The Willoughbys Nefariously Written & Ignominiously Illustrated by Lois Lowry Let me begin by saying sarcasm runs rampant through this house.   I loved this book, my daughter loved it, and my son loved it.  The characters were fun, the story was far-fetched, and it all came full circle.  It was a pleasure to read.  I read it in about a day – probably could have done it in one sitting, but having to be a parent really gets in the way (sarcasm).  Every night my daughter and I read a chapter, she wanted to read more.  When we finished, she took it to read on her own – she…

Holes by Louis Sachar I read this book when it first came out.  The librarian at the school where I taught  recommended it to me.  I loved it.  Of course, I didn’t have children yet, and to be honest, some of the children I worked with I expected to be in Juvenile Detention with 5 years!  I tried to convince my nephew to read it a few years ago, but he was more into the Sci-Fi books. I just finished rereading it.  I still loved it.  I couldn’t remember the way it had all come together.  So it was fun reading it again, knowing that something was going to happen,…

The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg. My friend, Brian, got me this book.  We were both in graduate school in NYC (he at Columbia, Teachers College, me at Bank Street)  He went to a book signing with E.L Konigsburg – I had just finished reading From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.  There is a reason E. L. Konigsburg was voted one of the 10 best authors (http://flavorwire.com/271020/the-10-best-authors-of-childrens-literature).  It was a present that I never expected.  Brian and I were best friends, he always made me laugh and made my time in NYC a lot of fun.  And, I have this beautiful book, signed by the…

We read several of the Little House series last year.  My daughter loved them.  She was studying colonial times in school, so this helped.  I must admit, they were a difficult read aloud.  There is not much dialogue, and lots of description.  I’m sure my daughter could read it on her own, but we chose to read it aloud together.  This year, my daughter has chosen Laura Ingalls Wilder to do a biography.  She is doing the research at school and needs to prepare a report to be given at the “Living Biography” party she will have in her classroom.  She has to dress like Laura Ingalls Wilder.  This past…

“For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.” ― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

The local Education Foundation in our town is having a read-a-thon to raise money for the schools.  Both of my children came home yesterday with pledge sheets.  The foundation is trying to get 100% participation, and I have seen signs all over town, so I feel like my children HAVE to do this.  I am a bit disappointed that the schools actually approved this.  Yes, it will get kids reading, but, for money.  Shouldn’t the reward be the reading of the book ?  Shouldn’t we be teaching our children that reading is a full experience on its own.  They shouldn’t have to ask for money just because they read a…

I picked up Maggie & Oliver or A Bone of One’s Own by Valerie Hobbs, illustrated by Jennifer Thermes, in the new book section at our library.  The story takes place in old time Boston.  Maggie is a little girl of 10 who works in the home of a rich lady.  After being too curious, and acting like a 10 year old, she is kicked out of the home, with only a bag of her things, including a heart-shaped locket.  Oliver is a dog who’s owner passed away and no one took him.  Now they are both living on the streets and their paths cross. I did enjoy this book…

http://publishingperspectives.com/2012/03/why-kids-illiteracy-is-more-complicated-than-it-appears/

 A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle I read this book as a child and remember loving it.  I saw it in the library and immediately picked it up.  This is one of the books on my ‘to be shared with my children list’  I was so excited to start reading it.  I had a few ‘I remember this’ moments, so it was like reading a new book.  Daughter, Meg, her brother, Charles Wallace, and their friend, Calvin, are sent to ‘the wrinkle’ or a tesseract to save their father. The book is filled with family drama, science, time travel, friendships, feelings.  It is a deep book.  I loved it.…