Farewell!

I hope you are all enjoying your summer break and are reading every day! The West Allis public library's summer reading program is exciting and full of great activities on a weekly basis to keep you coming to the library frequently. I want to let you all know that in the fall, I will be transferring to Franklin Elementary School in West Allis. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a Jefferson bear for the past 6 years and have enjoyed working with so many of the wonderful families at Jefferson. I wish you all the very best. Keep in touch (and keep reading!) ~Mrs. K

3 Essentials to Get Kids Reading Over the Summer

3 Essentials to Get Kids Reading Over the Summer by Melissa Taylor Summertime is almost upon us. It is important that your child continues to read over the summer-even if it is just for a few minutes each day. I found this article that I hope you find interesting and that gives you some good ideas about how to keep your child reading over the summer. from:(http://imaginationsoup.net/2013/06/3-essentials-to-get-kids-reading-over-the-summer/) “Mom, I don’t have anything to do. I’m bored,” whines my child. Again. (As if anything I’m going to tell her do, she’ll do, ’cause we all know that ain’t happening.) Generally, I tell her the same thing every time she whines: “Read a book. Books beat boredom.” (Yes, I stole it from a Mo Willems book. Do you know which one?) Or, I’ll say, “That’s fantastic news! Boredom is an opportunity for creativity.” Which gets a groan and an eye-rolled, “Mommmmmm” response. Both my kids think I’m nuts. (mwhahahahahaaaa . . . little do they know!) Most summers, it’s my job as mom to turn into an inspired sales genius with one goal in mind – to sell reading so my kids get into good reading habits. Goal: My kids choose a book on their own and sit down to read for hours. Or at least 30 minutes. My “Books Are Cool” Sales Process 1. Book-palooza!! Kids Need to Pick Out Books. Yesterday, we set a new money-spent-record at the bookstore. Gulp. I shouldn’t even tell you but it was well over $300. There’s something magical about mom taking you to the bookstore where you can pick all the books you want to read. (Magically expensive. But worth it.) Of course we do visit the library weekly, and it’s much more economical. 2. Cozy Reading Space. Kids LOVE a Cozy Book Nook. This doesn’t have to be fancy but it does need to involve the kids. Find a corner – those work best. Let your child add pillows, lamps, books, stuffed animals, a headlamp or flashlight, and create a special space. In my next post, I’ll give you more details on how to make an enticing book nook with help from Pottery Barn Kids. 3. Down Time. Kids Need Margins Just Like We Do. We all need unscheduled time to rest and relax. Kids especially. Remember to make time during the day for rest and reading. What If They Don’t Like Any Books? Kids need books they’re interested in. Sometimes it’s a challenge to find one or ten books your kids want to read. Which is why I love reviewing and sharing good books. See if any of these lists will keep you in good books this summer. Time, Space, and Books.

Raise Children Who Read For Fun

With the weather warming up, your child may be hesitant to stay inside and read. However, it is just as important to continue a routine of reading each night even when the school year is winding down so that children can see just how important (and fun!) reading can be, at any time of the year! I found this article from Scholastic that gives you some tips on how to do just that: by: Allison McDonald I love reading. I take books with me everywhere -- in a bath, on the treadmill, and in the car while my kids have sports practices. I am the type of reader I hope my children will grow up to be. Reading doesn't just come easy for me, it is also a refuge. It feeds my curiosity, it lets me escape, and it is a way for me to connect with others. I want all these things for my children and have a 10-part plan to help them develop into readers who read for fun. 1. Make reading a part of their daily routine. Find a time every single day to read to them and stick with it. It will just be something they always do. 2. Fill the home environment with reading. Books, magazines, comics, reference materials… have it available. Watch movies that are based on books, buy toys that are characters from books, tell stories using your favorite characters from books. 3. Make reading an event. Go to the library, go to the bookstore, and make it as exciting as going to the park or zoo. Make it an event, not something you slip in between errands. Make it fun! 4. Let them choose what they read. This one is hard for parents. This isn't the get-out-of-homework-reading pass. This is about letting them choose what they read for fun. Every family will have different books that are and aren't acceptable for them but within those boundaries, however wide they may be, let them choose what they read for fun. 5. Bite your tongue when your child reads things you do not love. There are plenty of books I don't love, but if my children are enjoying themselves reading I will bite my tongue. Be careful when you criticize reading material because what you intend as a criticism of the material a child can hear as a criticism of reading as a whole. 6. Make sure they see you read for fun. Practice what you preach. Make time to read for fun too. It doesn't have to be literature – there's nothing wrong with fluff. The important thing is that they see you getting pleasure from reading. 7. Bend rules when reading is involved. Many voracious readers were created after bedtime. Letting bedtimes slide if and only if they are reading is a great motivator once children are reading independently. When kids are younger the simple act of reading one more chapter with them, or choosing one extra picture book can send a great message. 8. Never force feed reading. Avoid using reading as a punishment. This can make a child who loves reading into a child who associates it with being in trouble. 9. When they find an irresistible book, help them find more just like it! When my son gets into a book series I reserve the next books at the library before he is done with the first. Having that next helping right there is such a great tool for keeping the momentum going. 10. If they are struggling, pay attention and advocate on their behalf. Learning disabilities like dyslexia, behavioral issues, and even emotional upsets can contribute to reluctant or struggling readers. If you think that your child may have more than a lack of interest and be struggling with reading, talk to your child's classroom teacher and/or pediatrician. They will be able to help you find the right interventions and help for your child. After you figure out the issue, you can get back to reading for fun. Not every child will turn into an adult who reads for fun. Parents can follow every step here and still have a child who prefers the outdoors, likes music more than stories, or just doesn't find the act of reading enjoyable. But as a parent, I know that I want to create the strongest foundation for my children and these steps are the foundation for raising readers who will read for fun. (http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogs/scholastic-parents-raise-reader/raise-children-who-read-fun)

