The Hungry Caterpillar- A Favorite Book

One Sunday morning a little caterpillar hatches from an egg and begins eating his way through the week.  The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is one of my favorite books, one of my daughter's favorite books, and our favorite picture book author. Besides the fact that this book, like many of Carle's teaches your child important concepts such as the days of the week and how junk food can give you a belly ache, the book is just plain fun!   Eric Carle refers to the book as " A book of hope". It has been translated in over 40 languages and has endured for 40 years. Amazon,com even has a free video of Carle taking about the anniversary of his book as well as pages dedicated just to Carle's books  http://www.amazon.com/Eric-Carle/e/B000APAFUA/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

This is the kind of book you want to own. There are many versions of it: big books teachers use in classrooms, board books for little hands that may tear pages, hardcovers that make a nice gift, and audible downloads for the kid on the go. The book also comes in Spanish, La oruga muy hambrienta, for my Spanish speaking readers, but also for children learning the language. 


I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Eric Carle in person one sunny afternoon. The beloved author was signing books at a local bookstore, a real bookstore. One of those stores that is owned by real people, a local husband and wife team who were teachers. Their store was in a refurbished barn that was charming and fun to shop and browse about.  I had to leave work early to ensure I arrived in time to meet Carle as well has have him sign the pile of his books my daughter owned.

It is always a good idea to build on the reading experiences you and your children share. You can watch your own caterpillars turn into beautiful butterflies by ordering from Insectlore.com which sells kits for around $20.00.  Or take a walk outside and look for caterpillars and butterflies. When you return to the house draw what you and your child observed. Better yet, recreate the process Carle uses by tearing different colors of tissue paper into little pieces. Then use the pieces to make your own butterflies. There is a very nice DVD of the author/illustrator in his studio called Eric Carle: Picture Writer. Available on Amazon, but way too pricey, almost $70, you would be better off looking for it on an auction site such as eBay.  In it, Carle discusses his art and ideas, answers letters he has received over the years from his young fans, and (the best part!) reads aloud from his books!

Buy Books at Amazon

Helping Struggling Readers

I've struggled for a while, ok a really, really long while, about what to put on this blog that will make a difference for kids. Should I gear my posts towards teachers, librarians, school administrators, politicians,  or parents? Not only did making this decision delay another post, but
thinking about what I could say that would initiate meaningful change had me losing sleep.

I love being a teacher and parent. I love teaching kids to read. I love books. I love making a difference in the lives of kids. I am aware that is a lot of love, but what should I do with it?
I can teach a child to read, but that presupposes that children come to school with quite a bit
of learning already under their belt. Perhaps that is the place to begin the work. Sharing with parents
what must happen from birth through 5 years old so that their child can become part of the world of books. What do you think? Where should this blog go that would be most useful?

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery (French Pilot, Writer and Author of 'The Little Prince', 1900-1944)

WHAT ARE YOU "SAYING" TO YOUR CHILD ?

There are many, many books that become a part of your life. I remember my Mother reading Peter Rabbit by Beatrice Potter to me as a very young child. Years later I would choose Potter's characters to decorate my daughter's nursery. Her books represent a warm and loving feeling to me and I wanted to share that with my new baby.

I also began collecting first edition children books for my daughter. The first book I purchased was (no surprise) Peter Rabbit! As my daughter grew, the books we shared with her grew as well. Her collection of first editions and books signed by the authors and illustrators grew so much so that we had to purchase three large book cases just for her bedroom. Almost twenty years later, my daughter reveres those books, but she also holds close to her heart the time we spent together reading, talking, and collecting books.

How do you make the world of books accessible to your child? Is the TV on all day long or do you turn it off and read together every night?  Your actions speak loudly to your children so be careful what you are "saying".  By making books and learning an everyday part of your family life you are "saying" many, many positive things.

1. You are saying.... books are fun!
2. You are saying.... you are special to me because I spend time reading and talking with you every day!
3. You are saying.... I care about you because I turn off the TV and give you my full attention, during my busy day, for at least fifteen minutes every night!
4. You are saying.... we are going to read and talk about great books to build your vocabulary in order for you to read well, write well, and speak well!
5. You are saying.... I will spend our money on books and word games because I want you to be successful in school and beyond!

This is just a short list, please add to it by commenting on this Blog. Thanks !.... and please buy books for the holidays!

Fun Things to do with Books !

Some children love to read, can't get enough great books, and are not happy unless they have a stack of books waiting in the wings to be read. Other children..... are the opposite. They would rather eat their vegetables then sit with a book. This is soooo sad it makes me cry!

Did you know the research shows that a child not reading well by the end of third grade has only a ten percent chance of ever becoming a reader?!

Today I want to share with you terrific ways to grow your reluctant reader into a life-long reader!

1. Buy books as gifts.... and then buy some more! Owning books are part of growing up as a reader.

2. Read aloud to your child EVERY day no matter what the age. If they drive themselves to the mall to get away from you, you might want to consider stopping!

3. Find books on topics your child is interested in. Today there are tons of books on every subject for every age and reading level. There are lots of new books on non-fiction subjects which appeal to  children, but especially to boys. Go to www.guysread.com for useful ideas concerning boys and books. How do you find out what topics interest your children? Ask them!

4. Visit the library on a regular basis. This is the place with rows and rows of free books, and free magazines, and free audio books, OK- you get the idea.

5. Record yourself reading your child's favorite poem or book. Leave it with the babysitter to play while you are away. How about recording yourself reading a classic and send it to your child away at school? They would love to hear your voice and you would love to have them learn the classics. My favorite classic is Romeo and Juliet.

6. Attend free story times at your local book store or library. Local book stores are struggling due to the big guys on the block. Search for an independent book store at http://www.bookweb.org/index.html

Welcome !

Hello and Welcome to my new blog!  

Growing readers is my passion. The problem is there are too many people who believe learning to read begins in school, but the reality is that learning to read begins at home. Waiting for school may be too late!

This blog will be about helping everyone who cares about children get easy-to-use ideas about making learning to read fun, fun, fun! 

Not only will there be great ideas about books your children should not miss, but I'll explore quality Web sites, post an 'Ask the Reading Specialist' section, and much more! Stick with me as we build this great site together!