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• Book of the Week: Daddy Hug

  The world is made up of all kinds of dads -- busy, strong, slimy, wobbly -- and the new book Daddy Hug celebrates all of them. With charming, vivid illustrations of animal dads and their children, Daddy Hug goes through a litany of daddies that makes for a fantastic read-aloud. To wit, here's the text of a double-page spread with an otter dad on one side and a moose dad on the other: Daddy squeak, Daddy chirp Daddy hiccup, Daddy burp! Yeah, it's not Proust, but it's much more fun at bedtime. Read More... Posted Jun 13 2008, 10:05 AM by editors with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: children's books, books, dads, fathers, reading, animals, father's day, kids' books, book of the week, picture books, daddy hug

• It's time again to play: Guess The Photo!

  This is: a)    Me, after Burning Man b)    The other Olsen sibling (you know, the one they keep locked in the basement) c)    Rejected Sesame Street character Scary McNightmare d)    The other Jonas brother e)    The offspring of a superhero Answer after the jump! Read More... Posted Jun 13 2008, 10:00 AM by Brett Singer with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: news, reading, film, movie, comics, x-men, geeky, comic books, fantastic four, Brett Singer, incredible hulk, hulk, Iron Man, Marvel, nerdy, reed richards, son of hulk, dorky, sakaar, f4, skaar, black bolt, namor, professor x, professor xavier

• Most Objectionable Book for Kids?

  The American Library Association says the book the public objects to the most was one written for children. (Objections were measured by written complaints filed with a library or school.) Was it the one explaining mommy's plastic surgery--"My Beautiful Mommy"? Nope. The one where Curious George gets high on ether? Nah-ah. So what book was so offensive to folks? The number one challenged book--for the second year in a row, no less...   Read More... Posted May 08 2008, 06:31 PM by Kelly Mills with | with 9 comment(s) Filed under: education, homosexuality, books, reading, families, literature, homophobia, schools, gay, plastic surgery, library, penguins, hetero, queer, kid lit

• Talk to Her (or Him)

  When my daughter was a baby, some of my best memories of that difficult first year were of going grocery shopping with her. I'd toss her in the sling and talk to her as I made my way through the aisles, discussing what we were buying and what she might like to eat. Since I work at home, I shop during the day when the senior citizen brigade all goes to the store, and I got very strange looks as I chattered my way along. I was following the same advice we've all gotten, of course, to talk to my baby in an attempt to develop her language skills.  She apparently didn’t read the memo since she was a late talker (although now she never. Shuts. Up. Ever), but I still think it was worth doing because I enjoyed it. Now social workers in Boston are actually training lower-income, less educated parents... Read More... Posted Apr 08 2008, 04:04 PM by AmyinMotown with | with 8 comment(s) Filed under: education, babies, reading, verbal skills, socioeconomic class

• Comic Relief: Using Comic Books to Teach Children to Read

  Kids need to learn to read and many of them simply aren't getting enough reading time in, so it's not surprising that some teachers are turning to comic books to teach reading. Something about the whole thing seems wrong.  Kids reading and imagining pictures to go with the words is a way of teaching them empathy (How can I give a hoot about you if I cannot imagine what your life is like?), and patience, and delayed gratification.  Oh and language skills. Must we dumb everything down?   Read More... Posted Mar 25 2008, 10:02 AM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 11 comment(s) Filed under: reading, reading skills, comic books

• Barnyard Dance's Choreographer

  If you don't have half a dozen Sandra Boynton books crowding your shelves, you can't possibly be the parent of small children. It's impossible to get through a baby shower or first round of post-birth giftings without getting at least one or two -- if not a starter kit -- of this prolific rhymer's best works. During those millionth readings of The Going to Bed Book or Moo Baa, La, La, La, the mind tends to wander. And more than once mine has wondered/wandered about the woman behind the books (and illustrations and CDs ...). Read More... Posted Feb 18 2008, 01:16 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: reading, literacy, childrens books, reading and literacy, readers, sandra boynten

• Totally Perfect for Storytime

  No matter what life lesson you hope to impart to your child, there's probably a book out there that'll help teach it. The importance of telling the truth, the joys of using the big-kid potty, how to deal with teasing... But maybe there's been a void. That's why I was very pleased when this made the rounds about a month ago. Because of course if I want my child to learn how to pimp, the Berenstain Bears are the perfect teachers. More altered covers of classic kid books after the jump.   Read More... Posted Feb 10 2008, 12:20 PM by Kelly Mills with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: books, reading, teletubbies, berenstain bears, lessons, morals, rave, classics, grover