What to Do When Your Child Can't Remember What He Reads

by Amy Mascott Does the following scenario sound familiar? Your child seems like he's doing fine with reading. Give him a textbook at any level and he can read the words on the page with what sounds like absolute fluency. He follows the marks of punctuation, and reads with enunciation, enthusiasm, even expression. He can read surprisingly difficult words—anything you put in front of him. But ask him a question about what he read, and he has no idea. He cannot remember what he just read. Reading is a lot of work—a lot of continuous work—and sometimes children need reminders of how to make sure their brain is "turned on" for all aspects of reading. Here are some things you can do to help your child remember what he reads. First and foremost, if you notice this is happening with your school-aged child, please talk to his or her teacher. Email, write a note, or schedule a time when you can sit down with the teacher and express your concerns that your child is not remembering what he reads. The teacher should be able to support your child in the classroom while you support him or her at home. Children's success in school is a true team effort. If it seems that your child forgets what he's read only occasionally and you want to help guide him in the right direction for better comprehension, then grab a pack of sticky notes. That's right. Sticky notes. When a child can't remember what he read, he's not truly comprehending what he read. He's not interacting with the text and is instead just moving on through, plowing forward. You want him to interact with the text by stopping every few minutes to "check in." Assign a "job" to each color of the sticky notes. Pink notes will show excitement, yellow will carry a question, and green will mean complete comprehension. Or, if you don't have colors, you can use one-color notes and write an explanation point, a question mark, or a smiley face on them. After every page or two that the child reads, he should "check in" by assessing what he just read. He should ask himself: • Do I understand what I just read? • Am I surprised about something I read? • What questions do I have about what I just read? After he asks himself these questions, he should mark the page with the appropriate sticky note. If he has a specific question, he can write it on the note. That's it. And then he moves on. By giving kids a small focus and a reason to interact with the text, they're more likely to remember what they read because of the continual "check in" of their understanding. Soon the "check in" will become habitual—we hope—and he won't need the sticky notes. Until then, stock up on the sticky notes, parents! (from: http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogs/scholastic-parents-raise-reader/what-to-do-when-your-child-cant-remember-what-he-reads)

I Hate Reading!

If you hear your child say, "I Hate Reading", what can you do to help? I found this great article by Allison McDonald on the website http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogs/scholastic-parents-raise-reader/i-hate-reading?cid=PAR/smd/20140724/pinterest/rrblogihatereading//PAR/content/9am that might give you some tips to help you out if you do hear them say this: "No parent wants to hear, "Mom, I hate reading." But in all likelihood, at some point many of us will hear it from one of our children. A few months ago, my son told me, "Reading is just something I am good at, not something I like." I am pretty sure the sound of my heart breaking could have been heard from miles away. What are our kids really saying when they tell us they hate reading? 1. It's hard. Yes, reading is tough. Reading the wrong material is even tougher. As parents, if this is what your child means when he says he hates reading, your job is to find the right level of material for him to read. 2. I'm really struggling. It's hard to ask for help, and children want to please their parents. Reading is something children see adults do easily, and they may feel ashamed to tell their parents they can't do it. It's simpler to refuse to do it because they hate it than to say, "I can't." It may be confidence, it may be some letter sounds that they need to practice, or it may be something much deeper than that. If you suspect your child may have a learning disability that is hampering her reading, talk to your child's teacher or pediatrician who can point you towards the proper local agency to have her tested. 3. It's boring. In college, I had a textbook that was so boring I had to sit on the floor with my back against a cinderblock wall so that when I nodded off I would hit my head against the wall and wake up. Sometimes reading is boring, but it doesn't have to be for our kids...not yet, anyway. Ask him what makes it boring. As a team, take time to find him the right things to read. Maybe you skip the novels and dive into comic books, or forget fiction and read books filled with facts. Make it your mission to find interesting things for him to read. 4. I'd rather be outside/online/at a friend's house. Sometimes it's a matter of shifting schedules to get kids to read for fun. No one thinks that something is fun when they are forced to do it. "Stop bothering your sister, go up to your room, and read!" doesn't sound like a treat. Staying up "past" her bedtime to read is a wonderful way to get reading in without making it compete with other activities. More than one voracious reader was created between being tucked in and lights out. As parents we need to open up our minds to what a child who is reading looks like. Reading for many of us means reading a novel, but children can read so many other things. Before we decide that our kids really do hate reading, take time to see if what they are saying is: It's hard, I'm struggling, I'm bored, or I'd rather be outside. So what was my son saying when he told me he hated reading? "I'm bored of these early chapter book mysteries." I sat back and thought about what I was offering him to read and we switched it up together. Books full of wacky facts, Pokemon reference books, and sports magazines are his favorite things to read now, and I haven't heard a peep about him hating to read since!"

