To Read or Not to Read

Reading to my granddaughter

Here it is, September already! Hard to believe. It is also the last leg of my journey as a home school mom. My last is scheduled to finish in December, so I have been busy setting school schedules and trying to figure out those last 3 books I want my son to read for school. One of the books I have him reading is an ARC by Eric Greitens. I hope to do a review in October, as that is when it is released. Anyway, all that to say this. I have not  chosen something specific to review this time. Instead, I would like to relate how reading impacted my years as a home school mom.

I always was an avid reader, so when I had children, I wanted to instill in them a love of reading. I read aloud to my children  and as soon as they were able to read, had them read to me. Dr. Seuss was a must. Throughout our schooling journey, reading good books was vital. My oldest, Rebecca T., did literature studies with her two younger brothers. They read Holes by Louis Sachar,The Outsiders by S.E.Hinton, and Hatchet by Gary Paulson. These books were chosen to keep the boys interested in reading.

I tried to find books that would match the interests of each of my children. One year I did a unit study on horses, using Album of Horses, for my second daughter. She studied horse anatomy and read lots of books about horses, including the series by Marguerite Henry, starting with Misty of Chincoteague. I have told you about the science books I used with my sons in a previous post.(The New Way Things Work and The Way We Work by Macaulay)  My third daughter, NaomiRuth, consumed books, especially ones about ancient cultures. A favorite was D'Auliere's Book of Greek Myths.

This is just a sampling of the many, many books we used in our schooling. As you encourage young people to read, find books they are interested in. I wish I had learned sooner that my one son hated fiction, so seemed to hate reading. Once I discovered this, I began giving him biographies and real stories. His desire to read grew and I was thrilled. In case you haven't guessed, it is my last son for whom I am trying to choose those three books mentioned at the beginning. Any suggestions?

Well, have a great rest of September. Remember to read and encourage children to read by getting them books related to their interests. I know I will be reading good books to my granddaughter to encourage another generation of readers. And don't forget to support your local brick and mortar bookstores. Til next month.

Where It All Began

You wouldn't chose to work in a bookstore unless you love to read.  I always find it odd when I meet someone who doesn't like to read.  How could someone not enjoy curling up with a good book and escaping somewhere without leaving the comfort of your couch?  I've loved to read as long as I can remember but how did this love start?  Let's take a look at some of the first books we remember.  

Alan: "One of the first books I remember reading to myself was 'Are You My Mother' by P.D. Eastman. Although I had since then become an avid reader, when my dad gave me 'Tarzan of the Apes' by Edgar Rice Burroughs, when I was 10, I was forever changed. For the next several years, and through several more of the adventures of Lord Greystoke, if I wasn't in a tree with the rest of Kerchak's tribe of anthropoids, I was huddled up with a book." 

Claire:  "I remember being in love with Dr. Seuss books, I know I always had 'One Fish, Two Fish' around. I think the first books that really started my love of reading was the Little House on the Prairie series. I don't remember how how I was, I think first grade, and I remember reading a page and then my mom read a page, back and forth. I remember I got the entire set for Christmas. I loved those books!"

Eileen:  "When I was little my parents and grandparents read to me a lot. Mostly Dr Seuss and Berenstein Bears. In late kindergarten/ early first grade I got 'The Horse and His Boy' and 'Little House on the Prairie', which were my first 'big books' to read by myself. I read them over and over, and have been begging for more ever since!"

Jess P. "My parents always had my sister and I read before we went to bed. The first book I remember reading on my own was 'The Mouse and the Motorcycle' by Beverly Cleary. It was a great story for a younger reader. There were also two other books in the series so I got hooked wanting to know more about Ralph S Mouse!"

Naomi:  "Go Dog Go' by PD Eastman was the first book I remember reading on my own without any help. And then, after that, I just wanted to read everything. It didn't really take much, since I had already been exposed to the love of reading via my mother and sisters."

