Books Children Love

Self Discovery

2011-09-05T04:03:00.000-07:00

Most of us have certain things about ourselves which we love, and other things we wish we could change. As adults, we realize that our relationship with ourselves is often very complicated and fraught with anxiety.

Life was much simpler when we were children, but many of us have long lasting impressions of ourselves based on what we were told as children.

I Like Myself is a book that children will find amusing and fun to read, and adults will quickly notice the deeper meanings embedded in the words and illustrations. The overall message of the book is that it's good to be happy with who you are, and the person you are is not dependent on the things that people see on the outside. It's what's inside you that makes you who you are, and it's a good thing to appreciate and LIKE yourself!

A Toddler Favorite

2011-07-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

Every child can relate to the anticipation of eating a delicious looking treat. Most children enjoy being frightened just enough to put them on edge without leaving their comfort zone.

The narrator in this story has an ongoing conversation with a mouse about eating the red, ripe strawberry pictured on the cover. The only character pictured is the mouse and the reader never discovers who the narrator is, or if the scary bear is real.

The illustrations capture the emotions of the mouse and delight readers young and old. The words lend themselves to reading in many different voices. Adults may soon memorize the whole story as children will love for it to read to them over and over.

A Classic Paired With a Newcomer

2011-07-14T20:35:00.000-07:00

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeliene L'Engle is one of those coming of age books that I find referred to again and again in contemporary literature. It seems that many of today's novelists (at least the ones I read) love this novel and read it again and again throughout their childhoods.

I've heard many moms refer to it too, and they simply can't wait for their daughters to read it and love it too. Unfortunately, I fell into the common trap of giving it to my daughter to read when she was too young to really appreciate it. She thought it was OK, but she wasn't really crazy about it.

Recently, I had the privilege of reading the 2010 Newberry Award winning novel When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. Stead brilliantly manages to intricately weave the story from A Wrinkle in Time into her novel without ruining either book. Needless to say, I loved it!

My daughter is now 12, and was looking for a good book to read. I encouraged her to reread A Wrinkle in Time before reading When You Reach Me, and for once she took my advice. This time, she LOVED the L'Engle book and consequently also loved Stead's. I am currently reading A Wrinkle in Time aloud to my 8 and 10 year olds, and hopefully they too will choose to reread it when they are slightly older, before they read When You Reach Me.

Time travel, boy/girl friendships, relationships with parents and siblings and other themes run through both books in ways that we can all relate to. Why not reread one and introduce yourself to the other today?

Family

2011-07-13T20:34:00.000-07:00

During summer time many of us spend time traveling to visit family and enjoy visits with extended family. It has become an annual tradition for us to stay with my sister and her children, and all year long my children look forward to the special time with their cousins.

Cynthia Rylant understands. In her book The Relatives Came extended family descends upon a house and there are plenty of hugs and laughter and people sleep on any space available. Sure it's crowded and chaotic, and the families may not be similar in every way, but they have great fun until it's time to go home. Then suddenly the house seems oh so empty and quiet.

This book can be read and enjoyed at any age, keeping the memories alive of poignant time spent with family.

2011-07-09T20:52:00.000-07:00

I didn't know it, but the town I'm visiting for a few weeks this summer has a picturesque library that was featured in a fun picture book which has won many awards. Bats at the Library is a about some bats who, much to their delight, discover that the window to the library has been left open. They make their way in and enjoy a night filled with adventure and stories. Children love the illustrations and rhymes as well as trying to identify the different classic stories alluded to in the illustrations. "Goodnight Sun", "Peter Bat-bit", "Little Red Bat-inghood" to name a few. Apparently, there are other bat books by the same author and I'm anxious to check them out!

Shades of Gray

2011-07-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

At times, we adults have a habit of thinking of childhood as being simple. Rules are meant to be followed, needs are mostly met by others and issues faced can often be classified in terms of opposites. We even teach young children opposites as though they are unshakable truths. Up/down, in/out, big/little, wrong/right, black/white.

At some point, savvy children will begin to notice that life does not always fit into neatly labeled boxes of opposites, and that there are shades of gray. Parents and teachers might find it difficult to discuss ideas and issues that have no clear cut answers with young children.

