Mom Forums

In a word: Yes!What would you say if I told you that in the time it takes you to drink that cup of coffee (or can of soda) that you're holding you could be helping your child be part of the top 10% of his class?  It won't come from flashcards or drills, no computer software, either. Just 20 minutes sharing a book.I'm a parent, too, so I know it can be hard to fit that time in.  But knowing that I am helping my daughter prepare for the long haul of at least 12 years of school, is an investment I can't afford not to make.  We can't wait for our kids to get to preschool or Kindergarten to learn to read. Most of the building blocks of reading happen at home, in those 4 or 5 years before they start school.Sharing a book with a child helps build their vocabulary and communication skills.  Children who are read to on a daily basis are 1.6 times as likely to be rated by their teachers as being near the top of their kindergarten class in learning skills, and 2.3 times as likely to be near th... read more »

Bonjour! Buenos Dias! Guttentag! Welcome to the ABCs of Bilingual BooksOne in every ten households in the United States is an adoptive family.  The rise in international adoptions adds an extra dimension to a family's way of life, because their child brings with them a cultural heritage that may not be their own.  Most families of adoption ? like many biological families ? do not want to rob their children of their cultural identity. Rather, they take concrete steps to celebrate it.Bilingual books offer a way to introduce and bridge cultures.  Depending on the age of your child, she may already speak at least some of her native language.  If that's the case, then bilingual books can help you learn the language, not only improving communication, but showing him that you think his culture is important.Books that have all the text in one language ? whether it is English, Mandarin Chinese, or Arabic ? are not bilingual books.  They are foreign language children's books.  These are wonde... read more »

When our kids are young, reading with them ? especially at bedtime ? seems to come to us naturally.  As they move toward becoming independent readers, our tendency is to read to them less and encourage them to read more.  Shelving more picture books doesn't mean that your special reading time has to end ... chapter books open lots of other doors for sharing stories and your love of books.   My daughter (7-and-a-half) has the auditory equivalent of a photographic memory.  She plays with words and morphs them into new things the way other kids play with molding clay and action figures.  She has an "ear" for accents and dialects, and she is quick to mimic them after hearing just a few lines.  Whether we're standing in line to buy groceries or sitting in a restaurant, Catherine is always ready to pick up new material.   When we read, each character must have their own voice.  If it's a squirrel, we need the "tut-tut-tut" and squeaks.  If it is a handsome prince, nothing short of a prope... read more »

I don't know about you, but since becoming a Mom, I feel like the most over-used word in my vocabulary is "No" -- followed closely by "Don't."  I get tired of hearing myself say them, so I can imagine how weary my daughter is of listening to them.   It is my job as a parent to guide my child and help her make good choices.  So those words aren't going anywhere anytime soon.  Still, I could use a little help with teaching.  That's where books -- especially picture books -- come in handy.   There is no shortage of children's picture books with stories whose intended purposes are to teach a specific lesson, whether it is the ABCs of friendship or the XYZs of potty training.  There is a book for just about anything we want to help a young child understand.   In books like No, David! By David Shannon and No Biting! By Karen Katz -- both personal favorites -- the lessons and expected behaviors are explicit.  Sometimes, though, it's better to let the kids glean the lessons from the story a... read more »

Have you ever noticed how kids can say more words than they recognize or spell?  The first building blocks of reading come not from our eyes, but our ears.  Part of the process of learning to read is adding a visual connection to words we use every day.  Building those word banks doesn't happen at the same pace -- or even in the same way -- for all learners. There are a number of ways to help your child add to his or her word bank that don't require worksheets, flashcards, or drills.  One of my favorites is partner reading.  You may have heard it called buddy reading, shared reading, or paired reading.  Some teachers use it in their classrooms, and it is a strategy you can easily do it at home.Taking turns reading -- whether you alternate paragraphs, pages, or chapters -- can benefit readers of all levels.  For many readers, a full page of text can be overwhelming.  Taking turns requires them to follow along, but also reduces some of the pressure they may feel.  Because you are "sha... read more »

