested within the totes with little additional training or preparation. These types of literacy activities are engaging and easily implemented. Most importantly, literacy totes foster the sharing of books and the love of reading across generations.
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