Rachel:  I had always enjoyed books from a young age and religiously read Dr. Seuss, Jan Brett, and Eric Carle. However, it wasn't until my dad brought home a hardcover copy of 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone' that someone had found in a garbage that I really embraced reading and discovered my passion for magic and fantasy."

 

Rebecca: "When I was really little, my favorite book to have read to me was 'Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss.' I started reading at a young age, so I know I read a lot of books, but the first book I really remember being affected by was 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott. I distinctly remember it being the first book that made me cry. It was the first time I realized how powerful the written word can be and the impact it can have on people."  

It seems like Dr. Suess had a big impact on most of us.  He had an impact on me too but the opposite of everyone else.  I was scared of The Cat in The Hat and wanted nothing to do with another Suess book after that!  

When I was little, my dad read to me every night.  It was normally a short story or poem from a book he had as a kid called, "The Bumper Book."  It was full of little short stories and poems like "The Owl and the Pussycat."  He also read a lot of "Golden Books" to me, my favorite was "The Poky Little Puppy."  As I got older and learned to read on my own the first chapter book I wanted was "The Baby Sitters Club: Little Sister #2, Karen's Roller Skates," by Ann M. Martin.  This series was a spin-off of "The Baby-Sitters Club."  I distinctly remember finding this book at the mall at the "Book and Record" store.  Yes, I am old enough to have shopped in a store that sold actual record albums!  I read some of it to myself and my dad read some to me.  I instantly fell in love with the little town of Stonybrook, Conneticut and went on to read all the books in the series and ultimately found my true book love with "The Baby-Sitters Club" series.  I've been constantly reading ever since.  I read a variety of books but I still re-read "The Baby-Sitters Club" books to this day.  Like a great friend, they are a great source of comfort on a bad day. 

What about you ?  Please share with us some of your early reading memories below. 

Christmas Books for the Kid in all of us!

Well there are only 2 more shopping days left until Christmas!  Have you gotten all your presents yet?  I know I haven't, in fact today is when my husband and I will finish doing our shopping! When I started working for Borders "back in the day" (as my staff will attest) I was primarily a kids seller.  I don't know how I got roped into it, but I always found myself in the kids room suggesting titles to customers who had NO clue as to what to get a child they only saw a handful of times a year.

I decided for my first post to talk about the Christmas books that I really enjoyed as a child.  If you are looking for a good kids book to get for the holiday, perhaps this will inspire you.

The first book I love during this time of year is The Polar Express by Chris VanAllsburg.  I have great memories of my elementary school librarian reading this to our class every year.  I always hoped that the Polar Express would come to my home and pick me up just so I could visit the North Pole. *sigh*  Oh well, maybe my children will get that experience!

The second book I love is that classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss.  Who can forget this classic tale about The Grinch and his quest to steal Christmas, only to be foiled by his own heart?  I always wanted some roast beast!  Where can I get it?

My next recommendation may not be familiar to some of you, it's The Sweet Smell of Christmas by Richard Scarry.  It's a cute story (complete with scratch and sniff stickers) about a little bear who is learning all about Christmas.  My favorite scratch and sniff page to this day is the hot chocolate.  We still have this book at my parents and it still smells!!!!

For older kids, I suggest The Best Christmas Pageant ever by Barbara Robinson.  What happens when a rambunctious family takes over the church's Christmas Pageant....well you will find out if you read this book. This includes the classic line "Hey Unto you a Child is Born!".  I honestly think I would be freaked out if this happened in my church, but hey it makes for a great story!

My final suggestion is The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado.  It's a tear jerker but for good reasons.  It tells the story of a lamb with a birth defect who learns that indeed there is a reason as to why we are all here.  I will not give away the ending, but it truly magnifies the meaning of Christmas!

Well I hope you all enjoyed my suggestions for you!  If you liked them great, if not that's okay too!  I look forward to hearing from you and writing for you all next month!