Literacy Now

by Elizabeth Bleacher

Author/illustrator Mo Willems will be the speaker at the closing General Session at the International Reading Association’s 58th Annual Convention. Willems has been the recipient of multiple awards including the Caldecott Honor, Geisel Medal, Geisel Honor, and Carnegie Medal. The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?, which features his popular Pigeon character, was recently nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal in the United Kingdom.

Though he has published a multitude of picture books and early readers to great success, Willems is best known for his unique character Pigeon and the series of books that depict Pigeon’s various exploits. In fact, this April, the same month as IRA’s convention, the Pigeon will be celebrating his 10th birthday (and Willems marks the beginning of his children’s book career). In his session A Hippopotamus Wouldn't Fit On the Page and Other Reasons That Mo Willems Writes About Pigeons, Willems will share some insight on the creation and development of his beloved character.

Mo Willems spent a large part of his early career creating short films for Sesame Street, Nickelodeon, and others, winning him several writing Emmy Awards. His newest books include That Is Not a Good Idea! and Don't Let the Pigeon Finish This Activity Book! His other recent books Let’s Go for a Drive! and Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs are on the New York Times Bestseller List and Publishers Weekly’s Best Picture Books of 2012 List respectively.

In addition to his publications, a variety of event kits and teaching aids for Willems’ books can be found at Pigeon Presents, and a variety of online interactives for children are accessible at GoMo.

Find more information about Mo Willems and the other General Session speakers, at the International Reading Association’s Annual Convention website. You can also learn more about Willems’ body of work through his blog.

Elizabeth Bleacher is the strategic communications intern at the International Reading Association.

The opportunity to nominate and vote for candidates in the IRA election is open to every individual member of the Association. Below is information about each candidate for the 2013 election. Members are encouraged to review the information on each candidate carefully, discuss the merits of the candidates with other members, and then make the decision and vote.

Ballots will be sent in mid-December 2012, and ballots must reach the independent firm of Intelliscan, Inc., by 5:00 p.m. on February 11, 2013.

Online Voting Makes It Easy

The 2013 IRA election is being conducted primarily online. This means that active individual IRA members with valid e-mail addresses will receive an e-mail message with a link to their online ballot and will vote online.

IRA members who do not have valid e-mail addresses will receive a paper ballot by regular mail and can choose to return the paper ballot or to vote online. Beginning in mid-December these members can vote online by visiting /, clicking the “2013 Online Election Ballot” link, and then entering the ballot control number found on their paper ballot.

Any questions about online voting can be discussed with Intelliscan, Inc. staff at +1-610-935-6173 or iravoting@intelliscaninc.net. Members can contact IRA customer service staff at 1-800-336-7323 (option “1”) or customerservice@/ with any questions related to their IRA membership.

Ballot Count Procedures

The 2013 election will be handled by the independent firm of Intelliscan, Inc., whose staff members oversee the distribution of electronic ballots, the mailing of paper ballots, receive the returned ballots, supervise and observe the opening of returned ballots, count the ballots electronically, and certify the results.

When paper ballots are incompletely marked, but there is a clear indication of the intended vote, the appropriate vote will be counted. Ballots with fewer than the maximum number of votes are valid, as the computer will count each vote. Ballots on which more than the permissible number of votes has been marked are rejected by the computer and not recorded in the count. Mutilated ballots are separated out to be repaired or remarked; ballots with write-in votes are also kept for a hand tally of the written names.

Campaigning Policy

As a professional organization we disallow campaigning for office by the candidates, by other individuals, or by councils or affiliates. All candidates for this election have agreed to this policy. If you received campaign materials or solicitations, please keep this in mind as you vote.

Candidates for Vice President

Maryann Manning

Distinguished Professor Emerita, Literacy, The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

Education: Ed.D., University of Nebraska; M.Ed., Wayne State College; BFA, University of South Dakota

Contributions to IRA: IRA Board of Directors (2006–2009); Recipient of the IRA Special Service Award (2005); Co-chair, Southeastern Regional Conferences (1983 and 1994); IRA Representative on NCATE Board of Examiners (1995–2007); NCATE Advisory Committee (1985–2005); Member of numerous IRA committees, including: Professional Standards and Ethics, Administrators and Reading, and Infancy through Pre-School Reading; Frequent presenter at IRA conventions, World Congresses, European, Asian, State, Regional and Local Conferences; President, Birmingham Area Reading Council; Research Chair, Alabama Reading Council (1984–present); International Volunteer.