Some days, the idea of squeezing in story time with my daughter is the last thing I want to think about.  The day was crazy, I've still got a ridiculously long to-do list, dinner isn't ready, homework isn't done...and I need to sleep sometime.  What's a parent to do?  As I've discovered by listening to other moms -- and reading their blogs -- there are lots of options that don't involve turning on the television.A.     Grab an audio book!  Let someone else tell the story.  Your child can follow along -- just like she does when you read.  Libraries often purchase audio books separate from hardcover editions, so ask your librarian about children's books they have on the shelves and on CD. B.     You be the kid.  Let your child pick a couple of his favorite stories and read them to you.  Yes, it may be a book he or she has memorized, but that's okay.  He or she is still practicing and enjoying a book.  And you get to relax.   C.     Open a digital book.  There are a number of online re... read more »

Let's face it.  Children's books are expensive.  It costs extra to produce all the brightly colored illustrations that make picture books the treasures kids love to look at.  So how do you get the most book for your money?  Whether you are building your child's library or looking for books as gifts, here are some tips that maximize everyone's enjoyment, offer lots of variety, and minimize spending. Look for lots of stories in one book.  An anthology is a collection of stories and/or poems.  Usually the titles include the word "treasury," "collection," or "anthology."  The illustrations are not going to fill whole pages like the individual book would, but you benefit from having lots of choices...at a price that is well below what you'd pay for each individual book, even if you got them used or in paperback.Rather than buying individual books with nursery rhymes, find one book that has a bunch of them.  I've seen some collections with 100 Mother Goose nursery rhymes.If your child has... read more »

Wandering through our local big-box bookstore a few weeks ago, I was amazed at how much the display at Halloween books had grown.  Not books about fall, but books specifically about Halloween!  I remember the moment -- a heavy sigh: why do I have to think about costumes, scariness, and candy?  But time marches on, and the bewitching hour is closing in.Today I thought I would share some of the seasonal favorites in our house.  This selection includes picture books that combine suspense and interactive reading to delight your young goblins, ghosts, princesses, pirates, and everything in between.Monster Halloween written and illustrated by Quentin.  With simple presentation (and a soft furry cover), we learn about the things monsters like to do.  Each pair of pages begins with "monster" and adds two additional words, usually verbs, to describe the activity.  This is a seasonal picture/board book.  (ages 2 to 6)Audience reaction: With few words and detailed illustrations, children can b... read more »

Amazingly, as I walked through the store the other day, the Halloween stuff was being shoved to the side to make room Christmas decorations.  Thanksgiving...poor turkey...he's just a bystander.  Thus begins the annual journey of finding "the perfect gift."This year -- as in year's past -- I am going to select the present that gives the recipient a gift for life: a book.  Think about it...with a single volume you are helping a child discover their place in the world.  Whenever anyone asks me what they can get my daughter for Christmas, I always tell them a book. She doesn't need more toys...and besides, that's Santa's domain.  I will never complain that she has too many books!What the book is about is not as important as the message: "I love you and want to help you become a successful person.  Books and learning to read will take you wherever you want to go."  Like all presents, you want your gift to be treasured.  It isn't quite as simple as picking the book on the front tables at ... read more »

One of my favorite early memories as a new mom was reading bedtime stories with my daughter.  Even today, I love to listen as my husband and daughter read together in a ritual I hope she'll never outgrow.  (I know -- wishful thinking!)So it is probably no surprise that one of my favorite gifts for parents-to-be or new moms and dads is books!  I tend to be drawn to board books, mostly because I want the parents to feel comfortable not only sharing a story, but in letting their child play with a book. Today, I thought I would share some of my favorite starter collections.  Whether you select just one book or mix and match the sets, know that you are offering a precious gift: time for bonding, memories, and sharing love.When my daughter was born, I had a hard time finding cloth books, but within the last year, I discovered the Messages from the Heart series by Sara Magsamen.  Baby Love unfolds so that infants and toddlers can play with it; and My Blanket is a cloth book that unfolds to... read more »

