How to Participate in Shalom Readers
1. This program is especially geared to children ages 4 through 14. Young children who do not yet read may have the books read to them.
2. The book list has been divided into three age categories. Preschool through grade two books are mostly picture books. Grade 3-5 books are for advanced beginners and deal with more complex subjects. Grade 6-8 books are longer books with even more advanced subject matter.
3. Every year, new titles are added to each age group (these are in bold print in the list). We encourage church librarians to purchase these and others on the list for their church library.*
4. Youth wishing to participate in the program should fill out the registration form in the brochures that were sent to your church in June for every family with children aged 4 through eighth grade, and give it to the SR leader in your church. (This might be the librarian, the Christian Education chairperson, or a specially appointed Shalom Readers Leader.) The SR leader will mail the forms for your church to the regional coordinator listed below. If your church does not have a SR leader, the youth should mail the registration form directly to the coordinator for your state, ideally by Oct. 1.
5. Participants read seven books from the Shalom Readers list between Sept. 1 and Aug. 1. Very young children may have the books read to them.
6. After reading the seven books, each child submits a brief book report or "sharing" on any two of the books to the SR leader. If the church does not have a SR ministry, a parent may act as a SR leader and hear the sharing. Young readers may draw a picture or talk about the book, any age may make up a poem or song or poster about it; creativity is encouraged!
7. When a child has met the requirements, the SR leader helps the child choose a book from the Shalom list as a gift book and sends a request to the coordinator for your state. The book will be mailed directly to the child or can be sent to the SR leader if a special presentation is being made. Titles prefaced by an asterisk are out of print and therefore not available as gift books. Gift books should be requested no later than August 1, since the new Shalom year begins September 1.
* We hope these books can be found in the church, local school, or public library. Should your church librarian wish to order these books, we suggest you patronize your local Christian bookstore. Books may also be available on-line. Local garage sales and thrift stores are another source. Many titles can be borrowed from public or school libraries. All books are available for check-out through the Central Plains Mennonite Conference Resource Library. We encourage churches to request these books for loan if you cannot find the selections locally. Please note that a $15 fee will be assessed for each book not returned to the SRC Library. This fee will be used to purchase replacements for lost books.
Use email or postal to make a request: Box 101, Freeman, SD 57029
Phone: (605) 929-3325 office@centralplainsmc.org
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday
Regional Coordinator for churches in CO, MT, NE, SD:
Joan Friesen
Box 682
Henderson, NE 68371
jfriesen@mainstaycomm.net
Regional Coordinator for churches in IA, IL, MN, WI:
Ellen K. Miller
2131 Grand Blvd.
Waterloo, IA 50701
ellenkmiller@gmail.com
Use email or postal to make a request: Box 101, Freeman, SD 57029
2. The book list has been divided into three age categories. Preschool through grade two books are mostly picture books. Grade 3-5 books are for advanced beginners and deal with more complex subjects. Grade 6-8 books are longer books with even more advanced subject matter.
3. Every year, new titles are added to each age group (these are in bold print in the list). We encourage church librarians to purchase these and others on the list for their church library.*
4. Youth wishing to participate in the program should fill out the registration form in the brochures that were sent to your church in June for every family with children aged 4 through eighth grade, and give it to the SR leader in your church. (This might be the librarian, the Christian Education chairperson, or a specially appointed Shalom Readers Leader.) The SR leader will mail the forms for your church to the regional coordinator listed below. If your church does not have a SR leader, the youth should mail the registration form directly to the coordinator for your state, ideally by Oct. 1.
5. Participants read seven books from the Shalom Readers list between Sept. 1 and Aug. 1. Very young children may have the books read to them.
6. After reading the seven books, each child submits a brief book report or "sharing" on any two of the books to the SR leader. If the church does not have a SR ministry, a parent may act as a SR leader and hear the sharing. Young readers may draw a picture or talk about the book, any age may make up a poem or song or poster about it; creativity is encouraged!
7. When a child has met the requirements, the SR leader helps the child choose a book from the Shalom list as a gift book and sends a request to the coordinator for your state. The book will be mailed directly to the child or can be sent to the SR leader if a special presentation is being made. Titles prefaced by an asterisk are out of print and therefore not available as gift books. Gift books should be requested no later than August 1, since the new Shalom year begins September 1.
* We hope these books can be found in the church, local school, or public library. Should your church librarian wish to order these books, we suggest you patronize your local Christian bookstore. Books may also be available on-line. Local garage sales and thrift stores are another source. Many titles can be borrowed from public or school libraries. All books are available for check-out through the Central Plains Mennonite Conference Resource Library. We encourage churches to request these books for loan if you cannot find the selections locally. Please note that a $15 fee will be assessed for each book not returned to the SRC Library. This fee will be used to purchase replacements for lost books.
Use email or postal to make a request: Box 101, Freeman, SD 57029
Phone: (605) 929-3325 office@centralplainsmc.org
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday
Regional Coordinator for churches in CO, MT, NE, SD:
Joan Friesen
Box 682
Henderson, NE 68371
jfriesen@mainstaycomm.net
Regional Coordinator for churches in IA, IL, MN, WI:
Ellen K. Miller
2131 Grand Blvd.
Waterloo, IA 50701
ellenkmiller@gmail.com
Use email or postal to make a request: Box 101, Freeman, SD 57029