Dept. of Education Stumbles into Summer

Librarians around the country informed the program's coordinator, John McGrath, about the list's inadequacies, and it was promptly yanked from the DOE's Web site at the beginning of June. McGrath says the list, which had been obtained from the Atlanta Public Schools, had been posted on the site too hastily without proper editing or evaluation. He expects the DOE to replace the error-filled list by July, with a list of links to current booklists of recommended summer reading from the Library of Congress, public libraries, and school districts.

"Warm Up to Reading!," as the summer reading program is called, is being tested in Atlanta this summer, and if successful, the DOE will offer it nationwide. The goal of the program is to keep children reading during the summer and reward readers by giving them books and other incentives, says McGrath, whose office contacted K–12 principals in Atlanta and Fulton County and sought their cooperation in promoting summer reading.

The department is also working in cooperation with the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, local Boys' and Girls' Clubs, and other community agencies to publicize the program. Barnes & Noble will present a free book to children who read at least 10 books during the summer, and Scholastic and other publishers will donate 57,000 volumes to program participants.