The book The Honest to Goodness Truth by Patricia C. McKissack tackles the issue of truth telling vs. lying head on. Yes, we all know we should tell the truth at all times. But are there times that we hide the truth, or try to cover it up under the guise of politeness? Have you ever heard a child exclaim loudly, "Look at that fat man!" or a similarly embarrassing comment? We expect people in our culture to filter such comments (however accurate they may be) and refrain from saying them aloud.

Not all young children will immediately understand the message of this story, but it does provide for good conversation. I would encourage you to read it aloud to your child and talk about it in simple terms, and then read it again, and again, and again over a span of months, or years. Older children will also enjoy reading this advanced picture book and they will understand the message better. Be ready to discuss it with them as well.

Junie B. Jones

2010-08-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

I've heard some negative comments about Junie B. Jones from adults, but most little girls I've talked to have loved her. Yes, her spelling is not perfect and she is not always an angel child, but she is a fun and believable character. Best of all, children who are still learning to read chapter books can read Junie B. books without becoming overwhelmed and lost. I would recommend this series to first through third graders.

I'm Angry!

2010-08-09T18:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, kids become angry. Really, really angry. Sometimes grownups don't know how to handle anger, whether it be the kids' anger or their own. Maybe, if children learn how to identify and deal with their anger while they are still children, they will be able to better manage and work through their anger as adults.

Sophie becomes very angry in this story. In fact, she is filled with such a rage that it threatens to take her over and make her do things she shouldn't. The good news though, is that Sophie handles her anger in a positive way.

This picture book is nicely illustrated with bright, colorful pictures, and in no way feels like a "preachy" or "instructional" book on feelings. Both children and adults can relate to Sophie's feelings and her process of calming down serves as a good teaching tool for children and a a healthy reminder for adults on how to channel their anger for good.

It's OK to be angry, but it's not OK to hurt yourself or others while you're angry.

A Classic

2010-08-08T18:07:00.000-07:00

Most of us recognize the cover, and some have seen the movie or the cute cartoon on tv, but how many can quote the rhymes from the original book? Those of us who know and love the story of Madeline, who lives in Paris, in a house covered with vines, and walks with the 12 girls, in two straight lines.

Madeline is a fearless little girl who lives at her boarding school along with her friends and then one day she has to be rushed to the hospital to have her appendix removed. The story and the illustrations are simple, but the rhyme and rhythm are catchy and enjoyable to children.

I often find myself even years after having read the book to my children saying, "Goodnight, goodnight, I hope you sleep well," with the echo in my ear of "Goodnight, goodnight, dear Miss Clavell."

Just for fun

2010-08-05T18:49:00.000-07:00

I accidently stumbled upon Mo Willem's books when my daughter brought home There Is a Bird On Your Head! (An Elephant and Piggie Book). The simple drawings and few words on each page did little to alert me to the brilliance hidden within its pages, but I soon realized this was no ordinary children's book. We must have read the book five to ten times each day that week we had it, giggling and laughing each time. Since then, I have searched for other books by Mo Willems at libraries and bookstores, and most libraries are stocked with several.

My students also love books by Mo Willems as he captures their feelings, conversations and taps into their humor. The pigeon books are especially popular in kindergarten, requiring countless read-alouds complete with enthusiastic choral reading of the words and pages the children remember. Look for images of the pigeon in other books by the author as well!

Social Issues Children Face

2010-08-04T19:09:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you really, really like and respect someone and then they let you down? How do you react when someone disappoints you? What if you impulsively do something to hurt them back, and then you regret it later because maybe they won't like you any more, and you really, really still want them to like you?

These are the dilemmas Lily faces in this story by Kevin Henkes. Children of all ages will be able to relate to Lily and her good intentions gone bad and the range of emotions she experiences throughout the story.

Nursery Rhymes

2010-08-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

Hey diddle diddle...

One, two, buckle my shoe...

Little Miss Muffet...

Chances are that most people can continue the rhymes begun above, and perhaps even recite them through to the end. We often assume that all children simply "know" nursery rhymes, but I find at school that many children are not, in fact, familiar with traditional nursery rhymes.

