How to get modern kids reading

Reading is a beautiful gift.

I am an avid reader. our home is full of books, the old fashioned kind found in this photograph:)

I am always searching for good reads for myself and my kids.

It begins to get really exciting when one can share the good adult read with a teen. 

I came across this interesting article on reading.

enjoy!

http://www.edudemic.com/what-really-gets-kids-reading/

Lets Listen to a Story!

Audio Books are a great wat for children to learn to enjoy books. We have listened to a great deal of books on "tapes"( remember those) and on dvd over the years with our kids. Here is a great link below, sharing audio books with us. Enjoy!!

http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogs/scholastic-parents-raise-reader/free-audio-books-and-why-you-should-try-them

The Ordinary Hero by Tim Chester

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41y8POcA9-L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg

It is with enormous excitement that I recommend this excellent book. I have been reading it this holiday and have been challenged, reminded, rebuked, encouraged and have fallen in love with Jesus again. I think it is safe to say that this book will singlehandedly bring about great fruit in any and every Christan's life who reads it.

The theme is about living with the Cross= Jesus at the very heart of who we are. It is clear, easy to read and practical. It is sure to remind you if not challenge you and many fronts.

The first chapter is entitled: How do you know God loves you?

This is a great way to start and it is a good question to ask. I asked my kids after reading it and was surprised and interested at their answers. 

The amazing thing Chester does is to draw us from the cross to our present lives in Christ. If God loves us this much well then what does that mean for....

* how and when I love others

*accepting others

* laying down my life

*complaining when I am let down by others

*being gracious to others

These are just a small taste of some of the great gems in this great book.

The chapter entitled: The way of the Cross just blew my mind. This is the challenge to make sure we are really selfless ; self-denying- self-surrender and not merely as the world calls us to self-expression; self-confident;  self-fulfilled and self love. This chapter is a reminder that we are made for something much bigger than the small kingdom of our self made world.

There are 5 parts to the book which are the key areas relating to the cross and each has several sub headings. If you are wanting to come to the cross for the first time or if you just need to be reminded about who jesus is and what his dying means for your life, then this is a book you will thoroughly enjoy.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to explore the Christan Cross shaped life more clearly and with real desire to have a changed life.

Hungry for more..... The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzzanne Collins.

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzzane Collins .

I am not one to do what everyone is doing, just because it is in. The same goes for reading the latest crazy. BUT, having said this, I have to admit that THIS particular latest book trilogy is excellent.

check out the offical web page.

http://www.thehungergames.co.uk/

It has become the favourite read for our family. It is a book for teens and a good adult read. In fact, I have not been able to put it down. It is well written and the thrilling plot keeps you clued to the pages. The chapters are long and full. They always end with a gripping piece that keeps you turning the page to the next chapter.

I am not going to give a hint at all of the story. 

Just to say it is fairly violent but not in any gory detail. 

It is more a discription of an action and the result and she does not go into unneccessary detail. 

A good read!!

The Roman Mystery Series

I spent this holiday reading through the series written by Caroline Lawrence. The Roman Mystery Series.  These books were introduced to our family about 8 years ago by a friend who brought them from the UK. 

Check out the web site.  http://www.romanmysteries.com/

These books are set in Ostia when Rome was at its hight of rule. The stories revolve around a group of teenagers who set about solving a mystery in each book. There is a thread that runs from book to book although each stands alone. 

They are well written and extremely exciting. Full of intrigue and "who done it" stuff.

I would recommend them for children who are good readers and who love a mystery. 

The books also include a great deal of good history around the time it is set. This is really excellent!!

The first book in the series is called "The Thieves of Ostia".

These are well worth a read.

Has you child read any of these?

and then Came Number 3!!

Our first 2 sons took to books , literally like a duck takes to water. They learned to read will little effort or problem and they have loved reading ever since. Every night brings with it that time. The time to snuggle in and settle down to some good read or another. Neither of them is without a book , ever. They swap and share books with friends at school and have developed a rather extensive favourites list.

And then came number 3..... Our third son likes to read. He likes books and he is a good reader. He dose not love to read. He told me the other day, while at the library, "I hate books". My heart literally stopped. I was absolutely horrified. We chatted about reading and books etc etc.
The sad thing is that we have not invested nearly enough 'book time' with this little fellow. And so the challenge is on . How are we going to fan into flame the love of reading and books into this little men. I suspect the key, and all children have a key, is to find the right sort of books for him. We have tried all the best reads of the bigger boys but to no avail.

And so we gently encourage and build up and praise and offer this and offer that. The solution to this problem is still unsolved. The magic of a good book has not yet worked its charm on this little man.  We are setting our minds and problem solving as a family to this one and the bigger boys are coming up with their own solutions. Friends who have big families are adding much value and so we press on, book in hand and prayer in heart. The find the book lover in this child yet.

The Lorax Project

http://www.seussville.com/Educators/lorax_classroom/educatorlorax_discuss.php

Books about parts of speech

I stumbled upon these fun books. There are several in the series and they are written by a variety of authors including Michael Dahl. If anyone has used these with their children perhaps they could share with us some of their impressions.

:)

Mandela Day - communities get librbaries

 A great story about communities receiving books.
 
Mandela Day

Books for Babies and Toddlers

 I love Pinterest. There are so many great ideas for all sorts of things to make and do. I stumbled across this web site and on it is a list of fabulous books for toddlers and also some book reviews. Check it out and enjoy!




