Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
How do we convince parents to read to kids??
By Kendal Rautzhan, Columnist
Monday, February 04, 2008 | No comments posted.
In conversation the other day with a kindergarten teacher, I asked if he knew how many of his 20 students were read aloud to every evening by their parents. “About eight,” he replied. I was shocked, and I sensed his disappointment as well.
Obviously you wouldn’t be reading this column unless you understood the importance of reading aloud to children every day, the countless benefits of reading aloud and how critically important it is to foster a new generation of readers. But what about those parents who don’t understand this? How do we reach them?
My column accomplishes an important mission by pointing out some of the best children’s books available in libraries and bookstores, but I would like to do more by capturing the “missing” audience — parents who do not read to their children — and encourage and convince them to do otherwise.
PLEASE HELP! If you have any ideas, I need to hear from you. You can e-mail your thoughts and ideas to me: kendal@sunlink.net or through the postal service: Kendal Rautzhan, 29 Market St., Lewisburg, Penn., 17837. I look forward to hearing from you.
Books to Borrow
The following book is available at many public libraries.
“Library Lil” by Suzanne Williams, illustrated by Steven Kellogg, Dial Books, 32 pages
Read aloud: age 4 and older.
Read yourself: age 7 and older.
Library Lil loved books from the day she was born. In fact, by the time she was 8, she had read every book in the children’s section of her library. It came as no surprise, then, that when Lil grew up she became a librarian.
Lil was an expert librarian. She chose all the best and exciting books. She was also a first-rate storyteller for children. Despite all of these things, no one came to the library. It was obvious the people of Chesterville were not avid readers. Their favorite form of entertainment was television, and Lil knew she had to change their attitudes, and doing so would be a big job. But Lil wasn’t afraid of anything, and one stormy night this gutsy librarian got the chance she’d been waiting for.
Filled with all the right components of a good story, including a confrontation with Bust-’em-up Bill, Lil proved to be the coolest librarian around who got the people of Chesterville (and tough-guy Bill) back on the right track — nixing television in favor of good books!
Librarian’s Choice
Library: North Bend Public Library, 1800 Sherman Ave.
Library Director: Gary Sharp
Children’s Librarian: Sara B. Simpkins
Choices this week: “John Henry” by Julius Lester; “The Remarkable Farkle McBride” by John Lithgow; “The Race of the Birkebeiners” by Lisa Lunge-Larse
Books to Buy
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.
• “The Buffalo Storm” by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Jan Ormerod, Clarion Books, 2007, 32 pages, $16.00 hardcover
Read aloud: age 4 and older.
Read yourself: age 7 and older.
Just like her beloved grandmother, young Hallie isn’t afraid of anything except storms. When Hallie’s papa says they are joining a wagon train and moving west to Oregon, Hallie is excited at first, but she quickly realizes she will miss her grandmother terribly. Grandmother encourages Hallie, and just before the wagon departs, Grandmother whispers to Hallie, “I am old and this is home, but I’ll be with you just the same.”
Leaving home is difficult for Hallie, and she must summon courage to face this new feeling of emptiness while also trying to be brave amidst the many storms they encounter along the way. But it is one glorious storm in particular — the one Grandmother told her to watch for as a great gift — that becomes a pivotal moment for Hallie.
Beautiful words and stirring watercolor illustrations combine to create a magnificent story of facing change, the majesty of nature, and what family and home really mean.
• “Love from Woolly” by Nina Michaels, illustrated by Nicola Smee, Boxer Books, 2007, 10 pages, $9.95 hardcover
Read aloud: age 2-3.
Read yourself: age 6-7.
Woolly the sheep has knitted presents for all of her friends, and young readers are prompted to try and figure out what those gifts are. Then lift the flaps of each gift box to see Woolly’s knitted creations. From mittens to a scarf, socks and a hat, each gift boasts a bright color and children will enjoy touching the real knitting in each picture.
Simple, engaging, and loads of fun, “Love from Woolly” teaches toddlers colors, shapes, and a little bit about etiquette, all wrapped up in a book that demonstrates generosity.
(Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children’s literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.)
Obviously you wouldn’t be reading this column unless you understood the importance of reading aloud to children every day, the countless benefits of reading aloud and how critically important it is to foster a new generation of readers. But what about those parents who don’t understand this? How do we reach them?
My column accomplishes an important mission by pointing out some of the best children’s books available in libraries and bookstores, but I would like to do more by capturing the “missing” audience — parents who do not read to their children — and encourage and convince them to do otherwise.
PLEASE HELP! If you have any ideas, I need to hear from you. You can e-mail your thoughts and ideas to me: kendal@sunlink.net or through the postal service: Kendal Rautzhan, 29 Market St., Lewisburg, Penn., 17837. I look forward to hearing from you.
Books to Borrow
The following book is available at many public libraries.
“Library Lil” by Suzanne Williams, illustrated by Steven Kellogg, Dial Books, 32 pages
Read aloud: age 4 and older.
Read yourself: age 7 and older.
Library Lil loved books from the day she was born. In fact, by the time she was 8, she had read every book in the children’s section of her library. It came as no surprise, then, that when Lil grew up she became a librarian.
Lil was an expert librarian. She chose all the best and exciting books. She was also a first-rate storyteller for children. Despite all of these things, no one came to the library. It was obvious the people of Chesterville were not avid readers. Their favorite form of entertainment was television, and Lil knew she had to change their attitudes, and doing so would be a big job. But Lil wasn’t afraid of anything, and one stormy night this gutsy librarian got the chance she’d been waiting for.
Filled with all the right components of a good story, including a confrontation with Bust-’em-up Bill, Lil proved to be the coolest librarian around who got the people of Chesterville (and tough-guy Bill) back on the right track — nixing television in favor of good books!
Librarian’s Choice
Library: North Bend Public Library, 1800 Sherman Ave.
Library Director: Gary Sharp
Children’s Librarian: Sara B. Simpkins
Choices this week: “John Henry” by Julius Lester; “The Remarkable Farkle McBride” by John Lithgow; “The Race of the Birkebeiners” by Lisa Lunge-Larse
Books to Buy
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.
• “The Buffalo Storm” by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Jan Ormerod, Clarion Books, 2007, 32 pages, $16.00 hardcover
Read aloud: age 4 and older.
Read yourself: age 7 and older.
Just like her beloved grandmother, young Hallie isn’t afraid of anything except storms. When Hallie’s papa says they are joining a wagon train and moving west to Oregon, Hallie is excited at first, but she quickly realizes she will miss her grandmother terribly. Grandmother encourages Hallie, and just before the wagon departs, Grandmother whispers to Hallie, “I am old and this is home, but I’ll be with you just the same.”
Leaving home is difficult for Hallie, and she must summon courage to face this new feeling of emptiness while also trying to be brave amidst the many storms they encounter along the way. But it is one glorious storm in particular — the one Grandmother told her to watch for as a great gift — that becomes a pivotal moment for Hallie.
Beautiful words and stirring watercolor illustrations combine to create a magnificent story of facing change, the majesty of nature, and what family and home really mean.
• “Love from Woolly” by Nina Michaels, illustrated by Nicola Smee, Boxer Books, 2007, 10 pages, $9.95 hardcover
Read aloud: age 2-3.
Read yourself: age 6-7.
Woolly the sheep has knitted presents for all of her friends, and young readers are prompted to try and figure out what those gifts are. Then lift the flaps of each gift box to see Woolly’s knitted creations. From mittens to a scarf, socks and a hat, each gift boasts a bright color and children will enjoy touching the real knitting in each picture.
Simple, engaging, and loads of fun, “Love from Woolly” teaches toddlers colors, shapes, and a little bit about etiquette, all wrapped up in a book that demonstrates generosity.
(Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children’s literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.)
The comments below are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Not already registered?
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
Please follow these basic rules:
- No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
- No deliberately false information.
- No obscenity or racially offensive language.
- No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.
The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.
Close Guidelines