20 minutes of reading

Research shows that when children read or are read to at least 20 minutes per day, their oral and written vocabulary increases along with their knowledge of different topics. As busy parents, I know that it is hard to find times to fit these 20 minutes into our day. The list below shares ideas on how you can find time for those 20 minutes of important reading time! How Do I Get My 20 Minutes? • Read during snack time • Keep a few books in the car • Make a set time to read aloud to your child􀂊 even if its for 5 minutes! • Add reading into transitions􀂊reading while you clean up lunch or finish getting ready to leave • Read everything! Signs, food boxes, magazines, etc. • Keep books by their bed • Have a set time for your child to read quietly to themselves • Play reading games􀂊hangman, Brain Quest, etc. • Read while you wait at a restaurant or doctor’s office. • Listen to stories online. Try Storyline Online! • Read activity books, such as cookbooks for kids or Klutz books. ©Lindy Cranfill

Keep reading!

With spring break right around the corner, I wanted to encourage all of our hard working Jefferson bears to continue reading each night...and even over school breaks! I often tell the students that, just like baseball and basketball players have to practice every day to get better, in order to become a better reader, the students need to practice every single day! As a parent with a busy household, I understand how difficult it can be to fit reading into an already jam-packed day...even during school breaks. The following article from www.rif.org gives some great ideas on how for reading into your family's day: Advice & Tips: Incorporating Reading Into Everyday Life It’s hard to find time as a family to sit down and read. Just dealing with every day life — school, work, sports and activities, chores, and friends — can leave barely enough time to get everything done, let alone read a book. However, a busy schedule can include time to read, even if there isn't time to read an entire book. Read on for some tips on sneaking reading into your daily routine. Morning If your family eats breakfast at the table, divide up the newspaper so everyone can read their favorite section. If your children are young or find it hard to eat and read, read aloud headlines and stories to them as they munch. Many families eat breakfast on the go. If this sounds familiar, then encourage your children to read the back of the cereal box as they pour or the packaging on their food wrappers. No matter how your children get to school — on foot, on the bus, or in a car — there are ways to get some quick reading in. Walkers can listen to a chapter of an audio book on a Walkman. Kids who ride the bus or are driven can read a magazine or comic book. This reading can be quick and fun, since kids have little time and a school day to face. Afternoon Serve your children their after-school snacks in a space that’s designated just for reading. Let them choose a light-hearted book, magazine, comic book, or catalogue as they eat and unwind from the school day. On the way to sports practice or other after-school activities, read out street signs, billboards, or storefront signs. Or have your child read aloud to you in the car as you drive. While cooking dinner, read aloud the recipe. Have your child read a story to you, including ones that he or she has written. As dinner cooks, sit down and read a chapter of a book together. While you’re adding ingredients or setting the table, begin telling a story together, taking turns adding the next part. Movies and TV time Before turning on the TV or a video game, spend 15 minutes reading together. This could be something short or a chapter of a longer book that you read everyday. Continuing stories could keep kids interested day-to-day. Mute the TV during commercials and read short snippets of articles or comic books until the show comes back on. Buy or borrow books on video games tips or tricks. Have your child read it for 10 minutes before starting a video game. If your TV allows for closed-captioning, turn it on and encourage your children to read along with the text. When you get a movie a few minutes early, read aloud the ads that show up on the screen before the previews. Have your child read to you as much of the ad as possible before the next one shows up. Evening/Bedtime After dinner, take your dessert into another room and read aloud. This can become an after-dinner ritual for the family. Too tired to read aloud? Then get the family together in the living room and put on a book-on-tape for 15 minutes. After an intense homework session, take 10 minutes to read a silly humor book or comic book. Read aloud in the bath — either you or your children can do the reading. Turn off the TV a half-hour early and read one chapter of a book.