Is there are reason why they should be? Are nursery rhymes outdated and useless? Call me old-fashioned, but I believe they are not, and here are a few reasons why:

Children enjoy the sounds of nursery rhymes from a young age and like to hear them over and over again.

Children are introduced to the rhythm and rhyme of poetry through the repetition of nursery rhymes.

Children learn to predict text in nursery rhymes because of the rhythm and rhyme and the natural order of words in written and spoken language (syntax)

Having memorized nursery rhymes helps children develop an awareness of the sounds in language (phonemic awareness).

Knowing how to rhyme and predict and recognizing the different sounds in language makes learning how to read easier for children.

Nursery rhymes are often referred to in picture books and other children's literature. When children know nursery rhymes, they are better able to understand what they are reading or hearing.

There are many books of collections of nursery rhymes with updated, fabulous illustrations. Older anthologies can be found in flee markets and book resale shops. A personal favorite of mine is My Very First Mother Goose by Opie and Wells.

Dealing With a Difficult Topic

2010-07-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

Death is not a topic that is dealt with very often in children's literature, although it is present in some of our most memorable novels like Bridge to Terabithia. My 11 year old daughter recently read Ways To Live Forever a first person account of a boy with leukemia who has just few months left to live.

I'll admit, I cry very easily in books, movies, tv shows, you name it, so I wasn't terribly excited about reading what would have to be a sad book. There's no doubt that it was a sad book, but I didn't cry as much as I thought I would; in fact, I laughed more than I cried.

Sally Nicholls tackles tough issues in her book by having the main character, Sam, pose questions related to dying that adults don't like to answer like why do we have to die, and how do you know that you've died? Sam writes lists, journal entries, stories and questions as part of his school project, intending it to be a book for people to read after his death.

Readers join Sam in figuring out what his wishlist is before he dies and how he goes about checking off the items on his list. Readers also catch a glimpse of what it feels like to sit with dying friend, attend a funeral, and to think of life as a cycle.

Death is an inevitable part of life, and reading this book will make it more real and less scary for children. It is believable and well written, with humor, anger, and sadness, but not overwhelmingly so. I highly recommend this book for children ages 9 and up, including adults!

Sharon Creech

2010-07-21T17:01:00.000-07:00

I have yet to read a book by Sharon Creech I didn't like, whether it be the picture book, A Fine, Fine School, or one of her many novels like Love That Dog, Chasing Redbird, or The Wanderer

For some reason I was a bit skeptical when I first picked up a copy of Chasing Redbird, but it soon captivated me. Now I have trouble remembering exactly where my skepticism came from. I know I put off reading Love That Dog for a long time because I didn't think I could relate to book in poetry form, or that it could appeal to children. How wrong I was! I underestimated the author, the form and children in general. Ms. Creech treats both her readers and her characters with respect which results in books that make both children and adult readers think and evaluate the themes she deals with.

I read the Fine, Fine School several times aloud at school before I noticed who the author was, and when I did, it was like an "A-ha" moment.

Mainstream

2010-07-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

I recently conducted a very unscientific study on what books for children are available for sale in regular places that people shop: two Walmarts, two Targets and a book store in a small town mall. We were traveling in the midwest and stopped in places that would be considered truly rural as well as a couple that are within the city limits of Chicago. In other words, a pretty good cross section of the United States.

I was reasonably satisfied when I looked for a baby gift as I found a limited selection of board book versions of classic best sellers. The store stocked such titles as Where the Wild Things Are, The Hungry Caterpillar, Goodnight Moon, Guess How Much I Love You and one book by Sandra Boynton. Beyond the collectible books however, there were only easy readers and coloring books. Easy readers have their place in literacy development, but they hardly foster a life-long love of reading, nor are they particularly good as read alouds.

As for chapter books, I was both disappointed and disturbed. We found Diary of a Wimpy Kid books at every store, a couple of Beverly Cleary books (which my kids have already) and there was the every present shelf of Vampire books marketed to teens. My eleven year old daughter commented that it seems like all authors are copying Stephanie Meyers and can no one think for themselves? I was looking for the newest Newberry award winner, or a Sharon Creech book, or anything really...

