During the bleak, grey days of February, nothing is better than curling up with an enticing adventure/mystery book. The qualifications for a great mystery/adventure book are simple to describe but crazy difficult to create. First, it must be exciting and fast-paced. Second, the quickly moving plot must not exist at the expense of or detract… Read more »
Ann Jacobus
Librarian’s Corner: Books to Excite Reluctant Readers
Our guest, Janet Wanamaker, is a Reading Specialist in Wisconsin who works with struggling readers: In my work with children who struggle to learn to read, a book has to engage the reader. I was fortunate to experience the moment when a child who had struggled for years was matched with a break-through book. To… Read more »
Guest Librarian FAQ: How Do I Determine Which Books Are Right For My Child?
Earlier this week, I shared my reflections on helping parents determine whether a given book is appropriate for their child, based on both content and reading level. Here is a list of online resources I have found to be especially useful in assisting parents with questions regarding appropriateness: CommonSense Media’s Book Reviews The reviews on… Read more »
Guest Librarian FAQ: Is HARRY POTTER & THE GOBLET OF FIRE or THE LIGHTENING THIEF Okay for My Child to Read?
One of the most commonly asked questions I have encountered at the children’s reference desk is from parents wanting to know if a given book is appropriate for their child, based on his or her grade level. This could be a tricky question to answer, but over time, I have found ways of tackling it… Read more »
Make Them Laugh. Help Them Read.
It’s Humor month at ReaderKidZ, my favorite time of year! Funny books have great power with children, especially emerging or reluctant readers. If you can get them laughing, we think you’ve got them hooked. The idea that a group of letters, usually in concert with images, can kapow the funny bone and produce a laugh… Read more »
Snowflakes Fall
SNOWFLAKES FALL By Patricia MacLachlan, Illustrated by Steven Kellogg (Random House, 2013) In memory of the children who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, CT, December 2012 “After the Flowers are gone, snowflakes fall… no two the same,” during the first snow of winter. Then a storm comes where “wailing winds may blow,” and “frantic icy… Read more »
Stephanie Greene: Author Interview Part 2
Today is Part 2 of the ReaderKidZ interview (Find Part 1 HERE) with our own Stephanie Greene on the release of her latest in the Sophie Hartley series: Sophie Hartley and the Facts of Life. Greene manages to keep each of the books in all of her series fresh, funny and full of heart. In this story, Sophie’s… Read more »
