Luck o' the Readers

If everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day, what we need is a patron saint of reading. Then, at least one day a year, everyone would be a reader.

Oh, I can dream, can't I?

Goodreads has some seasonal recommendations to get young readers into the spirit of the holiday - whether you want to impart some actual historical information about St. Patrick or stick to lighter fare.

And - this is especially for homeschoolers, because I just assume all elementary school teachers know about this treasure trove of a site - for anyone with young children, I highly recommend you turn on the printer and visit Enchanted Learning for some free printable books, St. Patrick's Day activity sheets, coloring pages, and read-aloud stories.

Now as you go off to read, be sure you're whistling a happy tune. 

Help for struggling new readers (or over-achievers)

Got kids who need a little help with reading? Try some of the suggestions you'll find at Starfall. The site was launched thanks to a former reluctant reader and so effective it made the education section of Time magazine's current  50 best websites list. Visit the site to find free (yes, free!) fun and games and a good shot at reading improvement. Recommended for K-2nd graders.

Got over-achieving readers? You know - the 4th-grader who can handle any adult title, but maybe not the context? Librarians can be your best source of recommendations. Don't overlook those "older" titles, like The Phantom Toll Booth and Stuart Little. Vocabularies have changed a bit over the past few decades - enough to slow down a young (eager) reader and to teach a few new words along the way.

They'll thank you when it's time to take the SAT.
 

No, David, It's Not Good Enough

I've enjoyed reading a handful of David Shannon's books to my son over the years. Duck On a Bike, for example.) Shannon is probably best known for No, David and rightly so; it's a good through-the-kid's-eyes story about a boy who hears nothing but "NO!" Shannon's picture books are for the "lapsit" set through toddlers, in my opinion, so I was happy when my son (now 5 and learning to read) picked up the level 1 reading book Trucktown: UH-OH, MAX by Jon Scieszka and I saw that Shannon had developed the Trucktown characters. Unfortunately, the book was an utter disappointment, text and pictures alike. Is a thin story and simple cartoonish drawings acceptable if you're "just" trying to get a kid to recognize a few sight words? No, David (and and). Learning to read is a lot easier (and more fun) when the book's a good one.

Moving Beyond ABC: Recommendations for the Pre-K Set

Reading is fun; perhaps most of all when you're reading to a child. Silly voices and fantasy lands and ABCs are the DNA building blocks of all future learning...ah, I can get lost in the grandeur of it all. A few of my long-time favorite and other, more recent picks are listed here for a pre-K, just-about-to-learn-to-read audience. Enjoy-add recommendations of your own-just read!!!!!!!!!!!

A is for Salad by Mike Lester
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
George Upside Down by Meghan McCarthy
ABC3D by Marion Battaille
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin - see fun related activities here and enjoy the superbly sung version here.

Of course the Dr. Seuss books are wondrous and rollicking reads, but in our house they were so well read, to both kids, that I consider them early preschool rather than pre-K/kindergarten books.

Frog and Toad Are Friends, by Arnold Lobel, is a classic I still enjoy, as are several of the other older titles I remember reading (or being read to?) as an young page-turner:


My daughter enjoyed the Bob books series during kindergarten, and I think their simple method can truly help young readers practice basic skills. I bought 'em from Scholastic, 'cus i love the fact that when you buy books through the school program, teachers get credits they can use to buy new books for their classrooms. That said, the Bob books also appear on this
handy list at Amazon.com.

Happy reading out loud!

Library Cuts HURT - Let's Try to Help

Dear friends and fellow readers. You know I love libraries. Please consider contacting Governor Strickland and our representatives to urge them to maintain as much funding as possible for our libraries. My letter follows contact information, below.

For More Information http://saveohiolibraries.com

Governor Ted Strickland
Governor's Office
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108
614-466-3555
http://www.governor.ohio.gov/Assistance/ContacttheGovernor/tabid/150/Default.aspx

Senator Kevin Coughlin
Senate Building
Room #222, Second Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 466-4823
SD27@senate.state.oh.us

Representative Mike Moran
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
(614) 466-1177
district42@ohr.state.oh.us

: : : : : : : : : : : : : :

Dear Sen. Coughlin and Rep. Moran:

I am requesting that you reconsider the proposed cuts to library funding in Ohio. I understand drastic budget reductions are required, and cuts hurt no matter where they are made. That said, I suggest that cuts in library hours, services, and staff will have long term, expensive repercussions for Ohio residents of all ages, stages, and socio-economic levels.

At the library, my 5 year old is learning to read, sing, wait his turn, share, and use a computer. My 13 year old is learning about everything that piques her interest right now- with an eye toward high school, college, and job opportunities. My 80 year old mother and 78 year old father visit the library, separately and together, to learn new skills, meet friends, browse the large-print books, and get answers to questions about taxes, medicines, TVs, telephone/internet service, and more. As a writer, I use the libraries (and their staffs, and resources) at least twice a week in the course of my work - and I've visited the library to help find work - as well as simply for relaxation. I've also benefited from the chance to offer input regarding government projects during meetings held, you guessed it, at various libraries.

Libraries are safe, bright, inviting spots that inform and enrich the lives of Ohio's citizens and therefore, support and enhance the quality of life in our entire state.

Please speak up, work hard, and do everything you can to support ALL of our libraries, especially during these difficult times.

Thank you for your consideration and dedication to the people of Ohio.

What Rhymes with Dust Bunnies?

Must runnies? Crust funnies? That's all my sinus-suffering head can produce.

Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas is a great picture book, especially for the just-learning-to-read set. At the risk of giving away too much, I'll tell you the cute mob of main characters - Ed, Ned, Ted, and Bob - get it in the end. (Sorry, I couldn't come up with anything that rhymes with vacuum cleaner, either.)

The book's interactive nature reminded me of another of my recent favorite picture books, There Are Cats In This Book. For what it's worth, I discovered them both through the books section of The Plain Dealer. (Yes, you can consider this a plea for readers to follow the reviews in The Plain Dealer, and/or your local paper.)