• Reading Iz Fundumintul

  This doesn't exactly come as a surprise, but a report by the National Endowment for the Arts found that because Americans, particularly kids, are reading less, reading test scores are declining. The report was based on analysis of dozens of federal, academic, and business surveys. Reading scores have remained steady for elementary school kids, but drop off as kids get older and that damn internet and those confounded video games get in the way and they read less. The report found similar connections between reading comprehension and the amount of pleasure reading by adults. Read More... Posted Nov 19 2007, 02:31 PM by Matt Wood with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: reading, studies, nea

• Grammar police arrest Junie B Jones

  I just read this article in the New York Times about parents absolutely outraged by the Junie B Jones children's book series. I'm stunned one can be outraged by Junie B Jones but there it is, parents from all over the country are up in arms over Junie's 'poor behavior' and abhorrent use of the english language. The books have divided some parents and literacy experts into two camps, those who believe children should be taught proper spelling and grammar from the beginning and another which accepts spelling and grammar errors believing getting children interested in reading is most important. The article is must-read for these gems: “I am going to throw them out,” one [message board participant] said. “I wouldn’t give them away, because I don’t want anyone else to read them.” (Save the world from Junie B Jones?)  Or this one: “No wonder we have declining literacy and writing proficiency rates in this country!” Ms. Scales said." (Yes yes, no wonder because there's a book featuring a little girl who is imperfect in her grammar, spelling and actions. For SHAME.) I can't believe parents don't have enough things to worry about that this even crosses anyone's radar. My daughter was a huge fan of Junie B as a 6 year old. She's gone on to be an excellent reader, never says she 'runned' and has never head butted another child. She survived Junie B Jones! That was a close call. Posted Jul 28 2007, 12:03 PM by Melissa Summers with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: children's books, reading, new york times, reading and literacy

• Bookshelf: Rediscovering Potter Alternatives

  I've already made it clear I'm not a huge fan of Harry Potter (I know! sacrilege!). I mean, it was fine and all, but it didn't grab me. Plus, truth be told, I do tend to resist the madding crowds when it comes to trends and all. Which explains my nose ring and tattoo, hallmarks of, um, lots of people. Okay, so I may not be as unique as I thought I was. But! Maybe your kid never got into the Harry Potter thing either and is looking for alternatives. My 11-year-old son was actually going to read the first book for the first time this year but we couldn't find it, victim perhaps of two cross-country moves in two years. Oh well. He can still read these: Holes, by Louis Sachar, a novel about kids in a juvenile detention camp. Much better than it sounds, and my kid liked it. Because of Winn Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo, a coming of age novel about truth. He liked this one too. Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson's novel about friendship, imagination, and growing up. I can't say enough about this one; in fact I think I'll read it again myself. The Island of Horses, by Ellis Dillon, a story of boys and horses in Ireland. The Doll People, by Ann M.M. Martin and Laura Godwin. Dolls come to life in the night and have a mystery. We read this one aloud as a family. Dragon Rider, by Cornelia Funke. What's not to like? Dragons, alchemists, an orphaned boy: this one's got everything.  And of course, The Hobbit. Need more ideas? Here's a bunch more. Posted Jul 22 2007, 02:39 PM by Karen Murphy with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: kids, books, harry potter, reading, tween books, fantasy

• Am I the Only One who thinks Harry Potter Makes Kids Read More?

  You know, I have championed J.K. Rowling and her Harry Potter books before. I strongly believe that anything that makes kids want to read a book is good. Well, maybe not The Anarchist Cookbook - but pretty much anything else. Well now that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is about to be released, articles in The New York Times and The Boston Globe and on SFGate.com are insisting that Harry and his friends don't make kids read any more. They just read these books and then stop. Look, I don't mean to be a dick about this but isn't seven books still better than zero? If Rowling could write faster then these same kids would be reading like crazy. I still believe that this is a good thing. While I can't yet speak on The Deathly Hollows, I have read all of the rest of them and most of them were excellent. Let's be happy that these guys are getting excited about any books. They could be excited about the release of the new Celine Dion album or something else equally loud and annoying. Posted Jul 15 2007, 04:19 PM by Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: harry potter, reading, new york times, harry potter and the deathly hallows, j.k. rowling, kids and books

• Ratatouille? Peh! How About Some REAL Rats of Kid-Lit?

