Dear reader,
I am the author of a number of books that have been used in family literacy 
and ESOL programs and currently teach at the College of Mount St. Vincents 
Institute for Immigrant Concerns in Manhattan and at the Aguilar branch of the New 
York Public Library.   I have just launched a new educational web site that 
can be used for family literacy programs and am hoping you will share the 
notice below with your subscribers.   The site encourages families to create comic 
strip stories using the characters and story ideas provided; in dong so, they 
can improve their literacy skills in a fun, friendly manner.   The site is 
free and without advertising and was created as a public service for educators 
and stems from my lifelong work in creating resource materials to help people   
find their voice.   I would be very appreciative if you could list the 
announcement.   You are free to make any necessary adjustments to the copy below. 
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Bill Zimmerman

Bill Zimmerman Launches Online Educational Comic Site for Family Literacy and 
ESOL Programs   –- http://www.makebeliefscomix.com

Dear reader,

I wanted to share with you news of my newest educational project and also ask 
for your help to make it succeed. 

I’ve just launched a new web site -- http:// www.makebeliefscomix.com -- 
where children and adults can create their own comic strips.   They can select 
from 10 fun characters with different moods   -- happy, sad, angry, worried – and 
write words for   blank talk and thought balloons to make their characters 
talk and think.   There also are story ideas and prompts to help users create 
graphic stories.   

The site can be used by educators to teach language, reading and writing 
skills, and also for students in English-as-a-Second-Language programs to facilit
ate self-expression and storytelling.   Parents and children can create stories 
together, print them to create comic books or email them to friends and 
family.   Others will find the site a resource to be creative, calm down and have 
fun.

I am hoping that you will share http://www.makebeliefscomix.com   with your 
colleagues, teachers, students or readers of your publications and resource 
lists.   Any help you might offer in getting word out about this project is very 
appreciated.   If you can suggest other people or groups whom I might contact 
to make them aware of the site please send me their names, email addresses or 
phone numbers.    Relevant Internet resource sharing groups would be helpful, 
too. 

As one who learned to read with comic books, I know that creating comic 
strips can help people tap into their creativity and practice their language and 
storytelling skills.   The site is free and stems from my lifelong mission to 
create resources that help people find their voice and express themselves. The 
concept for makebeliefscomix.com is derived from my earlier books, Make Beliefs 
and Make Beliefs for Kids of All Ages (which can be found on my other web 
site: http://www.billztreasurechest.com).   A Make Beliefs interactive feature 
appeared for 13 years on my syndicated Student Briefing Page for Newsday, and in 
National Geographic’s World Magazine. 

I hope you like http://www.makebeliefscomix.com and will use it in your work 
and personal life.   Your feedback is welcome and very helpful.   

With thanks and every good wish,

Bill Zimmerman
(wmz at aol.com)


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