Books | No Time For Flash Cards - Play and Learning Activities For Babies, Toddlers and Kids

A visit to our local library

 Meadow ridge Library in the heart of Bergvliet is our local library. We love to visit it. It has some helpful librarians  and a good selection of books, both old and new. When I was growing up in Honeydew Johannesburg, my mother would take us to the local library regularly. I have vivid memories of searching for my favourite author and books on the crammed shelves. What a reading delight.  I guess I visit our local library with the same kind of expectation and hope for our boys.  The three readers love to read. Their choice of books is varied and they definitely do not like the same kinds of books all of the time. Some recent finds are.....

Wildfire by Chris Ryan

Snakehead and others by Anthony Horwitz


The Inkheart  Trilogy by Cornelia Funke

My personal favourites in the kiddies section always include a Shirley Hughes of some sort and then  soem from the Dorling Kindersley Books like


1000 Inventions and discoveries by Roger Bridgman  where we read about the invention of the watch ; umbrella ; toilet ; the first Christmas Card and so much more. a great read.

Finally , David Macaulay's The Way things Work is my absolute best book. It has delightful drawings showing how all kinds of things fit together and work. Things like , The Wheel and Axel or springs and Friction. The groovey Mamoths help expalin with their funny actions and facial expressions.

Another great read.

We often land up leaving with bags brimming with books, ready to be enjoyed. The enjoyment starts straight away as we journey home in the car.

Where is Wally?

We were first introduced to the Where is Wally series when our oldest son was 6.  Since then Wally has become a firm favourite in this household. I love his quirky character.  The delightful drawings bring great joy to children as they search and search for him , hidden in all kinds of situations.


http://www.findwaldo.com/

The official web site offers some more information and fun!!

The Code of Silence

 From the Mother of Boys link..... check this out!!!

Code of Silence: A Great Boy Book

Related posts:

• Classic books: an ingredient for boy-building

On death in childrens books by Jay Heale

SACBIP - Jay's monthly article

Home grown children's author Trudi Franke

I was just thinking back to when I first had the thought to write a story. My oldest son was stumped by an issue at pre-school. It was a personal issue which teetered dangerously on becoming a self-esteem issue and I knew if I didn't find the right way to deal with it - on a sensitive but positive level - it could well become one of those issues that could impact negatively in the future. A growth point versus a stumbling block.

I believe, to be effective as a parent is to be "tuned in" to who your child is. Communication is a way we tune in. There are two levels of communication we use as parents. The kind of general communication like "go and brush your teeth" which deals more with the physical well being of a child and then the more intimate level of communication, which touches on their emotional needs. It deals with the mushy stuff, like feelings or the complex issues of faith, self belief and self esteem.

It's easy to communicate on a general level but not always easy on a personal level. Our lives are busy. Taking time to communicate on a more intimate level means making a real effort.

It comes with the responsibility of not inflating an issue but rather nudging your child towards finding a positive means to understand it.

Effective parenting is not always about delivering a solution - my son's would call that a lecture - but rather encouraging a child to find a solution for themselves. Children love positives and so helping them to find positive solutions is a way of teaching them about coping positively with all life issues.

So I wrote these stories to develop my children as individuals. These simple little stories became as a way of introducing an issue, then revealing a solution without me speaking about it directly. It gave my children the opportunity to "discover" a solution for themselves and by doing that helped them work through it and move on. Call it shrewd parenting but it worked.

I also wrote these stories for the future. For those tumultuous teenage years. By developing a more personal and communicative relationship we were able to develop something even more important - TRUST. In the teenage years, trust becomes, by far, the BIGGEST issue. Having a strong, trusting relationship with your young adult, as they try out the world means you both stand on more solid ground. I'm there now, my first child is at that point and I can honestly say all the hard work has been worth it. Happy reading, happy nudging and happy parenting.

Trudi

The White Girrafe book review by Holly

Holly is 10 and she has written to us about a book she loved. Thank you for sharing your good read with us :)

The White Giraffe

By Lauren St John

This is a brilliant book about an 11 year old girl. When her parents die she has to move to a South African game reserve where her grandmother lives. When she gets there she makes a strange new friend, discovers she has a special talent and saves her friend.

I like this book because it is set in South Africa, it is full of mystery and because they are so many animals in it!

I have read some of this author's other books and they are also very good!

By Holly Marsden (10 years old)

Heaven for Kids by R.Alcorn

If you are a christian parent and you would like a book that answers some interesting questions about Heaven for kids , then this is your book. Randy Alcorn is a good writer and he sets this book out with questions and answers about Heaven. I have been reading it with our 12 year old and our 10 year old as a kind of spring board for clarifying ideas and questions and for discussing all sorts of good things. I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing this book with them and been thrilled at how God is using it to answer some tough questions. I recommend this book.

Why do kids like to and need to read books about good and evil?

 In answering the question about good and evil in children's books, I came across this perspective. Have a read and share your thoughts.


School of Education at Johns Hopkins University-Understanding Good and Evil in Children's Literature

Rosie The Hen by Pat Hutchins

 Rosie the hen goes for a walk around the farm and on her little walk she is followed by a mischievous fox who longs to catch her. Each attempt on the fox's behalf ends in a disaster. A humorous little book  and must good read. Enjoy!



母鸡罗丝去散步 Rosie's Walk - YouTube