  Yeah, my kids saw Ratatouille the other night with The Ex. They actually haven't said much about the movie at all, so I'm thinking it didn't make much of an impression. However, like the author of this Chicago Tribune article, I'm more enamored of some of the great rats from literature. Great rats of literature? Hmm. The article mentions Templeton from Charlotte's Web and the Water Rat from Wind in the Willows. Personally, I love that Templeton: sarcastic and selfish, he nevertheless has a warm heart. Sort of. But he's a complex character, not unlike ourselves. Which makes him interesting. The Water Rat I find almost a bit boring. He's drawn to the lure of travel, of the distant seas, but in the end he opts for home. I found that disappointing, perhaps from my own wish, at 11, to escape and travel. Who knows?   But let's get some real opinions from real kids, shall we? Mine saw the movie and together we've read both of the books mentioned. Serena, 7: I liked Ratatouille. I don't remember the others. Templeton? I didn't like him. Mole and Rat and Toad? Oh yeah I remember that. Um, that rat's the same as Ratatouille.  Can I have an apple now? Nathaniel, 11: Oh, Templeton, definitely. I liked him. He was, what did you say? Complex. Yeah. The Water Rat? He was boring. I didn't like him. I liked Toad, he was funny. Can I use the computer now? And there you have it: so maybe my kids aren't so into literature. But it's not too late for yours! Try those books for some real rats, interesting rats, and see for yourself. Posted Jul 09 2007, 02:46 PM by Karen Murphy with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: kids, books, reading, ratatouille, rats, Wind in the Willows, Charlotte's Web

• Video Games Maybe Not Good For Book-Learnin'

  So you've got the high score on Dance Dance Revolution, but can you read a book, Junior? Yeah, a study came out reporting kids who spent more time playing video games were behind on reading.  Well, they spent less time on reading and homework. They did spend time with family and friends, so it didn't affect social skills, but that's not nearly hysterical and scare-tactic-y enough, is it? We could do all kinds of speculation about why this is the case, but since I like a win-win, maybe they ought to come up with a video game that incorporates reading in a good game. So many educational video games are totally lame, with annoying characters and cheesy graphics circa 1987. I guess once they get the educational experts involved, the fun goes right out the window. If you know of a good one, do tell. Or perhaps the next edition of Grand Theft Auto could just have a part where you have to read yourself your rights or something.   Posted Jul 05 2007, 12:21 PM by Kelly Mills with | with no comments Filed under: education, video games, reading, literacy, kid activities

• Best Weapon Against Childhood Boredom? Imagination

  The Washington Post writes a piece this week about the importance of childhood imagination, particularly as an antidote to the baleful cries of  I'm boooooorrred." Like many parents, I have dreams of instilling in my kids a love of reading, a desire to be physically active, and a sense of silly funniness that often ebbs away once one becomes, say, a parent. Can you fathom how proud you'd be if this quoted your child? "If you have imagination," Claire says.., "a box could be a racing car." Turning off the television is only just the beginning of encouraging the naturally expansive imagination of your kids.  Equally important is free time (aimless days) during which to express their own bizarre sense of wonder.   [Photo credit: Washington Post]  Posted Jun 30 2007, 01:47 PM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: reading, Imagination, playtime, kids activities, boredom

• Library Magic for Young Children

  The concept of low-cost entertainment for young children that doesn't involve a trip to a mouse-loud restaurant, a big purple dinosaur or a precocious Spanish speaking black-haired preschooler seems elusive these days.  Enter the oldie but goodie: the library.  Even old 60's architecture-d musty old libraries like the one in my town filled as it is with Berenstein Bears and other outdated books from the 70s is a worthwhile outing for my young ones. Most city libraries have story times for young kids and many have crafty hours and activities for even the most restless of waddlers.  And even though the majority occur during the week and during work hours, the occasional Saturday and Sunday activities can be scouted out. Give me a library over Dora or Barney any old day.   Posted Jun 23 2007, 09:23 AM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: toddler, books, reading, libraries, childrens books

• Boys Lag Behind Girls (in Education)

  Despite the conventional wisdom to the contrary, a growing number of worried parents and educators are expressing concern about boys' lower achievement in reading and writing and higher likelihood to get into trouble than girls. "The public schools teach to girls. You have to be able to follow the rules and color in the lines," claims one parent who moved her son to private school in order to insure he had sufficient learning opportunities.  One teacher found an excellent method for calming antsy boys: Koosh balls. After years of girls playing dumb in school and failing to achieve at academic levels equivalent to boys, this reversal is hopefully just a rebalancing as the pendulum swings back toward the middle.  Meanwhile, teachers have my undying awe and gratitude. How they are supposed to balance these competing needs is totally beyond me. Posted Jun 19 2007, 01:08 PM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: reading, girls, boys, public schools, writing, public education

