Letter Blocks

Celebrating National Family Literacy Month with Three Cups of Tea

Sarah-W — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:45:01 GMT

"No skill is more crucial to the future of a child, or to a democratic and prosperous society, than literacy." - Los Angeles Times

Kids' Choice

Stephanie_K — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:18:35 GMT

Unfortunately for kids, parents make a lot of decisions for them: what they can watch on TV, what time they have to go to bed, what they eat for dinner... But allowing your kids to choose some things for themselves—like what books they read—can make kids feel proud and accomplished. It will also ensure that they're reading because they want to, not because they feel they have to.

Books Worth Watching

Sandy_LR — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:53:30 GMT

The first thing my child ever saw on TV wasn't a Baby Einstein video. Instead, my daughter, then 23 months old, was watching a Scholastic DVD titled The Wheels on the Bus. Too much talking would bore her but music had the potential to keep her interested. Well, my toddler was enthralled.

Books vs. Movies: Picture-book Edition

Stephanie_K — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:10:30 GMT

This time around, we’re talking about picture books: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, by Judi Barrett, and Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak. I’ll be honest, when I heard that these books would be made into movies, I was both intrigued and nervous: how can you possibly make a 2-hour (well, 1 ½ hour) movie out of a 30-page picture-book? Especially WTWTA, which contains very little written story.

A Few Spook-tacular Reads

Sandy_L — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:53:34 GMT

You still have some time to pick up a pumpkin and stockpile candy for the trick-or-treaters. But how about a sweet but sugar-free treat for the kids in your life: a few Halloween-ish books to set the mood?

What's Halloween Without Scary Stories?

Sarah-W — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:24:34 GMT

My love of ghost stories has always been a tale of forbidden fruit: what I secretly consume when no one else is watching. Now I'm surprised to find myself worrying about whether some stories are too scary for the young readers in my life.

Potty Talk

Sandy_L — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:52:47 GMT

These days I’m deep in everything poop-and-pee related. I have a toddler who's just begun toilet training. (To those of you who have successfully completed this process—congratulations, I’m jealous. To those of you who have yet to take the plunge or are struggling with it yourselves, my sympathies.) Where to begin? In addition to the typical paraphernalia like potty chairs and training diapers, I picked up some picture books to help get my little one excited about the whole process.

My Boy, the Book Eater

Sandy_L — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:00:26 GMT

My son’s favorite part of a book is the spine. Whatever board book we happen to be reading, he’ll grab it with his chubby paws, turn it around, and start gnawing away on the spine. Yum! Did I mention he’s only 7 months old and teething?

Fudge-errific

Stephanie_K — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:58:01 GMT

I’ve been on a Judy Blume kick lately. I just love her writing style and, more so, her subject matter. She writes about characters and situations that the reader can relate to. Since I focus my attention more on the reluctant readers, I decided to delve into the world of Fudge, a fun five-book series that your child will likely enjoy.

Celebrating Kids' Classics: Nursery Rhymes

Sandy_L — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:12:35 GMT

I didn't set out to collect books on nursery rhymes but somehow I ended up with eight! It's a mystery as to how I got started. I don't remember growing up listening to a lot of Mother Goose. In fact, before I had kids, I barely knew the words to all but a few. Yet there I was, reading nursery rhymes to my daughter when she was a baby.

Sensational Sendak

Sandy_L — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:26:35 GMT

For years I’ve been hearing rumors about the making of the movie, Where the Wild Things Are. I couldn’t imagine how they would make this classic picture book into a full-length live action feature film. And it seemed like the movie would never get made. But now—finally!—it’s here. I’m curious to read the reviews and find out what the critics think. But with Spike Jonze as the director (and also a co-screenwriter with Dave Eggers), I have high hopes. At the very least, it’s going to be original.

A Beautiful Collection of Shel's

Stephanie_K — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:17:51 GMT

Time after time, I borrowed 2 books from the library: Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic. These two poem collections by Shel Silverstein were my bibles. His words spoke to me and his illustrations inspired me. To this day I can recite several of his poems.

If Harry Met Harriet

Sandy_L — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:55:06 GMT

I've been thinking lately about the kinds of books that boys read and the thought occurred to me: If J.K. Rowling had made the main character in her books a girl instead of a boy (imagine the same story but Harriet instead of Harry), would the series be as popular today among both girls and boys? Or would half the potential readers—meaning boys—decide that it’s a girls’ story and not give it a chance? Sad to say but I suspect the latter.

Beyond the Great Green Room

Sandy_L — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:06:50 GMT

Margaret Wise Brown (who, by the way, was gorgeous and glamorous and led a very interesting, colorful life) wrote hundreds of stories for children, many of them still in print today. I’m grateful that she was such a prolific writer. In fact, I’m still in the process of discovering all her books and introducing them to my children, but so far, my favorites include Big Red Barn, Two Little Trains, and Little Fur Family.

My Beef with Books

Daniel-Kirk — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:42:23 GMT

I have a beef with books. You see, I'm in the midst of a turf battle with my books, and I can see that I'm bound to lose. Books have overtaken my living and working space. Some say that a man does not possess books, but that he is possessed by them, and I know that it is true.

Pooh Redux

PaulH — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:48:00 GMT

It's been eight decades since Christopher Robin bid adieu to Pooh & company and the Hundred Acre Woods. Now, with the help of David Benedictus -- a writer and audio narrator -- the lovable bear is poised for a comeback. But will he be welcomed?

Spiders, and Bears, and Caterpillars! Oh my!

Sandy_L — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:15:09 GMT

This year marks the 40th anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle's beloved picture book. It's amazing to think that it's been around that long as there's nothing dated at all about the illustrations or the tale of the little caterpillar with the voracious appetite. Colorful masterpieces that are treasured by children all over the world, Carle's books are truly timeless.

Thank you, Dahling...

Stephanie_K — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:14:22 GMT

Roald Dahl's childhood wasn’t a very good one, which I guess, does make for good writing, but typically a life filled with angst, unhappiness, and some pretty harsh punishments results in an adult’s tear-jerking memoir filled with disturbing details—à la Mackenzie Phillips. But Dahl chose another route—sort of—he wove unpleasant details from his own childhood into stories that are meant for kids.

Give your Child the Gift of Reading

Kristin_Z — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:35:55 GMT

I was read to all the time as a child and encouraged to read and write from as early as I can remember. My mom, a reading teacher, often preached the benefits of reading, and even had a sweatshirt that said, "reading jogs the mind." As a kid I thought that was hilarious, picturing a brain with legs and sneakers, but as an adult I know that reading really does exercise your mind the way jogging exercises your body, and instilling a love for reading early on will benefit your child in the future.

Unveiling the Wizard of Oz

Sandy_L — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:11:37 GMT

I’ve always been curious about the lives of famous children’s book authors—more so than adult book authors. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because I associate them with my favorite memories from childhood. Or maybe it’s because I’m fascinated by grown-ups who can capture a child’s perspective so perfectly. But finding out more about L. Frank Baum is a little like finding out that the great wizard of Oz is not so wise and powerful after all.