Contributions to the Profession: K–12 Classroom Teacher in Nebraska; Reading Professor, University of Nebraska and UAB; Adjunct Professor, Chugoku College, Japan (1999–present); Reading Editor, Teaching K–8 (1981–2006); Author and co-author of professional books and book chapters, including: The Best Reading Block Ever (Scholastic); Subskills vs. Holistic (Erlbaum); Scientific Reading Assessment (Heinemann); Theme Immersion (Heinemann); Revisiting Silent Reading (IRA) chapter; Examining DIBELS (Heinemann) chapter; Selected articles in the following journals: The Reading Teacher; Research in Childhood Education, Young Children.

Statement of Philosophy: As the world’s leading organization of literacy professionals, the International Reading Association and its members continuously promote excellence in reading instruction at both the national and international levels. In recent years, IRA has worked diligently to integrate technology, build memberships, expand partnerships, disseminate literacy knowledge, promote advocacy, and offer outstanding annual conventions. The Association is at the cutting edge in addressing educational issues. IRA continues to promote literacy at the international levels and has a number of new international projects, including the Association’s work in Bangladesh. I am dedicated to supporting IRA in increasing the dissemination of research, theory, and practice for reading teachers, both here and abroad. My primary interests include: growing professional partnerships and extending our efforts as a global community. I will ensure that the Association continues to be a resource for all of its councils and affiliates. The strength of IRA is its members and I am a longtime member. I will work to promote the Association’s strategic goals, while continually advancing literacy in the 21st century.

Lori Jamison Rog

Teacher and Educational Consultant, Toronto, Canada

Education: B.Ed., M.Ed., University of Regina

Contributions to IRA: Board of Directors (1999–2002), numerous committees including Chair of International Development in North America and board liaison to European International Development Committee; volunteer for Language to Literacy in Belize; Founding member of Canadian Network of IRA Councils and recipient of CNIRAC Service Award; Saskatchewan Reading Council IRA Coordinator, Conference Chair, Journal Editor, Local Council President and recipient of Honorary Lifetime Membership. Featured speaker at international, state, and provincial conferences.

Contributions to the Profession: Classroom teacher, district K–12 literacy consultant, university instructor, reading assessment specialist (Department of Education). Author of numerous curriculum documents, articles, teachers’ guides and professional books, including: Read, Write, Play, Learn: Literacy Instruction in Today’s Kindergarten (IRA 2011), Guiding Readers (Pembroke/Stenhouse 2012), Marvelous Minilessons for Teaching Beginning Writing, K–3 (IRA 2007), and Intermediate Writing 4–6 (IRA 2010).

Statement of Philosophy: As the premier organization of literacy professionals in the world, IRA is uniquely positioned to impact research and practice, and to support educators and scholars in their quest to improve literacy and literacy instruction around the globe. I believe that: 1. It’s time to take a stand. IRA must use its resources and expertise to carefully examine educational policies and mandates, to support those that are sound, and to speak out against those that are not. Furthermore, we must offer our considerable resources to influence policy decisions for the benefit of learners, teachers, and society. 2. IRA must play a leading role in bridging the gap between current research and classroom practices. Teachers are pulled in many directions and often lack access to the latest research or the resources to navigate it. Through networking, print publications, social media, and professional events, IRA can explore creative ways to make research accessible to teachers and to support ongoing professional development that is current, evidence-based, and pedagogically sound. 3. Councils—local, state, provincial, national affiliate—are the foundation of IRA. As we continue to build the association, we need to find ways to support and strengthen councils. For many members, a council is their first and principal contact with IRA. IRA councils and committees must provide leadership opportunities for educators at different career stages. As well, we need to find the means to support ongoing international networks and events that enable council leaders to connect with and learn from one another for the benefit of all.

