Build It - They'll Come

Apologies for the blogging hiatus (understatement), but now that we're in to the depths of summer, it is impossible not to be blissfully swept away into the world of children's literature yet again.  With the lists from The Storyteller's Summer Reading Club in the house, we are all surrounded by new and wonderful finds and I am reminded again that yes, there is a limit to the number of books that public libraries let you check out.

When it comes to summer reading and book borrowing, more is always better and the maxim "Everything in moderation" goes out the window for a solid three months around here.  Following the advice of children's literature aficionado Donalyn Miller (aka, The Book Whisperer), books are literally everywhere in our house and we are back to consistently listening to Books on CD in the car as well.  We've adopted one of Miller's suggestions for teachers and created a spot in the house to showcase new books for the week, and much to my surprise, even my somewhat-reluctant-to-be-second-grader-who-only-likes-sports-books has been spotted plucking a book or two from the window ledge to give them a read.

I believe Miller, if you build a culture of books, the reading will come.

Here's our current crop:

Family read aloud:  The Candymakers by Wendy Mass
Recent favorite book on CD: The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

Picture Ogler/Pre-Reader's current selection: Pete's Party by Jon Scieszka, David Shannon, David Gordon, and Loren Long
Reluctant-to-be-Second-Grader's current selection: The Journey that Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey by Louise Borden
Avid-Upper-Elementary's current selection:  No Such Thing as Dragons by Philip Reeve

Other summer dabblings that we've enjoyed:
Weird But True by National Geographic
Willoughby & the Lion by Greg E. Foley
Extra Credit by Andrew Clements

So what are you reading and loving this summer?

Fresh Start, New Books

Over at Choice Literacy last week, they featured an article by LiteracyHead about books that could be used  to kick off the new school year called "Books with Overlooked Potential for Launching the School Year (And Ideas for Using Them with Students)."  As with so much of what LP Reads comes across, what can happen in the classroom around reading can also very easily happen in our homes.  Be sure to check out the article for the full description of each title, but here's a quick glimpse at a few of our favorites:


Giant Steps to Change the World by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee


The Three Questions by John Muth


and I Know Here by Laurel Croza


As noted in the article, this triumvirate is a rich grouping for talking with your kids about what they love about their life now and what they want to be doing in the future.  Muth's book (a retelling of a Tolstoy short story) asks how do we make sure that we are being a good person and that the life we are leading is a good one?  How do we know we are making the right decisions?  Couple these question with some amazing illustrations (art really) and you've got a a powerhouse way to start the new year ala children's literature.   I never cease to be amazed at how children's authors and illustrators so gracefully tackle some of life's great questions in a simple 32 pages.

Be sure to head over to Choice Literacy to see their additional recommendations and if you aren't able to find these titles in our local libraries (I know Here and Giant Steps to Change the World are not there), I am certain that The Storyteller in Lafayette has or can get them for you.

Welcome to the new school year -- enjoy this fresh start!

Summer Reading at The Storyteller in Lafayette

If you've heard the very true (and not so nice) adage about kids getting "Dumber in Summer," you might already be thinking about your summer plans for helping stem the tide ... you know, the tide that seems to carry out of their brains everything that the teachers and you worked so hard to put in to them this past year? Whether it's practicing math facts, spelling words, or reading, there is a ton that parents can do, but wouldn't it be great to have a trusted resource to help guide you a little?

Enter The Storyteller in Lafayette.  When it comes to children's literature, The Storyteller is a fantastic local resource and their summer reading program helps parents take a bit of the guess work out of what children should or could be reading.  Their tailored reading lists have a mix of genres and the books are updated from year to year, so even if you did the program last year, there will be new books to explore this summer.

This morning I received the below email from Melissa Manlove at The Storyteller, which tells you more about their program and I highly recommend it.

Summer Reading Program!

KICK-OFF DAY IS June 1st STARTING AT 9:30am! REGISTRATION is open from   June 1st to June 30th

OUR PHILOSOPHY: Reading is important. Reading should be fun. One of the most important steps in raising a reader is creating a comfort zone.  Children will only become good readers through a long habit of reading, and this habit is only built through enjoying and being comfortable in the experience of reading.

HOW DOES IT WORK? First, we talk to your child about what he/she has been reading and enjoying.  Together, we decide on a reading list and an achievable number of pages to read over the summer. Every reading list is designed to offer breadth in reading difficulty and subject material. Every staff member at the Storyteller can personally address any concerns and tailor the program to your child's needs. During the summer, the Storyteller will send your child postcards of encouragement and reminders about the deadlines.

HOW DO WE SIGN UP? Come to our kick-off day: Wednesday, June 1st (starting at 9:30am).  Or come down to the Storyteller anytime during our registration period:  June 1st through June 30th.    Registration hours are 9:30 am to 5:00 pm Mon-Sat. Children must sign up in person with an adult. Please allow 20 minutes per child for registration. Participation in the program costs $20, and includes a discount on reading program books.  Those who complete the program receive an invitation to our popular end-of-summer party and a golden Summer Reader Riches certificate worth $15 of store merchandise.