Tag: Raising Readers

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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 Raising kids Uncategorized

#Bedtimeread Book Review–How To Solve A Problem

Do you have a reader who struggles to keep going once they encounter a problem? Not while reading in particular, but in life tasks in general? One who gives up the first time they fail? If so, sharing this book with them is a perfect, real-life way to help them see problem-solving differently.

How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion is written by Ashima Shiraishi and illustrated by Yao Xiao. Ashima is a 20 year old professional rock climbing champion, who started climbing at the age of 6. In this book, Ashima takes us through her process of how she attacks the problem of climbing complicated rock structures. The language she uses is much like the process many people use to solve problems outside of the rock climbing world, including dealing with failure. She talks about falling multiple times, trying again after falling, and taking the time to reassess after falling. I really enjoyed the visuals by Xiao of the author attacking the rock combined with the poetic language Shiraishi used to inspire the reader.

We enjoyed reading this book at bedtime, and it is definitely one I would bring out again when the situation called for its inspiration.

#KeepRaisingReaders!

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Parenting Raising kids Raising Readers Uncategorized

Reading Aloud–a reblog

This is a wonderful blog post about the power of reading aloud in school. My hope is that you either 1) are able to translate these feelings into what you are doing at home in your #RaisingReaders quest or 2) you remember those pleasant feelings you had in school when your teacher read aloud to you, and that motivates you to try to replicate those feelings when reading with your children.

I remember fist-pumping and high-fiving my friends in two different arenas during elementary school: on the playground–during kickball or football–and when my teachers gathered us on the carpet to return to a favorite book. Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, Hang Tough Paul Mather. These were books that […]

via Storytime: What Matters Most Cannot be Measured by David Rockower — Nerdy Book Club

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Parenting Raising kids Raising Readers Uncategorized

Write a note–in a book

Recently, my 5 year old son was in a high school play. His part was not huge by any means, he literally ran on stage near the very end of the play and had no lines. But it was a pretty big deal to him, and even made me teary-eyed when he did it. The cast and crew, which included his principal (he was a photographer) and his principal’s daughter, were all super nice to my cute little boy.  So nice in fact that they gave him all kinds of gifts when the three days of performances were over. One particular gift that tugged at my heartstrings was (of course!) a book that his principal gave him, Dragons Love Tacos.

The book is wonderful and he was super excited to read it. However, when my husband sat down to read it to him that night, he noticed this:

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How cool is this!

 

After wiping my sweating eyeballs, I started thinking a couple of things:

  1. This is awesome! Now we will always keep this book, because it has this personalized note inside. It will help bring back the memory of his play experience for years to come. I’m already imagining him opening the book up again when he’s 20. Love it!
  2. Why don’t more people write notes in books? Why don’t I write notes in books? I give books as gifts often, but I never think to write in the book. I’ve been missing out on meaningful opportunities!

When I started writing this post, I Googled “notes in books as gifts” and there’s tons of websites on this topic, how to do it, should you do it, and tons of examples of good notes written in books. Now I really have no excuse. Next time you give a book as a gift, even if it’s to your own children, but it is a book you want them to keep, consider writing a memorable note along with it.

 

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Book Review Parenting Raising kids Raising Readers Uncategorized

Read Aloud #2-The Book With No Pictures

March is Read Aloud Month, so to support that I am sharing some of the read alouds that my kiddos and I love.

My first read aloud review was a Dr. Seuss classic, so I decided to stay on the funny book train with my next selection– The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak. This book was first introduced to my daughter early last year by her 1st grade teacher, and not long afterwards we saw it in Barnes and Noble and she just had to have it.  At the time, I had seen the book before, but I had never actually took the time to open it.

Once we got the book home, she pretended as if there was some big secret that I was about to be let in on and she actually could not wait until bedtime so we could read it. Me, being the unassuming adult who was convinced this could not be that big a deal, was not concerned at all (but secretly thrilled about my child being so excited about bedtime). I mean, this is the cover of the book– how bad could it be?

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Well, my girl was giggling as soon as I opened the book and laughed through the ENTIRE thing. Without giving the whole book away, author B.J. Novak (yes, the same actor that was on The Office) has decided that if there are no pictures, the reader (that would be you), has to read whatever words are on the page.  And trust me, there are some silly words, noises, phrases, everything but pictures, on the pages. Here’s a sneak preview of what will have to come out of your mouth while reading:

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Yep, really. Not even a real word.

 

One of the other reasons I selected this read aloud to highlight, was not only was it funny then, but its still funny now. It has been over a year since we purchased that book and she still cracks up whenever I read it. Every once in a while, when its bedtime and we’re not in the middle of a chapter book, she’ll slip this book behind her back and bust it out with a cheesy smile on her face. Now I’ll be honest, its not my favorite book by any means, but I’ll play up my fear/distaste of reading the book, mostly because it makes her want to hear me read it even more.  I’ll go to any lengths (almost) to make sure my children enjoy reading, even if that means making silly noises. A few weeks ago I even visited and read it to her 2nd grade class, and again, even though a good chunk of them had heard it before, they were nearly in hysterics.  I mean really, I don’t get it, but maybe I would if I was 8?

If you don’t mind looking silly and want a funny book for your child, I recommend this one. Also, side note, getting book recommendations from your child’s teacher or asking your child what the teacher has been reading in class can help if you’re stumped trying to find a new book to read. As for me, next time I’ll read the back before I buy:

Warning