I dropped my name in the Library's Summer Reading Contest drop box last week and never gave it another thought! This morning, I received a call from the Library that my name had been drawn and I could come pick up my prize. I have no idea what I won, but Whooo! Hooo! I won!! :) No matter how big or small the prize may be, it's always fun to win something!
I also entered my girls in the Summer Reading program for children and every time we read 10 books together they both get to pick a prize. It's usually some little trinket that breaks before they leave the library, but they get excited just to win something. Which in turn, makes reading that much more exciting!
So, Readers are Winners, in more ways than one!! Happy Reading!
p.s. I'll let you know what I won! ;)
Monday, July 2, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
It Only Takes One Person.........
Found the following article on Scholastic Books blog and wanted to share it with you all. This book editor tells the story of how one teacher recognized her struggle with reading and made the attempt and put forth the effort to help her overcome her struggles. Because of this one teacher, she is now an avid reader and book editor!
It only takes one person who will take the time to help one child gain a love for reading. It will change their life forever! I hope as you read this article you will be inspired to be that one person for either one of your own children or a child in your classroom. Happy Reading!
http://bookboxdaily.scholastic.com/2012/06/26/the-reader-that-i-am-ordinary-people/
It only takes one person who will take the time to help one child gain a love for reading. It will change their life forever! I hope as you read this article you will be inspired to be that one person for either one of your own children or a child in your classroom. Happy Reading!
http://bookboxdaily.scholastic.com/2012/06/26/the-reader-that-i-am-ordinary-people/
Monday, June 25, 2012
Historical Fiction
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE historical fiction, especially historical fiction that is set during the Revolutionary War days. On my bucket list of things to do in my lifetime is to write a children's book set during the Revolution. We shall see! :)
I wanted to share a few of my favorite historical fiction books that I feel boys would especially enjoy. Now, remember, I am a girl, surprise, surprise, :) and I still LOVE these books. They are not only for boys. I just realize that there are some books that boys can enjoy that girls can also, but there are books that girls would enjoy that boys would not; a.k.a Anne of Green Gables! :)
So, here's a list of some of my all time favorite historical fiction that I feel your boys would enjoy. If I had to put an age on them, I would say mostly between 3rd grade and up. Third grade if he is a really good reader.
I just recently read these two books, Silver for General Washington and By Wagon and Flatboat written by Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft. They are amazing books!! Full of adventure, not at all boring history, and suspense. Any boy would enjoy the fast paced action of soldiers, Indians, war, river rapids on the flatboat, etc. Check these out! They are awesome. Could easily be used as a read aloud in the classroom because both boys and girls would enjoy them!
I recently read from cover to cover, (started it when I was younger and never finished) Johnny Tremaine by Esther Forbes. It is an excellent book for the older reader. I would say around 6th-7th grade and older. It's a longer book, but very, very good. Again, it's written during the Revolutionary time period!
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare makes me excited just typing the title! It is so very good and I could not put it down. Every boy should definitely read it!!
Ben and Me and Mr. Revere and I are two books written by Robert Lawson. He is an amazing author with a knack for taking American History and making it enjoyable for the young reader to enjoy. Both Ben Franklin and Paul Revere have their own sidekick who tells his side of the story which makes their American Hero famous! Of course, the sidekicks, in their words, are the ones who should really be famous. Great books!
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham, tells the story of young Nat who wants to be a seaman but he is too small of build to be able to make it as a sailor. He instead changes the world of sailing with his talent for charts and maps. Great story of how a young man pursues his dream in spite of difficulties.
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan is the exciting story of children who help their country of Norway smuggle gold across the border to keep it out of the hands of the Nazi regime. Such excitement and adventure is found on almost every page. A must read for every boy!
The Chestry Oak by Kate Seredy, in my opinion, needs to be read by every single boy!! It is the amazing story of a Hungarian Prince during WWII, Michael, who finds himself in the face of danger many times. This story will grip you on every page. It is my personal favorite book right now! I absolutely adore it!
The Buffalo Knife by William O. Steele
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry
All of these are great books and must reads for every boy! I hope you and your son will have the opportunity to sit down together and either read it out loud or talk about what he has read. These books have character lessons, history lessons, and are full of adventure to satisfy every young boy's need for excitement! Happy Reading!
I wanted to share a few of my favorite historical fiction books that I feel boys would especially enjoy. Now, remember, I am a girl, surprise, surprise, :) and I still LOVE these books. They are not only for boys. I just realize that there are some books that boys can enjoy that girls can also, but there are books that girls would enjoy that boys would not; a.k.a Anne of Green Gables! :)
So, here's a list of some of my all time favorite historical fiction that I feel your boys would enjoy. If I had to put an age on them, I would say mostly between 3rd grade and up. Third grade if he is a really good reader.