Candidates for Members of the Board of Directors 2013–2016

Arua Arua

Associate Professor and Chair, Department of English, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana

Education: BA (1980), MA (ESL) (1984), Ph.D. (1997) Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria

Contributions to IRA: President, Swaziland Reading Association (1995–1997); Member, International Literacy Project Grants Committee (1998–1999); Chair, International Development in Africa Committee (2000–2003); Member, International Development Coordinating Committee (2000–2003); Ex-officio mem¬ber, Reading Association of Botswana (2005 to date). Chief Organizer of 2nd (2001) and LOC member of 7th (2011) Pan-African Conference on Reading for All. Presented at 8th IRA World Congress (2000), IRA Annual Conventions (1995, 2001); Pan-African Reading Conferences (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011—Also Resource person at Leadership Workshop—2011); Reading Association of South Africa, 2004, 2006; Reading Association of Nigeria (1989, 1991, 1993).

Contributions to the Profession: More than 45 sole and joint publications, including “The Reading Behavior of Junior Secondary Students during School Holidays in Botswana,” Journal of Adult & Adolescent Literacy, (2011) 54; Improving the Quality of Literacy Learning in the Content Areas—Situational Analysis of Secondary Level Education in Botswana (2005); Reading for All in Africa: Building Communities where Literacy Thrives (2003); Classroom Interaction in English and Igbo Reading Classes in some Selected Primary Schools in South Eastern Nigeria (Elva Knight research report) (1995); “Lexical Density, New Word Density, and the Readability and Sequencing of Reading Materials in an ESL Course Series.” Literacy and Reading in Nigeria (1993) 6.

Statement of Philosophy: I believe that IRA should privilege inclusiveness and multiple perspectives in order to achieve its strategic goals. IRA can do this by partnering with Ministries of Education world-wide to develop new and flexible professional development models that can adapt to multiple contexts; enriching research findings on literacy with data from contexts that had hitherto been excluded; and creating a platform that ensures that one candidate from affiliates and councils outside North America is elected to the Board of Directors every year.

Tom Bean

Professor, Teaching and Learning Department, College of Education, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada

Education: Ph.D. (Secondary Education/Reading), Arizona State University, 1976; M.A. (Reading & English Education), Southern Oregon State University, 1974; Basic Teaching Credential (English), University of Hawaii at Hilo, 1973; B.A. (English), University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1969; Diploma, Punahou School, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1965.

Contributions to IRA: Co-Editor, Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy (completed last volume this past May); Member, Adolescent Literacy Task Force (current); Member, IRA Publications Committee; Co-Editor, Online issue of RRQ, RT, and JAAL (summer 2012).

Contributions to the Profession: Invited Journal Articles: Bean, T.W., & O’Brien, D. (in press). Past and future directions in content area literacy: A Conversation between two experts (Column Editor: Zhihui Fang). Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy. Books: Bean, T.W., Dunkerly-Bean, J.M., & Harper, H. (in press). Teaching Young Adult Literature: Developing World Citizens. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE; Guzzetti, B., & Bean, T.W. (Eds.). (publication date 2013). Adolescent literacies and the gendered self: (Re)constructing identities through multimodal literacy practices. New York, NY: Routledge. Book Chapters: Bean, T.W., & Harper, H. (2011). The context of English Language Arts learning: The high school years. In D. Fisher & D. Lapp (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Teaching the English Language Arts (3rd ed.), (pp. 60–68). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum/Taylor Francis.

Statement of Philosophy: I support IRA’s ongoing initiatives in three critical areas: 1) Professional Development; 2) Technology Integration, and 3) Support for New Teachers, particularly through online resources like ReadWriteThink.

Bernadette Dwyer

Lecturer in Literacy Studies in Education, St. Patrick’s College, Dublin, Ireland

Education: B.Ed. (NUI), MSc (DCU), Ph.D. (University of Nottingham)

Contributions to IRA: Bernadette was president of the Reading Association of Ireland (2005–2006) and is a current executive committee member. She is a member of the IRA Technology, Communications, and Literacy Committee (2012–2013). She has collaborated and researched with international colleagues and presented at conferences, such as IRA, LRA and UKLA. Bernadette earned her doctorate in 2010 from the University of Nottingham and was a distinguished finalist in the 2011 IRA Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award for, Scaffolding Internet reading: A study of a disadvantaged school community in Ireland.

