‘Reading Under The Stars’ Sparks Joy For Books In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — An annual “Reading Under The Stars” celebration returned earlier this month in Newark, with several children’s book authors pitching in for the effort.

The city brought back its annual event for the sixth year on Aug. 15 at Ivy Hill Park. The evening featured Gary Campbell reading “I Am Every Good Thing” by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James, Tulani Thomas reading “TuTu Goes Green,” Ismée Williams reading “Abuelo the Sea and Me,” Denise Rosario Adusei reading “Cesaria Feels the Beat,” and Hilda Eunice Burgos reading an excerpt from “Bodega Cats.”

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka – a former educator in the city – read “In Your Hands” by Carole Boston Weatherford. Theatrical group Aurway Repertory Theater brought the book to life on stage as he turned the pages.

After the reading, the authors autographed copies of their books for attendees.

“Reading to our young children and instilling a love of language, storytelling and literacy is one of the most important gifts a parent can give,” Baraka said before the event.

“That is why this annual event is so well-attended and cherished in our community,” the mayor added. “It is a celebration of family as the foundation for expressive communication skills and knowledge seeking that charge lifelong success.”

This year’s gathering is latest effort in an ongoing drive to instill a love for reading in the city’s youngest residents.

Only 19 percent of Newark’s third grade students passed a recent New Jersey reading exam, data shows. Last year, several Newark community leaders gathered for a news conference at the Newark Public Library to announce a 10-point plan to improve youth literacy for toddlers through third graders. The plan relies on cooperation between local schools, parents and community groups, encouraging them to team up and boost child literacy.

• See Related: Newark Has Plan To Improve 'Alarming' Student Reading Scores

Events like Reading Under the Stars is one of many rungs in a ladder to success, advocates say.

“Research is very clear: Parents who read one book with their children a day expose them to an estimated 78,000 extra words each year,” said Newark Office of Comprehensive Community Education Chief Education Officer Sharnee Brown.

“Families with a 500-book library increase the probability of their children going 3.2 years further in education,” Brown added.

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