I just recently read these two books, Silver for General Washington and By Wagon and Flatboat written by Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft. They are amazing books!! Full of adventure, not at all boring history, and suspense. Any boy would enjoy the fast paced action of soldiers, Indians, war, river rapids on the flatboat, etc. Check these out! They are awesome. Could easily be used as a read aloud in the classroom because both boys and girls would enjoy them!
I recently read from cover to cover, (started it when I was younger and never finished) Johnny Tremaine by Esther Forbes. It is an excellent book for the older reader. I would say around 6th-7th grade and older. It's a longer book, but very, very good. Again, it's written during the Revolutionary time period!
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare makes me excited just typing the title! It is so very good and I could not put it down. Every boy should definitely read it!!
Ben and Me and Mr. Revere and I are two books written by Robert Lawson. He is an amazing author with a knack for taking American History and making it enjoyable for the young reader to enjoy. Both Ben Franklin and Paul Revere have their own sidekick who tells his side of the story which makes their American Hero famous! Of course, the sidekicks, in their words, are the ones who should really be famous. Great books!
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham, tells the story of young Nat who wants to be a seaman but he is too small of build to be able to make it as a sailor. He instead changes the world of sailing with his talent for charts and maps. Great story of how a young man pursues his dream in spite of difficulties.
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan is the exciting story of children who help their country of Norway smuggle gold across the border to keep it out of the hands of the Nazi regime. Such excitement and adventure is found on almost every page. A must read for every boy!
The Chestry Oak by Kate Seredy, in my opinion, needs to be read by every single boy!! It is the amazing story of a Hungarian Prince during WWII, Michael, who finds himself in the face of danger many times. This story will grip you on every page. It is my personal favorite book right now! I absolutely adore it!
The Buffalo Knife by William O. Steele
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry
All of these are great books and must reads for every boy! I hope you and your son will have the opportunity to sit down together and either read it out loud or talk about what he has read. These books have character lessons, history lessons, and are full of adventure to satisfy every young boy's need for excitement! Happy Reading!
Monday, June 4, 2012
It's Never Too Late
I recently had one of my Sunday school teachers from when I was in HS tell me that I had inspired her to become a reader. She had never been a reader. She very excitedly told me all the classics she has been reading and how much she has enjoyed it. Even though she is older, I'm going to guess maybe in her 60's, she is acquiring a love for reading! It is never too late!
Mothers, if you are not a reader, it is not too late to become a reader. We know the importance of helping our children acquire a love for reading, but how can we as mother's pass something along to our children that we do not have? It is never too late. How very important it is that our children see us reading for pleasure and hear us talking about the books we are enjoying.
If you have older children who have not yet learned to love reading, it is not too late! It's NEVER too late! It may take a little more concentrated effort, but it is NEVER too late and the effort is ALWAYS worth the end results!
It is NEVER too late! I'm so excited for my former Sunday school teacher as she is enjoying the classics that I love so very much! I hope you too have/are/ or will enjoy them as well. Happy Reading!!
Mothers, if you are not a reader, it is not too late to become a reader. We know the importance of helping our children acquire a love for reading, but how can we as mother's pass something along to our children that we do not have? It is never too late. How very important it is that our children see us reading for pleasure and hear us talking about the books we are enjoying.
If you have older children who have not yet learned to love reading, it is not too late! It's NEVER too late! It may take a little more concentrated effort, but it is NEVER too late and the effort is ALWAYS worth the end results!
It is NEVER too late! I'm so excited for my former Sunday school teacher as she is enjoying the classics that I love so very much! I hope you too have/are/ or will enjoy them as well. Happy Reading!!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Our 3 New Finds at the Library!
Went to the library yesterday with my two little bookworms and we found three new books that we absolutely love. I wanted to share them with you!
Aunt Lucy Went To Buy A Hat by Alice Low, is the hilarious tale of Aunt Lucy who can't find her hat, which you will see is hilariously close to her, and so she sets out to buy a new one. Instead of a hat she comes back with a cat! The entire books is based on Aunt Lucy's forgetfulness and how she still gets the hat for which she went out in the first place. My four year old couldn't stop laughing!
Princesses Are NOT Perfect by Kate Lum is the amusing tale of three princess sisters who each have their own specialty. They decide they are tired of doing the same thing over and over and so try their hands at each other's jobs. They fail miserably, but in the end they realize they should stick to doing what they love and the children's party is a great success. It's a great story with a happy ending!
Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin just kept getting better and better as we read! My four year old is at the age to start learning about lies and telling the truth. This story was the best one I have ever read on the subject. My Kaitlyn was captivated by the story and we had a great discussion about telling the truth after it was over. This story really took honesty and put it on a preschooler's level. The story shows how much trouble dishonesty causes and how much happier we are when we finally tell the truth. Great story with a very well written moral!
I hope you enjoy these with your little people as soon as possible. They are great and my two little ones ask for them over and over. We almost have the Aunt Lucy story memorized because it is written in rhyme! Happy Reading!!
Aunt Lucy Went To Buy A Hat by Alice Low, is the hilarious tale of Aunt Lucy who can't find her hat, which you will see is hilariously close to her, and so she sets out to buy a new one. Instead of a hat she comes back with a cat! The entire books is based on Aunt Lucy's forgetfulness and how she still gets the hat for which she went out in the first place. My four year old couldn't stop laughing!
Princesses Are NOT Perfect by Kate Lum is the amusing tale of three princess sisters who each have their own specialty. They decide they are tired of doing the same thing over and over and so try their hands at each other's jobs. They fail miserably, but in the end they realize they should stick to doing what they love and the children's party is a great success. It's a great story with a happy ending!
I hope you enjoy these with your little people as soon as possible. They are great and my two little ones ask for them over and over. We almost have the Aunt Lucy story memorized because it is written in rhyme! Happy Reading!!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Summer Reading List for Girls 6th- 12th
This is the list I have been dying to get to! There are so many books on this list that just make me so excited and giddy to share with you!! I know! I know! I'm weird! :) I just get so excited and can feel the blood pressure rising when I talk about so many of these books. I stopped it at 12th grade, but again I don't really like the labeling. Any college girl to adult woman would enjoy reading all of these books. They are fantastic!
If you look up books for young teen girls, you get all kinds of books dealing with issues from dating and sex to divorce and leaving home. I don't understand at all why our young girls need to read about these issues. They know they are there. Many of them are living it. Why should they have to read about it too? If we want our girls to stay pure, why would we allow them to read the romance novels of today? A good book should be a refuge from the stresses of life, not enhance them. These books are wholesome, innocent, and just plain fantastic! You won't find any witches, sexual talk, drugs, vampires, or any of the "garbage" of today's world. These books will make you feel good after you read them, not more depressed about the awfulness that can sometimes invade our every day lives!
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Pat of Silver Bush by L.M. Montgomery
Mistress Pat by L.M. Montgomery (Don't tell my mom or sister, but I like the Pat books better than the Anne books! Gasp!! ;)
The Chestry Oak by Kate Seredy This is a MUST read. If you can get your hands on this book, you have to!! It is out of print and quite costly on line, but if you find it somewhere or your public library, like mine does, has it in their circulation, you must read it!!
Not My Will by Francena Arnold (Again, a must read for every high school girl!)
The Light In My Window by Francena Arnold
Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Diebler Rose (I think you will have to go online for this one, but it's only around $7. It's an amazing story of a missionary lady and her husband during WWII)
Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
The Velvet Room by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Mother Carey's Chickens by Kate Douglass Wiggin
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglass Wiggin
Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter (I can hardly type this title without smiling! It's so good!)
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Promises in the Attic by Elisabeth Hamilton Friermood (This author takes little known historical events in the Midwest and writes about them in a fictional setting based on true facts. They are all excellent!)
Carney's House Party by Maud Hart Lovelace
The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (NOT witchcraft. It is set during the Salem Witch Trial era of our country.)
Calico Bush by Rachel Field
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I'm sure I'm leaving out some and that worries me. It really does, that's how crazy I am about reading! :) If and when I think of others, I will post them as well. I have not included the Janette Oke books. To me they are ok, they aren't my favorite. I know the teen and college age girls may enjoy them because they are pretty decent romance novels. I've read most of them and I guess if I had to recommend one it would be The Gown of Spanish Lace. I love the twist at the end of that book. Other than that, I can take or leave them.
Happy Reading!
If you look up books for young teen girls, you get all kinds of books dealing with issues from dating and sex to divorce and leaving home. I don't understand at all why our young girls need to read about these issues. They know they are there. Many of them are living it. Why should they have to read about it too? If we want our girls to stay pure, why would we allow them to read the romance novels of today? A good book should be a refuge from the stresses of life, not enhance them. These books are wholesome, innocent, and just plain fantastic! You won't find any witches, sexual talk, drugs, vampires, or any of the "garbage" of today's world. These books will make you feel good after you read them, not more depressed about the awfulness that can sometimes invade our every day lives!
