Dr. Ann McIntosh, who retired as librarian from Childs, started the Reading Railroad about twelve years ago and we continue with this wonderful program every spring.  It features a book list with around two dozen categories that include books from most of the various collections throughtout the library.  The books listed in the bibliography widen the reading horizons of this age group beyond the usual limits of picture books and dinosaurs by introducing them to a wide range of library books on their reading level.  The variety of new material is usually interesting even to the students who are able to read materials well beyond this grade level.

     Since the E, F, or Dewy Decimal classification numbers and authors names are beside the titles, children can find the books themselves after some guided practice in the library.  When  small groups of students are shown their Reading Railroad folders, they are also shown how to "read" a bibliography.

     The folders contain the bibliography from which the readers select books to read and also the category boxcars under which readers can write the titles of the books they have read.  The categories are:  Fantasy, Folk Tales, Poetry, Animal Friends, Family and Friends, Other Cultures, Mystery, Adventure Long Ago, History, Biography,Water, Astronomy, Our Earth, Weather, Prehistoric Times, More Science Facts, Plants, Animal Facts, Reptiles and Amphibians, Insects and Spiders, Underwater Life, Birds, Mammals, and All About You (the human body).

     The second-grade teachers have a collection of rubber locomotive stamps and can place imprints on the outside of individual folders to indicate student progress in reading through the book list.  Students can come to the library with their Reading Railroad folders to locate and read or check out books as often as they need when it is convenient to the classroom schedule.
 
 
 

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