• Using Food To Promote Literacy: A is for Appletini, B is for Bruschetta, C is for Camembert

  Most of us know letter recognition for young children is important in promoting literacy. Deanna Mascle says there's no need to buy expensive learning aids, incorporate the alphabet into your young child's daily life by pointing out what they're eating. You can make this project as involved or as simple as you'd like. You could serve foods featuring the 'letter of the day' or serve one meal featuring all foods with your current letter. Or, you could just be sure to point out the letter what you're serving starts with. As your child gets older, you can have them name the letter each of the foods on their plate starts with. In our house this activity may backfire since The Pickersons have such limited palates, they'd be learning P for Pasta, A for Apple and N for Nutella. Oh my this suddenly became very self revealing and I'm uncomfortable. Don't worry they'd also learn R for Rose's Lime Juice and M for Moldy Leftovers. I love this idea because with all the classes and activities we try to give our kids, we can forget that most learning is part of everyday life.  Posted May 14 2007, 12:03 PM by Melissa Summers with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: nutrition, reading, diet, literacy, abcs

• Balance Schmalance: Can this book help moms find it?

  Don't you hate it when someone writes the book you've been meaning to get to? You know, the one you were mentally authoring while changing poopy diapers and digging through the laundry basket for yoga pants that only have applesauce and soy butter on one side? Renee Trudeaus' The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rebalance and Rejuvenate Your Life (May 2007, Balanced Living Press) is that book for me. The guide is organized by months, each with a theme, inspirational stories by moms, exercises, resouces and tips for finding balance in the teeter-totter existence of being a woman, a mother and just this side of insanity. You see, I am all about self-renewal. I am big into rituals and really have seen my life change through meditation and lapses into The Secret-like framework changing and positive self-talk. And although I am a life coach's dream, I also lose my way to om nima shivaya-ing while I am stirring up mac & cheese while applying lip gloss and reminding my husband for the 412th time to please pay the parking ticket before we get the boot. I imagine you've been on that side of the teeter-totter too. Read More... Posted Apr 17 2007, 09:02 AM by Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) with | with no comments Filed under: reading, mother's day gift idea, The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rebalance and Rejuvenate Your Life, renee trudeau

• Babble Talk: Lisa Carver Talks About Controversial Children's Books

  I love Babble. Do you know about that site? Oh, wait, you're here! Well, as a writer for Babble, sometimes I don't have time to go through and glean everything that's here that I would like to. There's so much here! So I was completely delighted to run across Lisa Carver's wonderful essay The Outsiders about her take on controversial books for children. I admit I had no idea there was, for instance, a book for children with parents who are in prison. Or another one senstively portraying a homeless street person and what her life was like "before" becoming what you see today. Where have I been all this time to be missing these? Under a rock someplace? I agree with critics of such books that very small children should likely be shielded from controversial topics. But small children grow up, and at some point they begin to observe life around them and to ask questions, at least internally. And at that point they deserve answers. If such things can be derived from books, books that help the kids understand that they're not the only one in that situation or observing that weird scenario (whether it be homeless people, parents who grow pot, or alcoholics), then I am all for them. Lisa's point, which I agree with, is that life happens. Kids see this and need ways to make sense of it, and denying life is pointless. It's there. It's real. And it's part of being human.  Posted Apr 14 2007, 04:27 PM by Karen Murphy with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: kids, reading, Lisa Carver, babble talk, controversial books

• Passover and Easter Books for Kids

  Looking for some books to teach your children about Passover or Easter?  Here are some excellent ideas from Teach, Learn, Communicate: 1. The Country Bunny, by Dubose Hayward  - The classic tale written in the 1930s about the loving mother bunny who finds the courage to be the Gold Shoe Easter Bunny. 2.  The Easter Egg Artists, by Adrienne Adams - The Abbott family of egg artists accepts their son when he has a different style. 3.  Matzo Ball Moon, by Leslea Newman - A family makes ready for Passover by preparing Matzo Ball Soup. 4. On Passover, Kathy Goldberg Fishman - The story of a young girl's experience during Passover. 5. Eggbert the Slightly Cracked Egg, by Tom Ross - Eggbert has to find the courage to leave the safety of the refrigerator and be himself. Posted Apr 05 2007, 03:45 PM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: books, reading, teaching compassion, easter, children and reading, Passover, books for children

• Kids Buying Books in Droves -- Thanks, Harry!

