Scholastic Media Room

High frequency Internet uses are almost twice as likely as lower frequency Internet users to read a book for fun every day,according to the 2008 Kids & Family Reading Report released June 11.

In an age when everyone’s bemoaning the loss of our kids’ minds to the Internet, this report shows the reality seems to be just the opposite. Almost two-thirds of kids are actually extending their reading experience online. And the best part is these numbers are generally higher for older kids (especially in Web 2.0 activities), who are reading less than younger kids.

Kids are not reading less because of the Internet (sites like Facebook and YouTube) .In fact, we’re finding quite the opposite.

It’s the first week of June, and that means it’s time to recognize this year’s Scholastic Art & Writing Awards recipients, who are following in the footsteps of Andy Warhol, Truman Capote and Joyce Carol Oates – among the famous artists and writers who received Art & Writing awards when they were teenagers. The awards are 85 years old this year, and on Thursday, June 5, more than 500 creative teens will come to Carnegie Hall in New York to be honored for their achievements. The highest awards – Portfolio Gold – will be given to 12 seniors, who have earned $10,000 scholarships. Selected artwork is on display at galleries in New York this week, and national recipients will be participating in work shops and attending seminars while in the city.

The awards identify and validate the next generation of the country’s best artists and writers – photographers, painters, poets, humorists and storytellers. Here are two stories published recently on Portfolio Gold winners, Shawn Smith and James Bertucci, who will be in New York this week. And here’s one posted this week to the LA Times education blog about 13-year-old Kendall Perrin.