Suggestions for family reading

Reading is great for minds.

Reading together is great for families!

So here are a few suggestions for great family reads.

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX, by Kate DiCamillo, is a wonderful little fairy tale story about a mouse who longs for adventure and ends up helping to rescue a human princess. But don't let the mention of the princess scare off the boys. This story is full of heroic deeds, dastardly rats, dark dungeons and, oh yes, SOUP!

Other beloved books by Kate DiCamillo are BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE, THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE, and THE MAGICIAN'S ELEPHANT.

The LITTLE HOUSE Books, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Who can forget these classics? Filled with adventure and family drama, these books are perfect for the family who wants to blend a good story with learning about life as a settler.

Some other series suggestions are THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, by C.S. Lewis; JUNIE B. JONES, by Barbara Park (for younger kids); PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS, by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson; and THE LORD OF THE RINGS, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Are you looking to generate some deep thinking or engaging discussion? THE GIVER, by Lois Lowry, is sure to give your kiddos' brains something to ponder. Set in a future dystopian society, THE GIVER is about a young boy who learns how much his society has given up in order to obtain equality and peace. But was it worth the sacrifice? You'll have to read it to find out!

Other thought-provoking and discussion-generating reads are THE CITY OF EMBER, by Jeanne DuPrau; ROAD TO PARIS, by Nikki Grimes; OUT OF MY MIND, by Sharon Draper; and SURVIVING THE APPLEWHITES, by Stephanie S. Tolan.


Of course, there are so many more wonderful books out there just waiting to be picked up and read by you and your kids. So, what are you waiting for? Grab one of these books and get reading!

Do you have a favorite book that deserves to be on this list? Let us know!

Explore Poetry!

April is National Poetry Month!

Exploring poetry with your children is a fabulous way to exercise their God-given noggins. For the young ones especially, rhyming poetry is one of the keys to becoming a successful reader. For older kiddos, reading and hearing (and writing!) poetry is a wonderful way to develop both written and oral language skills. Beyond that, poetry fuels the imagination; it forces our brains to think creatively, to see things differently.

Poetry uses imagery and language to capture an emotion. In children's poetry, this is often humor or a sense of wonder, but it can also be fear, pain, anger, sadness, etc.

People express emotion in some way every day. A person can say she's happy or sad or mad and get her point across. But a poem takes expressing emotion a step further. The goal of the poet is for the reader to experience the emotion with her!

Consider these lines from the poem, "The Troll," by Jack Prelutsky:

His blood is black and boiling hot,
he gurgles ghastly groans.
He'll cook you in his dinner pot,
your skin, your flesh, your bones.

This poem has it all. Rhyme, alliteration, vivid imagery, strong language--making it a scary poem that my daughter used to refuse to allow me to read to her!

No matter how old your children are, consider exploring poetry with them! Here are a few suggestions of poetry books to get you started:

IT'S RAINING PIGS AND NOODLES, by Jack Prelutsky
WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS, by Shell Silverstein
SPLASH! POEMS OF OUR WATERY WORLD, by Constance Levy
DOGKU, by Andrew Clements
SONG OF THE WATER BOATMAN, by Joyce Sidman
A MIRROR TO NATURE: POEMS ABOUT REFLECTION, by Jane Yolen

And, to encourage your children to try writing poems of their own:

READ A RHYME, WRITE A RHYME, by Jack Prelutsky

Have fun exploring poetry with your kids!