KIDS READING ACROSS RI
2020 was the 11th year of the “Kids Reading Across Rhode Island” program. Before the 2021 book is picked, it’s a good time to read or re-read last year’s selection. This program is Rhode Island’s one book, one state community read program for kids and is offered by the Rhode Island Center for the Book in partnership with Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services. This program asks students across Rhode Island from grades 4 to 6 to read that year’s selected book as well as providing learning resources, community discussions and programs. The 2020 selection is Changeling by William Ritter.
Rhode Island Center for the Book offers this description of this year’s book selection, Changeling: “Magic is fading from the Wild Wood. To renew it, goblins must perform an ancient ritual involving the rarest of their kind—a newborn changeling. But when the night arrives to trade a human baby for a goblin one, something goes terribly wrong. After laying the changeling in a human infant’s crib, the goblin Kull is briefly distracted. By the time he turns back, the changeling has already perfectly mimicked the human child. Too perfectly: Kull cannot tell them apart, so he leaves both babies behind. Tinn and Cole are raised as human twins, neither knowing what secrets may be buried deep inside one of them. When they are thirteen years old, a mysterious message arrives, calling the brothers to be heroes and protectors of magic. The boys must leave their sleepy town and risk their lives in the Wild Wood, journeying through the Deep Dark to reach the goblin horde and uncover who they truly are.”
From his publisher, Workman Publishing, the author’s bio plays off of the magical series he writes: “William Ritter is an Oregon author and educator. He is the proud father of the two bravest boys in the Wild Wood, and husband to the indomitable Queen of the Deep Dark. The Oddmire is Ritter’s first series for middle-grade readers. He is also the author of the New York Times bestselling, award-winning Jackaby series for young adult readers.” Learn more here: rwillritter.wordpress.com
Download this year’s learning resources here.
Download this year’s poster here.