The question I have to ask myself is this: are stores not selling quality children's literature because people weren't buying them, or do people not buy such books (maybe they don't know them without marketing/movie tie-ins?) so stores quit selling them?

Is it a matter of marketing and knowledge of books? What will happen to reading and the availability of books if the stores real people shop in don't stock books that all children should read? I suppose most schools give out Scholastic Book Order forms where people can buy books at a better price, and most families have access to libraries, but do they use these services?

How can I get the word out? There are so many good books out there!!!!

Book Review

2010-06-24T22:38:00.000-07:00

I've been hearing about Bringing the Boy Home for a couple of months now from my 3rd grade daughter who kept talking about this wonderful book her teacher was reading aloud to the class. After finishing it, she convinced her older sister to read it as well. Older sister whizzed through it, seemingly without putting it down, and then they started in on me. "You HAVE to read it mom! It is SO good!"

Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down either! It is the story of two boys who are part of an Amazon tribe, deep within the jungle. In order to prove themselves as men, they must pass a test of endurance, bravery and skill. The twist is that one boy was abandoned by his parents at age 6 and spent the last 7 years in Florida with his adopted mother. Can a boy who is part of modern American culture prove himself in the Amazon?

The story plays with the themes of family, loyalty, bravery, trust. Had I read the book first I would have said that the book is for boys, but it resonated with my girls as well. It has adventure, excitement, emotion and drama, and best of all, it takes the reader outside of any world or culture they have ever known while showing that many themes are not owned by any one culture. I would highly recommend this book for any reader ages 8 to 12.

Free Play

2010-06-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

A toddler wades into a man-made pond at the park, then plops herself down in the water. Mom laughs and stands at the edge of the pond, supervising from a close distance. Nearby another mother watches as her five year old makes sandballs, dipping her hands into a pail of water, grabbing a handful of black, wet sand to roll and shape into her desired shape, size and consistency.

The dripping child from the pond loses interest in the water and wanders off toward the sandbox where she too wants to make sandballs. Naturally all the children are covered in sand, and it's not nice and clean sand. It is black and constantly left out in the elements. It's not unlikely to find a cigarette butt or other garbage in the sandbox, and who knows how many cats use it at their litter box.

Is it irresponsible parenting or a wonderful opportunity for the children?

I admit that I have a hard time allowing my kids to become so deliciously dirty as they learn, play and discover. In sand and water they come to know the properties of both. They pour, lift and measure and they make plans to follow through and they develop large and fine motor skills. They learn that when they play in water they get wet, and when they play in sand they become dirty which is cause and effect. They learn that they might feel uncomfortable, or some might enjoy the sensations.

But perhaps best of all, they are learning that they are free to explore and investigate and try new things.

Did it make life more difficult for Mom? Absolutely! There is extra laundry to deal with as well as the added logistical hassle of the trip home from the park. It's not always easy to clean all that sand out of the hidden folds of skin young children have.

What about the dirt, germs, garbage and bacteria? If the children are generally unhealthy with weak immune systems, that could be a problem. With otherwise healthy children, as long as they are not eating the sand or drinking the water, they build up a healthy immune system by playing outside and becoming dirty.

The key is to remember:

Children are washable.

Reading Aloud

2010-06-22T15:47:00.000-07:00

"Can you read this to me please?" a child will ask, and who can say no? Well, perhaps we buy some time with a "Later, OK?" but ultimately, anyone who spends time around children and books will have opportunities to read aloud.

Some of us feel more confident in our abilities to read to an audience than others. We might have an idea in our heads of what the book should sound like, but we are afraid of over-acting or sounding silly. It could be that simply getting the words past our lips is work enough in itself and we don't have any energy left to try to make it sound like something.

Reading aloud to children is a skill that can be learned and improved upon with practice. We don't all have to become professional story tellers or performers, but most of us could use some extra help!

Do:

1. Enjoy the story.
2. Think about what you're reading.
3. SLOW down; it is not a race!
4. Lower your pitch to avoid a squeaky, high voice.
5. Make your voice softer for effects instead of louder.
6. Build in pauses for dramatic effect.
7. Take time to enjoy the illustrations.