Read Across America

This week we are celebrating the great children's book author, Theodor Geisl, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss books are filled with rhyming words, silly story lines, and colorful illustrations. Children of all ages can enjoy hearing these books read aloud (some of the words are so silly that even adults have to take a second glance at them in order to read the text correctly!) and also reading the simple, repetitive texts to themselves. The following tips for reading with your children come from: http://www.seussville.com/Parents/tips_reading_child.php Developing a love for reading begins at home, and Dr. Seuss’s words and pictures will make it fun for you and your child. Get started with the tips below. Pick a comfortable spot to read in - one with plenty of light. Make it a routine - whether it's right before the breakfast, or right before bed, set aside a special time every day. Give lots of encouragement! Read the words aloud to your child. Point to the pictures. Say the words together. Laugh with your child. It's never too early. Reading can be a bonding activity for you and your new baby. Introduce reading in the very beginning, keep books in the nursery and have your books out for baby and toddler to see! The fun continues after the last page! When you finish a story, ask your child about his/her favorite passages, characters, and illustrations. Imagine that! Encourage your child to make up another character that might appear in the book. What would it look like? What would it say? What would you call it? Letters and words are here, there, and everywhere! Dr. Seuss was a master of words, real and imagined. When you’re driving with your child along a familiar route, read the signs aloud. Make your next trip to the grocery store an interactive one—read the names of food items aloud with your child. Make up new ones! Age ranges on Dr. Seuss series are simply a guide that will get you started. Once you see what your child is comfortable with, pick new books as necessary.

What to say when kids make reading mistakes...without giving them the answers!

another resource from teachmama.com to help our little ones learn while they play. . . Please note: This is just a starting point, not to be used on every child in every situation. But it’s a place to begin for parents so that we’re not just ‘giving’ kids the words that they’re stuck on during read-alouds and we’re not just correcting kids in the middle of their reading. Any one of these ideas can be used alone or along with the others while listening to an emerging reader in action! When kids won’t even try to sound out a word or they won’t budge, say: • Think about the letters you recognize and the sounds they make. What sound does this letter make (point to first letter)? Let me hear you make the sound. Now what sound does this letter make (point to second letter)? Let’s put the sounds together. . . o This works for words with letter-sound patterns that are familiar or decodable to the child. • Look at the letters you know in the word and the picture on the page. The picture is here to help you. Think about the sound this letter makes (point to first letter of word) and what you see in the picture. . . • Think about what’s going on in this story. You just read, (read previous line). Look at the picture, look at the word, and think about what might happen next. • Skip the word you don’t know and move to the next word you can read. o Sometimes this will get the wheels turning and kids will go back to ‘selfcorrect’ and re-read this word; sometimes they won’t, and that’s okay. • You might not recognize this word, but I know you know this word (cover the first letter and let him read the part he knows—at from ‘bat’). Think what to say when kids make reading mistakes …without giving them the answers! another resource from teachmama.com to help our little ones learn while they play. . . about the sound that ‘b’ makes, put the sounds together, and you’ll have it! • You just read this word on the previous page, and you read it correctly. Use your detective eyes, find the word on the other page, and see if that helps. When a child makes an error on a page and moves right on by like nothing happened, even if what she read makes no sense: • Let her go! Don’t interrupt mid-reading; instead consider saying at the end of the sentence, phrase, or paragraph: o Are you correct? o Read it again and check closely. o Can you find the tricky part? o It’s in this line. o I’ll point it out and help you find it. • Use this prompt occasionally even when your child reads the words correctly! That way she’ll get in the habit of self-monitoring while she’s reading. • Use the above prompts in this order—it’s important that you give her an open-ended question (Are you correct?) initially so that she goes back and checks her reading without your help!

Kindergarteners begin to read!

Now that we are in the third quarter of school, I have begun working with the kindergarten students on a variety of skills to guide them to be readers. For the students that are learning to recognize the names of letters, I work with them on the skills below which are skills you can also work with them on at home: -sing the alphabet song daily, pointing to the letters as you sing them -teach the child the letters of his/her name -match upper case to lower case letters using letters written on cards -hunt for letters in books-example: "can you point to all of the w's on this page?" For students who are learning to match letters to their sounds, I have found the following activities to be helpful: -read abc books, find pictures that correlate with each letter -make your own abc book. Find pictures in magazines that begin with each letter, cut them out, and have your child practice reading their book! -write letters on cards, hold the cards up and ask the child to make that letter's sound And finally, for those students ready to read, here are some strategies to encourage them to do just that! -read to your child! This will instill a love of reading, a model of fluent reading, and is great binding time! -ask questions to develop vocabulary and comprehension -look for letters on signs, in magazines, on cereal boxes...all around you! Ask your child to say the first sound in these words and then tell you what they think the signs might be telling you (for example: stop is telling you to stop) Overall, my focus for these wonderful Jefferson bears is to expose them at a variety of books and to teach them how exciting reading can be! If you have any questions or need any other tips on helping your child to further develop their reading skills, I'd be happy to help! :)