One of the greatest gifts you can give a child is the tools to help them become a successful reader.  The latest video game, the cutest doll, the train set, and the tea set -- kids will grow out of those things.  But they can never outgrow reading. In addition to investing in their future success, here are some other reasons why something to read makes a great gift:They're cheap.  Compare a paperback -- even a hard cover -- to the price of a video game.They don't need batteries -- more money saved!They're never too big or too small.There is something for every age.The good news is that there are lots of options.  If you want a book, great -- but that's not your only choice.  Because the idea is to find something kids enjoy, you might want to think beyond that hardcover edition.  If you want to stay with the printed page, think about a magazine subscription in a subject area they love.  Use technology to your advantage, too.  That iPod can play an audio book just as easily as it play... read more »

Tis the season for 'round the clock toy commercials -- the annual brigade of gadgets and widgets that entice our kids to say "Mom, can I have that?"  Yes, just two more winks and the kids will begin writing their letters to you-know-who.Helping our kids write that letter is the least we can do to help make their wishes come true.  As honorary helpers, we have a close and personal relationship with the "big guy," so we know just how important these letters are to him and the elves.  Here are ways that you can incorporate some literacy into the fun of putting together a "Dear Santa" request.Use Pictures.  Every Sunday from now until the end of the year, the newspaper will be filled with sale pages.  Several of the big-box stores have catalogs that are filled with nothing but toys.  Grab a pair of safety scissors, a marker or pencil, and let the kids have fun.  Once the lists are created, hang them on the refrigerator so that they can see them every day...until it's time to mail them.T... read more »

December 21st marked the Winter Solstice of 2009, but there is no doubt that winter arrived early in many parts of the country.  When snow comes down at two inches per hour, shoveling isn't much use, but there is plenty of time for having fun.While I prefer to grab a book and a cup of hot cocoa, my eight-year-old wants to "do" something.  Looking over the games in the toy closet, I realized that there are lots of ways we can have fun and sneak in a little reading.When she was just learning to read, we would play games that combined words and pictures.  Scrabble Junior, Zingo, and picture Bingo were great for helping her fill her bank of sight words and add to her vocabulary, too.  What's Gnu is a great game for new spellers.  In the process of building three-letter words, kids learn about vowel sounds, word patterns, and how words are put together.One of her favorite games was Space Faces, a board game where you have to match an alien face on the board with a set of specific charact... read more »

As kids develop into independent readers -- usually by third grade -- they are used to picking their own books.  Regular trips to the school library in earlier years have started them on the path of browsing the shelves and looking at the online catalog to find things that interest them. Invariably, they will get hooked on a particular subject or series.  It's not unlike the macaroni and cheese they ate every night for five months, or the can't-live-without toy from their toddler and pre-school days.  Except that since we're not around them 24/7 like we used to be, we don't always know what they've already read...or haven't. If you have a child in your life that loves a particular series, one of the things you can do to keep them connected with books is to find "read-alikes."  A read-alike is a book (or series) that is similar to something that your reader already likes.  The formula is fairly straightforward             If you like [insert: author, title, series], then you might li... read more »

"Literacy toys" make great gifts.  Although we tend to think of learning to read as an exercise in letters, it really is much bigger than that.  In fact, learning your ABCs doesn't even have anything to do with letters. Much of what we as adults tend to dismiss as "just playing" is really the brain's way of organizing and putting together the building blocks that kids later use for learning to read.  There is a lot of science (http://www.readingonline.org/articles/roskos/connections.html) to support the idea that playing is a very effective way for kids to build lots of skills, reading being one of them.  With that idea in mind, here are a few suggestions for ways to help kids develop their reading skills that don't require batteries, computers, flashcards, or workbooks. Let there be Art -- Every toddler and preschooler I've ever met loves to play with crayons, markers, chalk, and paint.  Giving kids the tools to create their masterpieces ultimately feeds into their reading.  There ... read more »

One of the things I love about the month of February is that it is filled with opportunities for sharing books.  Valentine's Day offers a great excuse to cuddle up with a favorite book, and of course Black History Month and President's Day let us sneak in some very important history lessons, too.  In our house, we skip the chocolate (we're still eating Christmas cookies!) and give books instead.With that in mind, here are a few favorite selections for sharing with kids:Picture BooksHappy Valentine's Day, Mouse! written by Laura Numeroff, illustrated Felicia Bond (Balzer + Bray, 2009).  The beloved Mouse of If You Give a Mouse a series is excited to be making special Valentine cards and spending the day with his friends...all of whom you'll recognize from the series.Lilly's Chocolate Heart written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes (Scholastic, 2003).  It's almost bedtime on Valentine's, and Lilly wants to find the perfect place to save her last treat before she goes to bed.  This is a ... read more »

