Tag: books

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Parenting Raising kids Raising Readers Uncategorized

And So It Ends…

When I started this blog in 2016, my kids were 5 and 7, and we were right in the middle of our #RaisingReaders quest. They were learning to love books with our #bedtimereads, and learning to read at the same time. As the years went on, both kids began to develop their own reading styles (audiobook preference for him, usually Science Fiction and for her Fantasy and more recently murder mysteries? while both dabble in historical fiction). Although things slowed down, we did still try to make sure to make time for #bedtimereads.

Then the Pandemic hit. I just knew that being at home was going to provide me a ton of time to read and I was going to have all types of stories to tell, books to review, and more. However, although I went strong for a little at the beginning, I (like many other readers) actually went into a reading slump for a while. And then, when I actually was reading, it was either for work or other books for adults. When it came to the #bedtimereads, we started a couple of chapter book sequels, but didn’t get very far in either one before I abandoned them. Our bedtime reads have become few and far between. All of this meant time for blogging was moving further and further down my list.

Now even though our time reading together has slowed, I still feel that at 13 and soon to be 11, they have cultivated a reading identity, and that my goal of #raisingreaders has been accomplished, at least for the time being. We still talk about books often and I recommend books that I think they will like when I come across them. And they are still down for a humorous picture book to read before going to sleep.

With all that being said, I’ve realized that I have reached the end of my time as a blogger. There’s still a few places I will write for for the foreseeable future. And maybe sometime in the future I’ll have a different topic I’ll want to blog about, but now is not that time. I want to thank each person who ever took the time to read something that I have written, even if it was just one time. I also want to thank any author who trusted me to read and honestly review their writing, it is a gift I did not and do not take for granted. And may each of you who interact with regularly with a child, even if it is not your own, please continue to #raisereaders!

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Book Review Parenting

Book Review: BY THE LIGHT OF THE FIREFLIES, by Jenni L. Walsh — MG Book Village

I also write book reviews for MG BookVillage, and this is my recent review that I think could be helpful for those #raisingreaders who are budding history buffs.

As a literacy educator who has a particular affection for 3rd-5th grades, one thing I’m always looking for is good historical fiction. Finding the time in an elementary school day to teach both Social Studies and Literacy adequately can be difficult at times, so any opportunity to integrate the two is something I’m looking out […]

Book Review: BY THE LIGHT OF THE FIREFLIES, by Jenni L. Walsh — MG Book Village
Categories
Parenting Raising kids Raising Readers

One of my favorite quotes…

I’ve mentioned this before, but besides the idea of going on adventures to far off worlds, fostering their imagination, and a number of other reasons, this is why I feel strongly about #RaisingReaders.

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Book Review Parenting Raising kids

Book Review: The Adventures of Abe the $5 Bill

In addition to this blog, I also write for the Parent issue of one of our local publications. Most recently, I wrote a book review for a local author, Dr. Eli Goodman, who wrote The Adventures of Abe the $5 Bill. Below is a link to that review:

https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/the-adventures-of-abe-the-5-bill/Content?oid=13572046

Categories
Book Review Parenting

#Bedtimeread–Your Name is a Song

In this colorfully illustrated picture book, Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, our main character is upset after her first day at school because no one can pronounce her name correctly. On their walk home, her mother explains to her that her name is a song, and by using lots of other names as examples during their conversation, she turns the her daughter’s mood around.

By the next day at school, the young girl has gained the confidence to sing her name as a song, as well as a few others. My kids and I both enjoyed the suspense in wondering what the girl’s name was, as well as the beautiful illustrations done by Luisa Uribe.

As a person with a name that has been mispronounced most of my life, I could definitely understand what the main character was going through, and it made the book that much more powerful to me. I think that Thompkins-Bigelow does a wonderful job of explaining how important names are at a level that children will be able to understand. My favorite part of this bedtime read of a few nights ago is when Momma explains to her daughter, “…Their real names were stolen long ago so they dream up new ones. They make a way out of no way, make names out of no names–pull them from the sky!” What a way to explain how and why parents come up with unique names!

This is a beautiful book to share with young children at the beginning of a school year. It is a great way to boost the confidence in children who may be nervous about sharing their names and shows others how important it is to say their classmates/friends names correctly. Plus, I can only imagine the cheesy smiles and joy some kids would get hearing their name in a book, and there are definitely some original names in there. (And if that freaks you out at all, the awesome part is that Thompkins-Bigelow has the pronunciations next to them. Plus, how awesome is it for your kids to see an adult put in the work to say words correctly?)

Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Luisa Uribe, has a release date of July 2020. We loved it, and I’m sure your kids will too!