Helping your child connect to the texts they read

Often one of the reasons our kids aren't willing to finish a book is because they say, "It's boring! I can't understand it. The characters are strange. It doesn't mean anything to me." But perhaps one of the reasons our kids aren't into the book is because they aren't connecting properly. Or connecting at all. When readers make connections to the texts they read, they're more likely to understand what they read, remember what they read, and enjoy what they read. It's a fact. Though it sounds like helping kids make connections to their texts is complicated and involved, it's really not. Strong readers make connections every time they read, and they do it without batting an eye. Connecting is natural and habitual for strong readers. They connect to characters and events in texts; they connect to settings, themes, and messages in texts. There are three main ways that readers make connections to texts: they make connections between the text and themselves or their own life; they make connections between the text and another text they've read; they make connections between the text and what they know about the world around them. How do we bring this connection stuff home for our kids? How do we gently urge them into making connections so that they become stronger readers? Simple. Whether they like the book or not isn't relevant. You can initiate the connection conversation any time you'd like, any day of the week. Consider using the following phrases to help your kids make text-to-self connections with what they read: Oh, it looks like Arthur is really trying hard to train his pet, Pal. What kinds of things do you remember doing to help us train Brady? Hey! Chrysanthemum loves her name now just like you love your special name. Harry is so nervous for his first day at Hogwarts. I know you felt just as nervous when you started your new school. The following ideas will help your child make text-to-text connections: Wow! We just read a book that took place in France like this book does. Can you remember the title? Oh boy. Brother and Sister Bear are not doing a good job of taking care of their things. Think back to the book that Nanny read you this weekend. Who else did you read about who was having a hard time being responsible? What did we read about in "Time: for Kids" last month about bats? Where do they find most of their food? And helping your children make text-to-world connections will also help them become stronger readers: What do you remember about how people get around in big cities? Can you imagine how it might feel for Trixie to live in her New York City apartment? This dog looks so much like President Obama's dog, Bo. What ways are they alike? Remember how some towns require that people recycle with those big blue bins? Looks like they're doing kind of the same thing in this book. Connections are easy once you get started, and your kids will love to share with you the connections they make on their own! (From:http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogs/scholastic-parents-raise-reader/help-your-kids-connect-to-books-they-read)

What to say when your child doesn't know a word...

We are winding down the first semester of school and our Jefferson Bear readers are becoming more independent in their reading each day. However, there are still opportunities for parents to help out when your child gets stuck on a tricky word. The article below gives some handy tips on how you can help without having your child become to reliant on you for reading their take-home books:
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Reading Strategies for Unknown Words
Please take into consideration that the reading strategies you pick for your reader will totally depend on his reading development. For example, if a child is reading at a third grade level, the strategy of “look at the picture” may not be appropriate for him or the text he’s reading. At this point, he has most likely outgrown that strategy.

Think about the Meaning

Encourage readers to THINK about what they are reading. After all, reading=thinking! Here are some things you can say to help them do just that:

• What would make sense in the sentence?
• You read ________. Does that make sense?
• Look at the picture to help you read the word.
• Think about what is happening in the story right now.
• Go back to the beginning of that sentence and start it again.
• Skip over the word and continue reading until the end of the sentence. Now, go back to the beginning of the sentence and start again.

 Use Visual Clues from the Words

• Look at the first letter(s) of the word. Say the first sound(s).
• If the word is ____________, what would you expect to see at the beginning/middle/end of the word?
• Spell the word out loud. Look at each letter.
• We’ve seen that word before in this book. Let’s find it on the other page.
• Do you see a part of the word (word chunk) that you already know?
• Let’s cover up a part of the word and read the part we see. (For example, if the word is jumping, cover up the -ing)
• Sound it out. (This only works if the child has the word knowledge and/or strategies.)
• Do you see a prefix in the word that you know? (longer words)
• Do you see a suffix in the word that you know? (longer words)
• Can you break the word into syllables?

Relate it to Talking

• Does that sound right to you?
• Can you point to the word that sounded wrong?
• You read ______, is that how we say it?

 (from: http://thisreadingmama.com/strategies-for-unknown-words/#comment-24314)

30 Best Christmas Children's Books

 

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Sometimes, just before bed on the one magical Eve of the year, the perfect Christmas book can make for the perfect way to lull excited children off into the land of sugar plums and fairies. But they’re also great leading up to that special day, as well as the rest of December. Grab a cookie and read up!

The Mitten: When a little red mitten suddenly appears in the forest, all the animals aren’t quite sure that it is. They do realize that it’s rather cozy inside the mitten, so one by one, they crawl inside. The mitten keeps on stretching to include more animals—even a bear! How many of them will be able to fit in there? Available in paperback, hardcover, and as a board book to suit small hands. Jan Brett’s classic tale of a lost mitten is a joy for children everywhere, especially with her delightfully colorful and highly detailed illustrations. This story may easily become a family favorite.