Don't

1. Rush
2. Think about others who might be listening.
3. Use the same tone of voice for the entire story.
4. Overdo different voices for different characters.
5. Turn the experience into a comprehension Q & A.

The most important thing is to enjoy the experience and slow down. Find a comfortable, quiet spot to sit with a child for your read aloud sessions.

Read every day and have fun!

A Timeless Theme

2010-06-21T15:36:00.000-07:00

Certain story lines and premises simply resonate with children. One of these is toys that come alive and have subplots and dramas beyond what we see in our world. Naturally Toy Story comes to mind, that blockbuster movie series with the voice of Tom Hanks, but kids have warmed to stories about toys long before the movie. Remember the Velveteen Rabbit?

The Tub People, by Pam Conrad is an unassuming tale of a family of bath toys who are neither animated nor prone to excessive conversation. However, children love this story of the child toy who washes away in the whirlpool of an unplugged drain which results in a clogged tub. The Tub People is a good read-aloud for children of all ages, as well as a suitable book for 6 to 8 year olds to read independently.

The Doll People by Ann Martin tells the story of cross generational doll houses, a modern plastic version interacting with dolls living in hundred year doll house. The dolls never age, and both sets of dolls have complex interactions and emotions as they pursue their adventures and find their places and senses of self and friendship in their world. Illustrations accompany most pages, adding to the readability of this ambitious chapter book for 7 to 9 year old girls. The story line is compelling enough though to encourage readers to read independently to the end.

Picture Books

2010-06-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

We all know that we should read aloud to our children, but when do we stop? And surely "big kids" are beyond picture books?

I recently took our favorite anthology of picture books off the shelf, dusted it off and began reading a couple of stories every night aloud to my elementary aged children. My motivation was the fact that I discovered that when I referred to a story they had loved as smaller children, they mostly looked at me blankly as though I was speaking a foreign language.

As I started reading, they were mesmerized and completely drawn in to the stories. When I came to the end of one, they begged me to continue. Naturally, part of what we were experiencing was nostalgia for a bygone era, especially as they began to remember the stories from countless re-reading in the past, but they were also seeing the characters through different eyes and relating to the story lines on a more mature level. We had interesting conversations about the illustrations and the problems facing the characteres as well as the interactions between them.

Soon, my children were begging for story time every night and we continued to read through the entire anthology. Sometimes we took turns reading aloud, and surprisingly (to them) they weren't quite as easy to read as they had thought. There are some challenging words in those books, and the rhythm and flow of the prose are great practice for reading aloud and developing fluency while practicing expression and interesting voices.

Do I now only read picture books to my older kids? No, we also read chapter books that might be too overwhelming for them to tackle on their own. I try to find a balance between different levels and genres of books. I want my children to know that they are never too old for any good book!

Quality Literature

2010-06-16T05:26:00.000-07:00

How can we find good books for our kids? So many times it seems that we either chose the books we remember from our own childhood, or we fall prey to the marketing of today. Currently there are books being made into movies, which may or may not be a good thing. I have always loved Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, but I wasn't a big fan of the movie. Hopefully the movie won't discourage parents, teachers and children from reading the book in the future.

I'm also not a big fan of "Junior Novelization" of books based on movies and tv shows. Just today I found a copy of a Phineas and Ferb early chapter book that my son had borrowed from the library? Really? Can't we offer our children any better than that?

So I put on my detective glasses and went to look for quality literature that boy of seven who is an advanced reader might enjoy, keeping away from books that might be on his reading level, but quite ahead of his maturity level.

It is by no means a comprehensive list, but a start anyway.

Literacy Connections

2006-10-30T08:04:00.000-08:00

ABCs on the driveway.

We (teachers/parents/caregivers) need to actively engage children in meaningful experiences that teach literacy skills in context while building upon prior learning. Children need to be read aloud to daily and given opportunities to talk about, retell, reread, and discuss stories. We need to make it a priority to increase the experiences children have with and how they interact with a variety of print. Children must have the opportunity to play games with language, to sing songs and to recite poems and rhymes to increase linguistic awareness. Children should also learn alphabetic and phonemic principals, the knowledge that letters represent words and sounds, and that words are made up of small parts of sounds, in developmentally appropriate ways, without the use of drill and practice on isolated skills. All these things work together to ensure optimal development that prepare children for both writing and reading.