Contributions to the Profession: Bernadette worked for over twenty-three years as a classroom teacher and reading specialist, in a variety of school settings, including high-poverty school districts. She currently lectures in the education faculty of St. Patrick’s College, Ireland where she teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses in literacy. She also engages in continuing professional development with teachers in Ireland and internationally. Bernadette has published numerous reports, articles and chapters and is co-author of the forthcoming book, Using technology to improve reading and writing: Multimodal classroom strategies for the 21st century teacher. She is a co-creator and author on the popular Literacy Beat blog (www.literacybeat.com). Her current research focuses on online reading comprehension; digital tools that support literacy development; and addressing the needs of struggling readers.

Statement of Philosophy: As educators we are rightly concerned that issues of equity, social justice and equality of opportunity permeate all that we do in schools to support our students to achieve their potential and participate fully in society within a global community. As an inter-national organization IRA is in a unique position to harness the power of technology to develop global learning communities where the professionalism, agency, and creativity of teachers can be nurtured. Such learning communities would support research-to-practice knowledge in literacy education and promote effective literacy practices in classrooms, thereby empowering all of our students to become engaged and capable readers, authors and communicators in a digital age.

Laurie Elish-Piper

Professor, Department of Literacy Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois

Education: Ph.D. University of Akron; M.S.Ed. Purdue University; B.S.Ed. St. Joseph’s College

Contributions to IRA: Served on many IRA committees: Elva Knight Research Grant, Early Literacy, Family Literacy, Alpha Upsilon Alpha, Eleanor Johnson Award, and Teacher as Researcher. Served on Editor Search Committee for Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy and on Editorial Board for The Reading Teacher. Served Illinois Reading Council as a member of the Board of Directors, Chair of Parents and Reading Committee, and Associate Editor of Illinois Reading Council Journal.

Contributions to the Profession: Worked as classroom teacher, university professor, and literacy clinic director. Co-authored 7 books including Teaching Reading (with Johns & Lenski), A Declaration of Readers’ Rights (with Matthews, Risko, et al.), and Literacy Strategies for Preservice Teachers (with L’Allier). Authored over 75 publications including many in IRA journals. Served in various leadership roles: President of Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers, Area Co-Chair and Field Council Representative for Literacy Research Association, and Board of Directors for American Reading Forum. Delivered over 120 professional presentations at international, national, state, and local professional conferences.

Statement of Philosophy: Reading professionals are the key to promoting higher levels of literacy throughout the world. In these challenging times, IRA is uniquely positioned to provide professional development and resources educators need to be effective. Three significant issues facing IRA are: 1. Recruiting and retaining members throughout their careers by providing differentiated professional development, networking, and support, including increased use of social media. 2. Expanding beyond the K–12 focus with increased attention on early childhood, college, adult, family literacy, and English learners as well as emphasizing critical global literacy initiatives. 3. Taking a proactive role in advocacy to inform and influence policies and initiatives that support literacy teaching and learning such as the U.S. Common Core State Standards.

Julianne Scullen

Teaching and Learning Specialist for Secondary Reading, Anoka-Hennepin Public Schools, Anoka, Minnesota

Education: St. Mary’s University, Education Specialist, 2010; St. Mary’s University, Administrative Licensure, 2007; St. Mary’s University, Masters in Teaching and Learning, 2000; St. Cloud State University, BS, Elementary Education and Reading Instruction, 1991

Contributions to IRA: President, Minnesota Reading Association (2010–2011); Presenter, IRA 2009, Minneapolis; President, MN Secondary Reading Interest Council (2008–2010); Advisory Board, MN Leadership in Reading Network (2009–2013); IRA Legislative Workshop (2007, 2010); IRA Council Services Committee (2010–2011); IRA North American Councils’ Committee (2011–2013)

Contributions to the Profession: Selected by Minnesota’s Education Commissioner to par-ticipate in creating MN SRCL (Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy) plan; Common Core Standards—Facilitated statewide focus group providing ongoing feedback to the national design team; Anoka-Hennepin ISD 11; Created systematic plan for reading interventions utilized in 6 middle schools and 5 high schools; Hamline University, St. Paul, MN, Adjunct professor for Masters Program, Reading Assessment and Evaluation

Statement of Philosophy: In these current economic times, education and professional development budgets are increasingly jeopardized as needs are escalating. Educational professionals are being asked to do more with less, to be more creative in the areas of funding, resources, and delivery of instruction. Facing this current political climate, IRA must provide strong leadership and expertise to our local, state, and national leaders in order to maintain our high level of educational integrity. Opportunities for both students and educators to use multiple literacies across a widening curriculum must continue to grow. Now more than ever, IRA needs to grow membership in new and refreshing ways and maintain the same high level of advocacy for teaching professionals and students.