The Polar Express: A book that quickly became a classic (and then a movie), it’s the story of one boy whose name we never learn as he steps onto a magical train that heads straight to the North Pole. It is there he meets Santa Claus himself and learns what it really means to believe. Chris Van Allsburg’s soft illustrations and sweet story have become a classic read during that time of the year. Every child will dream about getting the chance to hop onto the train and watch the stars and meet elves and of course, Santa Claus and his amazing reindeer. In fact, a few adults might dream of it too…

A Wish to Be a Christmas Tree: A small evergreen tree stands alone in the forest, wishing to be a beautifully decorated tree for the festive holiday season. Each animal tells the tree how special it is to them, and after they decorate it with things from the forest, it realizes that not being chosen may be the best thing after all. Good children’s christmas books like this one celebrate the bonds of friendship in times of sadness. A positive book with a heartwarming story. Some children may be surprised when they finally notice that the trees have faces, as they are so well crafted into the shapes of the trees.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Everyone in Whoville celebrates the holiday season with joy and happiness, toys and feasting. Except the Grinch. His heart happens to be two sizes too small, and he’s less than excited about the coming festival. So what does he do? On the eve of the big day, he dresses as Santa and steals Christmas! Or does he? This is a classic tale by Dr. Seuss that children and adults have come to love throughout the years. Through the prickly old Grinch, Dr. Seuss shows everyone what that special time of the season really means, and it’s much more than presents and food.

God Gave Us Christmas: Cozying up the night before with a good selection of Christmas childrens books and a cup of hot chocolate always makes for a wonderful time. Now kids and adults can thank God by reading this title by Lisa Tawn Bergren and illustrator David Hohn. A book meant for infants and children in preschool, a mama polar bear and her cub go through a series of simple questions and answers, the two reveal the true meaning behind that most special day of the year. A great book for parents looking to teach their children about God and why we celebrate December 25th.

Dream Snow: Eric Carle is well known for his popular books featuring caterpillars and brown bears. But what about snow? He has one for snow too! Now children can read about a farmer who works hard all day, caring for his animals and then going home to relax. One night he dreams about everything being covered in snow, and when he wakes up he finds that his dream has come true. The bright collage-like illustrations will catch readers’ imaginations and young children will be excited to push the button at the end of the story, which plays a happy little tune perfect for the celebration.

The Sweet Smell of Christmas: Mmm—the holidays certainly smell delicious! Little Bear knows that magical day of the year is almost upon them because of all the amazing scents floating in the air. From soft gingerbread men to sweet mint candy, there are so many smells to accompany the festivities; it’s hard to choose a favorite! Even if parents don’t make gingerbread cookies, readers can still smell them. The book contains six different scratch-and-sniff scents, so kids can interact with the story and smell some of the things that Little Bear smells. Parents might even bring in a few real scents to add to the fun—like candy canes and pine needles!

Bear Stays Up for Christmas: Fans of Bear and all his friends will love children’s Christmas books that feature them. Bears snooze all through winter, but the other animals of the forest want Bear to experience the joy of the holiday season. So they wake him up! For the first time, Bear stays awake and gets to bake sweets, hang stockings, and enjoy the company of all his friends. When everyone else finally falls asleep, Bear plans a special surprise of his own. The soft pictures of a big bear and all his woodland friends are certain to be a favorite with newcomers to Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman’s creations.

Christmas Remembered: Bringing his own experiences with festivities to children’s bedrooms, Tomie dePaola illustrates fifteen different memories, each one at a different time in his life. People can see how he celebrated as a child, as a teenager, and finally as an adult. From hanging stockings to feasting with friends, each memory is unique and pulled together with his signature illustrative style, using simple shapes, colors, and a collage-like approach to pull it all together. Half autobiographical for interested adults and half entertainment for young children, Tomie dePaola’s book is likely to become a quick addition to any book collection.

Santa Claus: Christmas childrens books can remind kids that Santa knows when you are sleeping and when you are awake. But few actually know what goes on in his workshop and how his reindeer are taken care of. Rod Green divulges everything on Santa Claus, from his massive mail room to how his sleigh works. Children will be fascinated with his rendition of the North Pole, and possibly even more so with the amazing illustrations by Simon Danaher and Jon Lucas. The color and detail will captivate children as they gobble up information about Santa, the elves, the reindeer, and so much more!

Nightmare Before Christmas: For children and adults looking for a different flavor when it comes to children’s Christmas books, this title should give you exactly what you are looking for. This title is based upon the popular movie by Tim Burton which puts a scary twist on the holidays. Jack Skellington is all about making Halloween spooky and fun. But after one more successful Halloween night, he starts thinking about other celebrations. When he discovers Santa Claus and the magic of presents and decorated trees, he knows what he has to do next! With plenty of freakish presents and a skeleton dressed in Santa Claus clothes, it’s going to be a spooky holiday!

Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas: The lovable Fancy Nancy always parades around in the cutest things and has such a good time. Why should the season of giving be any different? When Nancy hears that it’s that time of year again, she’s more than ready. There are cookies to be made, presents to be wrapped, and a tree to be decorated. This year Nancy has bought a tree topper with her very own money. But will everything go smoothly? Will her holiday really be a splendiferous one? Jane O’Connor’s fun stories and text combined with Robin Preiss Glasser’s illustrations have become a huge hit with children all around, girls especially. Expect plenty of excitement when this title comes through the door at home.

Olive, the Other Reindeer: Many children already know Olive, a little dog with big aspirations. She’s having a good time during the celebrations, but when singing songs about reindeer, she things the line “All of the other reindeer” is actually, “Olive the other reindeer!” Convinced she must actually be a reindeer and not a dog, Olive sets out to become a part of Santa’s team, with surprising results. An uncanny story will lead to lots of giggles and great fun. Olive has been around for many years, and her enduring entertainment will make sure that she stays around for many, more—a treat for kids and parents alike.