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Pat of Silver Bush by L.M. Montgomery
Mistress Pat by L.M. Montgomery (Don't tell my mom or sister, but I like the Pat books better than the Anne books! Gasp!! ;)
The Chestry Oak by Kate Seredy This is a MUST read. If you can get your hands on this book, you have to!! It is out of print and quite costly on line, but if you find it somewhere or your public library, like mine does, has it in their circulation, you must read it!!
Not My Will by Francena Arnold (Again, a must read for every high school girl!)
The Light In My Window by Francena Arnold
Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Diebler Rose (I think you will have to go online for this one, but it's only around $7. It's an amazing story of a missionary lady and her husband during WWII)
Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
The Velvet Room by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Mother Carey's Chickens by Kate Douglass Wiggin
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglass Wiggin
Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter (I can hardly type this title without smiling! It's so good!)
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Promises in the Attic by Elisabeth Hamilton Friermood (This author takes little known historical events in the Midwest and writes about them in a fictional setting based on true facts. They are all excellent!)
Carney's House Party by Maud Hart Lovelace
The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (NOT witchcraft. It is set during the Salem Witch Trial era of our country.)
Calico Bush by Rachel Field
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I'm sure I'm leaving out some and that worries me. It really does, that's how crazy I am about reading! :) If and when I think of others, I will post them as well. I have not included the Janette Oke books. To me they are ok, they aren't my favorite. I know the teen and college age girls may enjoy them because they are pretty decent romance novels. I've read most of them and I guess if I had to recommend one it would be The Gown of Spanish Lace. I love the twist at the end of that book. Other than that, I can take or leave them.
Happy Reading!
Summer Reading List for Boys 3rd-6th Grade
In my recent posts, we have been dealing with summer reading. As stated before, it is very important that the summer does not become a break from all things educational, especially reading! Not always, but typically, it is the young men who have trouble with sitting still long enough to read. However, if a parent is diligent in creating an atmosphere and interest for reading, then the task of instilling a love for reading in the most active of boys can be accomplished!
If you haven't read my last two posts, I encourage you to do so. It will help motivate you to motivate your children to read this summer. Even if you only have boys, take a minute to read the post entitled, Summer Reading List for Girls 3rd-6th Grade. I talk about labeling books according to age and gender.
So, here is a list of books for your young boys to enjoy this summer! Happy Reading!
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary (She has many books young boys would enjoy. Check them out!)
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Buffalo Knife by William O. Steele
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
Black Stallion series by Walter Farley (Amazing and full of adventure!)
The Sugar Creek Gang mystery series by Paul Hutchens
Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol
Stuart Little by E.B. White
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Big Red by Jim Kjelgaard
Ben and Me by Robert Lawson
When the Soldiers Were Gone by Vera Propp
Carry on, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
The Eddie series by Carolyn Haywood (These are more on the level of 3rd-4th grade boys. Great books!)
Homer Price by Robert McCloskey
The Hardy Boys mystery series by Franklin W. Dixon
Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry (This authors books are good and should not be overlooked, but I personally feel they are best as read alouds.)
Childhood of Famous Americans biography series. (I love these!)
A Tree for Peter by Kate Seredy
Lone Hunter and the Cheyennes by Donald Worcester. (This book may be one you have to go online to find, but it is SO VERY worth it! )
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
If you haven't read my last two posts, I encourage you to do so. It will help motivate you to motivate your children to read this summer. Even if you only have boys, take a minute to read the post entitled, Summer Reading List for Girls 3rd-6th Grade. I talk about labeling books according to age and gender.
So, here is a list of books for your young boys to enjoy this summer! Happy Reading!
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary (She has many books young boys would enjoy. Check them out!)
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Buffalo Knife by William O. Steele
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
Black Stallion series by Walter Farley (Amazing and full of adventure!)
The Sugar Creek Gang mystery series by Paul Hutchens
Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol
Stuart Little by E.B. White
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Big Red by Jim Kjelgaard
Ben and Me by Robert Lawson
When the Soldiers Were Gone by Vera Propp
Carry on, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
The Eddie series by Carolyn Haywood (These are more on the level of 3rd-4th grade boys. Great books!)
Homer Price by Robert McCloskey
The Hardy Boys mystery series by Franklin W. Dixon
Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry (This authors books are good and should not be overlooked, but I personally feel they are best as read alouds.)
Childhood of Famous Americans biography series. (I love these!)
A Tree for Peter by Kate Seredy
Lone Hunter and the Cheyennes by Donald Worcester. (This book may be one you have to go online to find, but it is SO VERY worth it! )
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)