Gerry Shiel

Research Fellow, St. Patrick’s College, Dublin, Ireland

Education: Completed undergraduate teacher education (B.Ed.) at St Patrick’s College, Dublin, M.S.Ed. (reading spe¬cialization) at Western Illinois University and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (reading specialization) at the UT-Austin. 

Contributions to IRA: Member of IRA and the Reading Association of Ireland (RAI) since early 1980s. Served for three years as Chair of the International Development in Europe Committee of IRA (2004–07), and currently serve as Chair of its sister organization, the Federation of European Literacy Associations (until January 2013). Co-chaired organising Committees for the European Conferences on Reading in Dublin in 2001, Zagreb (2005) and Mons (Belgium) (2011). Past-president of RAI (1996–97) and current Treasurer (since 2008). Served on editorial board of Reading Teacher. Served as volunteer on IRA programs on school-based assessment in Macedonia.

Contributions to Profession: Served as primary-school teacher for 8 years, as assistant professor for three, and as researcher/lecturer for 20 years. Authored/co-authored numerous reports and articles in the areas of assessment and reading development including articles in the Reading Teacher and Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. Recently co-authored book on Oral Language Development (3-8 years).

Statement of Philosophy: These are challenging times for IRA and for the reading field. IRA has engaged in significant restructuring in light of changing economic circumstances, while, for much of the world’s population, reading and writing have migrated to various digital devices. IRA must now move to the forefront in providing teachers worldwide with accurate research-based information on literacy development in print and digital contexts. IRA must capitalize on new formats for professional development and improve traditional formats. IRA must strengthen its work in supporting individual members and member-organisations worldwide in such areas as professional development, research, and dissemination of information about literacy.

More Information

Updates and announcements as well as a link to the ballot website will be added to the IRA election information webpage in mid-December.

IRA Board Members and Minutes

IRA Board Code of Ethics Policy

Join the International Reading Association

San Antonio native Rick Riordan will be speaking at the International Reading Association’s 58th Annual Convention this April. Riordan, the author of the bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, will be speaking at Saturday’s opening General Session. Prior to garnering stardom in the realm of children’s literature, Riordan taught English and history for fifteen years. His extensive teaching background and writing experience gives him unique insight regarding the development of student literacy.

During his session Reading Myths and the Myths of Reading, Riordan will share how his combined interactions with his students, readers, and his sons helped him understand what it takes to turn children into strong, interested readers. Specifically, he will explore the enduring power of myths and why they appeal to even the most reluctant of readers.

In addition to the tools that will be shared at the speaker session, Riordan’s website boasts extensive teaching aids. The aids help teachers use his Percy Jackson series in the classroom. While the series deals with many important issues that could stimulate discussions, the books are also important because they feature a protagonist with ADHD and dyslexia. Teachers can use the novels to help students eliminate any misconceptions that they may have surrounding these conditions and empower students that share Percy’s reality.

Riordan’s current series, the Heroes of Olympus, brings a modern twist to traditional Greek mythology. Though the series has its own set of unique characters, fans of Riordan will be pleased to find some of their favorites from the Percy Jackson series have returned. The fourth book of the series, The House of Hades, is set to be released in October 2013.

More information about the speaker session can be found at the International Reading Association’s Annual Convention website and Riordan’s website offers more detailed descriptions of his books for children.

Elizabeth Bleacher is the strategic communications intern at the International Reading Association.

Teachers looking for a way to motivate basketball-loving students to read need look no further than the latest program from the International Reading Association (IRA) and the American Basketball Association (ABA).

IRA and ABA have teamed up to create Fast Break for Reading, a national campaign to promote more reading by students. ABA, an organization with 90 professional basketball teams, offers incentives to young people by offering incentives to students who commit to do a minimum of 10 minutes of reading every night during the campaign. The effort began on Monday, November 12, and runs through the end of the ABA season on March 10, 2013. The declared goal is to generate a million minutes of reading.

Joe Newman

“IRA is very pleased to be partnering with the ABA,” explained Stephen Sye, the Association’s Senior Marketing Manager. “Like us, the ABA is concerned about literacy in the US and is joining with us to make a significant difference in the reading habits of young people.” Joe Newman, the league’s CEO, agrees. “We can think of nothing more important for young people than to acquire good reading skills,” he said, “as this can be a life changer.”