  My mom dropped me off at high school for longer than I care to remember. Most days I'd just wait for her to drive away and then I'd skulk off campus and head downtown to a nearby coffee shop, where I could gulp down burned Sanka and do something I didn't feel quite comfortable doing in front of other kids: read. Thankfully, that's not the case today. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that kids today are reading in record numbers -- helped by a growing market of young adult fiction and, possibly, the "afterglow" of Harry Potter. Read More... Posted Mar 09 2007, 10:13 AM by Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) with | with no comments Filed under: teens, books, harry potter, behavior, reading, reading to your children, academics, teen literature

• Reading to Children Benefits the Whole Family, Especially Cranky Mommies

  Mir writes a great piece over at Maya's Mom discussing the importance of reading to your children, especially as they get older and life gets busier.  We have all heard by now the many advantages of reading aloud to children, including a bigger vocabulary and higher self-esteem, but Mir points to the particular balm reading provides the modern harried family. Reading is a single-modality activity.  You could technically talk on the phone and work on the computer while reading, I suppose, but reading encourages a focus and modulation of activity that can be soothing for the whole gang.  Curl up on the couch and try on those silly voices.  It really is fun and relaxing. Reading can be a better teacher than a parental lecture.  Picking books that cover tough issues is a clever way of getting the message across, without the glazed eyes.  I have a book about appropriate touch that suggests ways for young children to speak up if anyone makes them uncomfortable.  And it's a much more effective way to explain a tough topic to the five year olds, then diagrams and a baby-size mace bottle. But the best reason I've found to read to your kids is that there is a lovely mutual delight in sharing stories we knew as kids. I read "Ira Sleeps Over" (a late 70s gem) to my daughters the other day and we all laughed and connected and our 33 year age difference melted away.  Posted Feb 22 2007, 05:02 PM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: reading, Mir, reading to your children, Cat in the Hat, Maya's Mom

• Dogs Make Great Reading Tutors for Kids: Who Knew?

  He sheds.  He slobbers.  He goes out, and he comes back in, and then he goes out again.  He licks plates, and not always just when he's invited to.  He doesn't even bury his poop like any self-respecting animal might.  But, he does have at least one redeeming feature:  he makes for a damned good reading tutor.  And?  He's as close as your family dog.  In fact, he is your family dog. That's right, in school districts all over the country, dogs are entering the classroom and being read to.  And they like it.  And what's more, the kids doing the reading like it.  "When you're with a dog they don't ... talk to you and you feel more comfortable," said one nine-year old at a Minnesota elementary school.  "It's a lot more fun reading to a pet than just a bunch of people," said another.  Teachers notice the difference too:  "[T]he dog is not judgmental."  Which is something most kids and plenty of adults have known for a long time. The concept is catching on, though: there are more than 1000 certified therapy dogs involved in reading-assistance programs across the country.  My question: what do the dogs think about Old Yeller?   Posted Feb 04 2007, 12:19 PM by Karen Murphy with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: kids, reading, schools, therapy, dogs, tutoring

• Librivox: Free Audiobook Downloads for Kids (and Big Kids Too)

  I can't check audiobooks out at the library. My car doesn't have a tape deck, the books-on-CD are always on infinite hold, and since I'm not in the habit of borrowing them I forget to return them, resulting in a fine so high I might as well have just gone and paid retail. Enter Librivox, an online community devoted to recording literary works from the public domain and making them available for download. It's not the bestseller list, but I can brush up on my Shakespeare or ponder the similarities between Emma and Clueless on the way to Trader Joe's, or attempt to figure out what's so great about Walt Whitman on the way home from the preschool run. And if the kids aren't interested in Leaves of Grass?  Librivox has a steadily growing collection of children's literature. We can listen to Beatrix Potter on the way to a friend's house, or Alice's Adventures In Wonderland on a road trip. Librivox's files can be downloaded as MP3 or OGG files, as torrents, or as podcasts. Librivox also offers the opportunity to contribute: you can record a work or part of a work, or proof-listen the recordings of others. Who knew all those hours spent reciting nursery rhymes over and over again to placate a fussy toddler were actually specialized training for important philanthropic endeavors? Posted Jan 02 2007, 10:00 AM by Patti with | with no comments Filed under: activities, children's books, books, reading, audiobooks, downloads, librivox