Interviewing Children on Writing Development

2006-10-30T07:49:00.000-08:00

Adults tend to separate writing and drawing into two categories. The children I interviewed ranged in age from three to seven, and their responses varied when they were asked what a writer does. Some replied that writers write letters and numbers, or stories and poems, while yet others said they write pictures and rainbows. When young children first pick up a writing utensil, they usually begin to scribble. Gradually, form begins to take shape as the child sees that s/he can control the crayon/pencil. According to the website Stages of Writing based on Richard Gentry’s work, the stages of writing usually progress from scribbling to letter-like symbols, then strings of letters before beginning sounds emerge, followed by consonants representing words, then initial, middle and final sounds, transitional phases and standard spelling (retrieved April 18, 2006). As one seven year old I interviewed succinctly put it, her writing followed these stages: “When I was one I scribbled. When I was two, I drew faces. When I was three and four, I did pretend writing. When I was five, I wrote two or three letter words. When I was six, I began to write sentences, and now that I’m seven, I write long stories.”

Thoughts on Literacy Development

2006-10-30T07:45:00.000-08:00

Development plays a huge role in literacy learning in a supportive, print rich environment where children have access to positive role models and are read to regularly. I have seen this especially with my daughters as I have observed them as they become independent readers and writers. I have always tried to support their literacy by reading to them often, singing songs and rhymes together, playing word games with sounds (in order to promote phonetic awareness), and talking about aspects of print in a natural way, just to mention a few things.

Recently my 5 year old daughter has been asking to read simple books to/with me and although she sometimes reads fluidly based on memory, context clues and other strategies, she may spend a full minute trying to figure out a simple sight word such as "is" or "and." Meanwhile, my 7 year old daughter, listening in, becomes very frustrated and impatient with her little sister for not knowing those EASY words.
I smile to myself remembering how just a year ago, it was the older sister who was struggling with those same words. Now she knows 100s of sight words, but neither she nor I can remember an exact time or lesson that made it all come together for her. There was not one particular lesson (or even set of lessons) that made her learn to read. She gradually became able to read just as her little sister will, with the support of many different literacy activities. It won't happen at the same time since their abilities and circumstances are different.

Playing restaurant

2006-10-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

K's (7) menu: Snack, grapes, strawberries, cheese, crackers, blueberries, chocolate, bananas

S's (5) menu: meatloaf, peas, pasta, chicken, yum!

Five year old writing

2006-10-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

Shopping list: bagels, milk, orange juice, mushrooms, (paper)towels.

S drew a sequence and labeled the feelings of the girls in her picture: sad, surprised and happy.

A drawing of L's house. As she drew, she labeled each window orally - this is the kitchen and the living room, and my room and sisters' rooms and mommy and daddy's room. The door seemed to hold special significance. There is one chimney for each member of the family (one big one for parents).

Example of 3 year old drawing

2006-10-24T11:53:00.000-07:00

Writing with markers and crayons

2006-10-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

Notice the dress-up clothing. These girls are drawing and writing as part of their pretend play.

One of the five year olds seemed reluctant to write at first when we all sat down for a writing time at the table. She answered my questions confidently, but referred to her writing only in terms of letter formation and did not seem very secure in her ability to write the alphabet. As the other children started writing and drawing and answering my questions, she observed and thought for a while, and then suddenly her demeanor brightened as she piped up, “Oh – I can write too. I’m a good writer, actually, because I can write numbers.” She started to draw and as I asked her about what she was drawing, she began to add details to her picture and tell me more about her family and their house that she was drawing. The more she talked, the more she drew, and the more she drew, the more details she thought of to tell me about and to add onto her picture. Before long, this reluctant writer had drawn several pages of pictures.

Painting as a form of writing

2006-10-24T11:45:00.000-07:00

Authentic Writing

2006-10-24T11:39:00.000-07:00

Here's a message for the tooth fairy. It's important to know where to find that tooth and leave the money! First grade writing with a specific purpose.