Remember the infamous Dick and Jane books?  Even though there have been hundreds of books since then, for whatever reason, we use the Dick and Jane series to describe that category of books called Easy Readers.  The titles are synonomous with books for kids learning to read, which is pretty amazing given that many Dr. Seuss books are, in fact, designed to be Easy Readers.So what makes a book an Easy Reader?  I'm so glad you asked!  You already know these are the books for children learning to read.  Here are a couple of other traits that they may have:-The majority of them have a banner or label that says "learning to read" in some form.  But some of them, like picture books for toddlers, may not have that banner.-The books are sized for the reader's comfort, usually 6 inches by 9 inches.-There is a lot of white space on each page and the font is larger. -The content comprises short, simple sentences.-There are illustrations or images that match up with the text so kids can "decode"... read more »

As the adults responsible for raising kids, we want to ensure they have the best start possible.  We feed them, we clothe them, we teach them how to be responsible citizens, and we facilitate their education.  Study after study tells us that the key to their success -- not only as students but as successful professionals -- is learning how to read.  Reading is something we learn to do, just as we learn how to throw a ball, play the piano, or jump rope.  With each thing our kids learn, we help them practice so that they can get better.The same is true with reading...parents are coaches and mentors who work one-on-one to help our children become confident, successful readers.  But what happens when your reading interests are different from your kids'?  Should you be worried if all they want to read is comic books?  What if the kid next door, the same age as your child, is reading big fat chapter books and your child is still reading picture books?  And last but not least, who do you g... read more »

I don't know about you, but I was never happier to see March 20th arrive on my calendar!  After the winter we had, with record snows and the kids home what seemed like half the winter, I have never been more ready for spring.  Now that the sun is warmer and I can actually see the ground, I am ready to head outdoors and do some reading.Don't get me wrong -- I love cuddling up on the couch with my daughter, a blanket, and a book as much as the next mom.  But there is something equally appealing about carrying that blanket and book outside and having a picnic...or climbing in a tree...or hiding in a treehouse...or lazing in the  hammock.  You get the picture.  The great thing about books is that you can take them anywhere.  In honor of spring, I've put together a list with a few favorites that are ideal for sharing outside, and added some ways you can use them.Abner Doubleday: Baseball Pioneer by Montrew Dunham, illustrated by Cathy Morrison.  Abner Doubleday grew up in Auburn, New Yor... read more »

Just the other day, my eight-year-old asked a question that we couldn't answer.  My daughter's response?  "That's Okay, Mom, I can Google it."  Talk about putting fear in our hearts!  When my husband and I were growing up, we had a set of encyclopedias -- a static row of books that "fed" us information that was validated and served in controlled doses.  For better or for worse, those days are gone. Some people like to call the Worldwide Web the "wild wild west."  In some ways, it is.  You can find anything and everything with a few clicks.  Frequently, there is no "truth test," or process for validating something before it is published online.  Our vigilance as parents takes on a whole new dimension when our kids reach an age where we need to start dealing with Internet safety and protecting our kids online.  Still, there are some excellent resources for kids that offer safe places to "play."  Here are a few websites that engage kids by requiring them to participate in the fun.PBS K... read more »

For most of us, when you say the name "Mo Willems," you think of his Knuffle Bunny and Pigeon stories.  Toddlers and preschoolers everywhere know the "cautionary tale" and the antics of a pale blue bird that tries to drive the bus, eat a hot dog, and more.  These are stories adults read to their children.  But did you know that Mo Willems also writes books for kids who are learning to read?In 2007, Mo introduced Elephant and Piggie, two friends who explore life and friendship with stories new readers can read for themselves.  Now, three years later, the series includes eleven titles, with two sets for release this year.  One of the great things about the Elephant and Piggie books is the simplicity of their presentation.  The elephant's name is Gerald, though you don't see it a lot; Piggie is just Piggie.  The story is told completely in dialogue, and the author uses visual queues -- like large, bold type or small italic type, to help readers add feeling to their reading.  Every stor... read more »