Tweens, children between the ages of 10 and 12, and reading can often be mutually exclusive terms; but they don’t have to be. If they aren’t outside, tweens, especially male tweens, are generally found playing on video game consoles, cell phone apps, watching cartoons on television or YouTube videos. So, as a caring parent, what can […]
The holidays are exciting and busy for families. All the fun can hurt a hard-earned habit of daily reading . Instead of putting reading aside for the holidays, why not make books a central part of your celebration? Reading together can make for excellent family time and a break from the hectic schedule. Books that […]
If you are a parent of a child in elementary school who regularly reads to your child it is likely you have read a book by Anne Rockwell. She has written about 100 picture books for children. Often the captivating illustrations have been made by Anne, her husband or her daughter Lizzy. Anne was born in 1934 […]
It is bedtime. Your child is currently infatuated with dinosaurs. This means dinosaur bedtime stories. The result is that many nights you end up struggling to pronounce the names of these prehistoric beasts as you read picture books describing dinosaur features. Instead of enjoying snuggling and sharing a good book with your youngster, you are […]
Many children and even parents are intimidated by classic literature. The writing in classic books may be a little different from what we know in contemporary books, and you may thing that a child is unable to a classic story. These concerns need not dissuade you from opening up a time-tested story with your young […]
In 2008, author and illustrator team Eric Litwin and James Dean self published Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. This fun and cool cat quickly warmed the hearts of readers and before long Pete the Cat was picked up by Harper Collins publishing company. In a world seemingly flooded with picture books there was something […]
Everyone knows the typical princess story, the princess is put to sleep, captured and imprisoned or turned into a maid and has to live a hard boring life until a prince comes along to release the princess then she can live happily ever after. If you or your kid are tired of this well-trod […]
Think poetry is just for little kids or grown-ups? Think again. Teen poetry is making new waves in the world of literature, and teenagers are connecting with the poetry genre in ways they never thought possible. The newest teen poems are sometimes raw, sometimes funny, sometimes messy, but always real. The poems push readers out of […]
In 2004, the feature film that is based on Lemony Snicket’s book, A Series of Unfortunate Events was released to some acclaim. The film was well made and true to the mood and story of the book. It seems that the reading public tends to “close the book” on a work when the movie is […]
The end of summer is a time for corn on the cob and Popsicles. Families hurry to squeeze in a final vacation before the weather starts to change. Inevitably, families start preparing for back to school. This transition time can prompt anxiety in a child getting ready to start school. A young child won’t know […]