The Christmas Miracle: Classic Christmas childrens books are always wonderful choices for the holiday season. This title by Susan Wojciechowski and illustrated by P.J. Lynch is about a man named Jonathan Toomey. He is the best woodcarver around, but has a sad past that no one knows about. When he gets a special request one year, it becomes a request that will change his life forever. The illustrations are truly opulent, echoing the woodcarver’s skills as each picture has a slightly etched feeling. Rich colors set the tone and the realism will have both parents and kids falling in love with them. A heartwarming tale with a miraculous ending.

The Teddy Bear: While not strictly a Christmas book, its sentiments echo that of the giving season. A little boy loses his beloved bear one day, which is then found by a homeless man. When the boy discovers his favorite toy once more, he is unable to part the man with the bear, and instead chooses to do something that will leave readers touched and hoping to give others the same compassion someday. David McPhail’s simple story of love and giving (even from the teddy bear’s point of view) is one that will endure in any family’s household for many years to come.

A Christmas Memory: A book by a man who most might not think of in the same vein as Christmas childrens books, Truman Capote brings his autobiographical story to the eyes of children. As a boy while growing up in Alabama, the holiday season is plenty of reason to celebrate, with such quotes as “It’s fruitcake weather!” and the loving bond between a young boy and an older woman as they share the joy of the season and each other’s company. It is an enduring tale that parents may remember from their childhood, and a story that children ages 9-12 will enjoy hearing every year.

Mr. Willoby’s Christmas Tree: Robert Barry’s simple tale of one man’s attempt to get a tree into his house. It’s a little big, so what will he do? The only answer is to snip off the top. But what happens to the top of the tree after that? Kids will have to read to find out what something as down-to-earth a top of a tree can provide during the giving season. Generations of children can enjoy this timeless tale. Some parents may even have memories of bringing home a tree that’s just too tall. Mr. Willoby can show everyone that it doesn’t always matter what you give, but the simple fact of giving can make all the difference.

Trouble with Trolls: Children’s Christmas books don’t always have to feature reindeer and Santa Claus. Sometimes they feature trolls! Jan Brett offers up a story not necessarily of the holiday variety, but more seasonal than anything, featuring characters that troop through heavy snow on mountaintops, wrapped up in warm clothing. The heroine Treva is out with her husky dog Tuffi when suddenly Tuffi is kidnapped by trolls. It’s up to Treva to face the trolls an rescue her beloved dog. Using old folk tale concepts, Brett provides beautiful illustration and an exciting story for any child aged 3 to 8.

How Murray Saved Christmas: Santa is suddenly knocked out by a Jack-in-the-Boxer (much more dangerous than the usual Jack-in-the-Box!). But with Santa out for the count, who will deliver the presents to all the girls and boys? Murray the deli owner! He isn’t quite sure what to do, but with an assertive elf to guide him and a little boy to believe in him, Murray is sure that he’ll be able to make miracles happen. A hilarious romp written by Mike Reiss and complete with wacky illustrations by David Catrow. One of those books that children will want read over and over while they roll over the bed with laughter.

Snowmen at Christmas: One cannot have Christmas childrens books without having a few that feature raucous snowmen! This cozy book by Caralyn and Mark Buehner (the creators of Snowmen at Night) are stuffed full of snowmen who come to life to celebrate the holiday season. Together, they have great times, caroling and even getting presents from Santa Claus himself! Snowmen certainly know how to party! Lyrical rhymes and exciting illustrations full of rich hues and expressive faces (even for snowmen!) will delight readers, young and old. In fact, after a few readings, both children and adults may not ever look at snowmen in quite the same way again.

Auntie Clause: Sophie has a unique aunt. Her last name happens to be Claus and she does a lot of peculiar things, such as serving holiday cookies year-round, she disappears for a so-called “business trip” during one certain time every year, and her tree looks fantastic every single time. What is it with Auntie Claus? This year, Sophie plans on finding out! Elise Primavera provides a cute and fun story about what it might be like to have an aunt actually related to Santa Claus. Whimsical illustrations provide a festive look at New York City, and some kids might guess who Auntie Claus is before Sophie does.

Olivia Helps with Christmas: Many favorite characters are featured in children’s Christmas books, and this time Olivia, everyone’s favorite pig is ready and set to help during the holidays. There is so much to do, from making cookies to opening presents. Olivia is ready to help with everything, but it’s a lot harder than she thought! Kids can join Olivia as she tries to make it the best celebration ever, and many might also be able to relate to her predicaments as she gets a little overzealous. Typical Olivia fashion, kids will enjoy the simple illustrations with a few dashes of color and a lot of heart.