Incentives for Students

Teachers interested in having their students participate in the program will find an official program reading log, a certificate of participation, and other materials on the Fast Break for Reading webpage on the IRA website. Students maintain and turn in their logs each month to their teachers who in turn tally the total and enter them on the campaign website; the website takes care of tracking totals.

Students who participate in Fast Break for Reading receive a certificate of participation, a ticket to an ABA game of choice, and eligibility for a grand prize at the conclusion of the program. The student who reads the most total minutes and is taught by the teacher whose students accumulate the most total minutes for the program will receive a grand prize of tickets to an ABA finals game, including air fare and a one-night hotel stay. The top reader at each school will also receive an outstanding achievement award from the ABA and IRA.

Teacher Liaison Opportunities

The ABA currently fields teams in 90 unique markets, including the San Antonio FUEL who play in the city where the IRA Annual Convention will be held on April 19-22, 2013. The league is looking for teacher volunteers to facilitate relationships between individual teams and local school districts and schools.

Among other options, these teacher liaisons can coordinate ABA visits to local schools for reading and basketball clinics, as well as student outings to ABA games. Interested teachers should determine the ABA team nearest their school by accessing the ABA website at www.abalive.com and then submitting their liaison application at /fastbreak. Liaisons will receive team jerseys, access to any ABA designated team game, and a free Common Core implementation guide.

As the program proceeds, teachers can also catch the latest Fast Break developments and updates via social media by “liking” the Fast Break for Reading page on Facebook. They can post comments and upload pictures of their classes reading or attending a campaign-related ABA game.

Buckets & Books Program

The final component of Fast Break involves the ABA’s Buckets & Books program. Fans who drop off books at ABA games will receive 50% off the cost of general admission and the books collected will be donated to local school programs.

For more information on any of these opportunities, teachers are encouraged to visit the Fast Break for Reading webpage at /fastbreak.

LeVar Burton


Burton as Kunta Kinte
in Roots


Burton as Geordi
LaForge in Star Trek:
The Next Generation

LeVar Burton will deliver the General Session keynote on Sunday, April 21, 2013, at the International Reading Association (IRA) 58th Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Burton is the recipient of 12 Emmy Awards, a Grammy, and 5 NAACP awards. The actor first earned kudos for his work as Kunta Kinte in the award-winning miniseries Roots. He went on to originate the role of Geordi LaForge in the Star Trek: The Next Generation series.

Burton, a long-time literacy advocate, became the host of the popular public television series Reading Rainbow in 1983. The show ran for 21 seasons.

A children’s show that encouraged literacy in fun ways, Reading Rainbow won over 200 broadcast awards including a Peabody Award and twenty-six Emmy Awards during its run. The show featured picture books read by celebrities, scenes that applied books’ lessons to real life, and book reviews from children. Many episodes of the original series can be downloaded from iTunes.

“I come from a family of teachers, and when I was offered the opportunity to host Reading Rainbow in 1983, I recognized immediately the value in using technology to inspire kids to read,” says Burton.

That appreciation for technology led to Burton rebooting the series last summer—as an app for the iPad. On June 20, 2012, the Reading Rainbow App was released; it became the #1 educational app on iTunes within 36 hours. Built from the ground up by Burton and his company, RRKIDZ, the app allows children to read unlimited books, explore video field trips starring Burton, and earn rewards for reading. The company partnered with leading publishers such as Little Brown Books for Young Readers, Abrams Books, Charlesbridge and Sleeping Bear Press, among others, to offer cherished children’s book titles through the app.

"This [app] gives me the opportunity to continue to do what I've done for over 25 years—put technology to use in turning kids on to good books," Burton explains. "In the 1980s, television was the obvious choice when it came to reaching an audience of children, but today's kids are digital natives. Tablet computers are brilliant devices for the medium of storytelling."

“Reading will never go out of style,” he says. “But the tools used for learning are changing.”

To learn more about Burton follow his Twitter feed @levarburton and read the RRKIDZ/Reading Rainbow Twitter feed, Facebook page, and blog. For more information about Burton and other presenters at the IRA Annual Convention, visit www.iraconvention.org.