The Little Fir Tree: Margaret Wise Brown is well known in the book world for her wonderful children’s stories, most notably Goodnight Moon. Here she pens a tale of a small fir tree, standing alone in a field. It’s one with is to be a part of the forest, or at least to be a part of something. One quiet night, a young boy and his family decorate the tree and it becomes something much more. Soft with snow, yet evoking feelings of warmth, the illustrations by Jim Lamarche delight and inspire. A good read when cozy in bed or with a cup of cocoa.

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: Ruthie and her mother set out to find the perfect tree for their home. There are so many trees to choose from, but there is one in particular they want to find. Years back, Ruthie’s father planted a little tree on a rocky cliff. While he’s away at war, Ruthie and her mother think this might be the perfect way to bring him home for the holidays. A sweet story by Gloria Houston, some kids may be able to relate to the idea of an absent parent during the holidays. Illustrations by the Caldecott Medal winner Barbara Cooney give life to a touching tale.

Mr. Christmas: Along with the other Mr. and Miss titles (such as Mr. Nonsense and Little Miss Chatterbox), is one friend for kids who is the embodiment of the holiday spirit. Santa actually gives him a call, requesting his help to deliver presents to all the Mr. Men. Amidst snow and cold, can he do it? A simple book for infants and preschoolers, it’s easy to understand and just as easy to enjoy. A great choice for teachers and parents alike, kid will quickly point out all the fun things in this book, including the fact that the hero looks surprisingly like a certain holiday tree.

Christmas Cookies: Christmas childrens books can occasionally have the power not only to tell a good story, but a sweet one! Each page is a morsel of joy as Amy Krouse Rosenthal helps to enhance children’s vocabulary even as they celebrate the seasons. Every page has a specific word on it with a definition. But the definitions aren’t dull and dry. Instead they’re filled with reason and real world meaning. For example, “Anticipation means I’ve been thinking all day about making the cookies.” Indeed, that is a perfect definition of anticipation for kids who love cookies! Done in with bright colors and full of holiday cheer, any book with cookies is a hit.

Mortimer’s Christmas Manger: Mortimer is a tiny mouse living in his cold little mousey hole. It’s not much fun, so he goes out looking for a new place to move in. Mortimer soon stumbles upon a nativity scene and decides that this could be quite a lovely place to stay. That is, until he discovers who he sharing his new house with when he hears humans outside telling the story of baby Jesus. Cute illustrations by Jane Chapman compliment the special story penned by Karma Wilson. The idea is straightforward, to tell children about the reason behind the holidays, but does so in a fun way that is unpretentious.

A Pussycat’s Christmas: Cats can celebrate too! Yet another cheery story from Margaret Wise Brown, parents and kids get to see the holidays from a cat’s point of view. The things he smells. The things he sees. He even plays in the snow and watches as people put up decorations. He knows that one special day will soon be upon everyone and is just as excited as everyone else. And no cat can resist shiny baubles! Brown uses her signature rhymes to make reading fun (or to lull sleepy children into dreams), while Anne Mortimer illustrates kitty bouncing around in the snow and sniffing up tasty scents.

A Pirate’s Night Before Christmas: Argh and shiver me timbers! Everyone can enjoy the magical season. Even pirates! Philip Yates brings a whole boatload of them into kids’ rooms, complete with presents, decorated trees, and good cheer. As colorful as any book can be (both in its illustrations as well as its snappy rhymes), these pirates get a visit not from Santa Claus, but from someone else who drives ahead of him giant seahorses! Tons of fun, the wackiness doesn’t seem to end. This title gives kids a break from the traditional stories of reindeer and Santa, and instead sends them onto the high seas for some crazy pirate antics!

Humphrey’s First Christmas: Who would ever think that children’s Christmas books could feature a camel? But indeed they can, as demonstrated by Carol Heyer. And why not? The three wise men rode in on camels as they transported gold, frankincense, and myrrh to baby Jesus. Humphrey is one of those camels, taking his rider to the special manger, and the story through his eyes. A unique take on the holiday spirit, Carol Heyer also does the illustrations, which will give children hours of fun, from big camel faces to the completely different setting—desert and no snow. It would be no surprise if this became a tale read every year, multiple times. (from: http://childrensbooksguide.com/featured/30-best-christmas-books) 

Reading at Home...Can Make a HUGE Difference!

Make Reading A Part Of Your Family Time!

Family time is so important… Why not make reading part of this valuable time with your kids?
Here are some tips for integrating reading into our daily family activities:

-Read bedtime stories

-Play a board game

-Visit your local library

-Read a recipe and cook something yummy together!

-Create a comfy reading space in your home.

-Put your child in charge of reading the grocery list at the store.

Choose Books That Are At An Appropriate Reading Level For Your Child

-Use the five finger rule. Open the book to any page and ask your child to read. Put up a finger every time your child does not know a word. If you have put up more than five fingers before the end of the page, this book is too hard for your child.

-Choose books that match your child’s likes and interests.

Keep plenty of reading materials in your home: books, magazines, newspapers, and comic books. Children enjoy having a variety of reading materials!
Read Books Online!
There are many fun and interactive websites for literacy.

Here are a few FREE online resources:

www.starfall.com

www.speakaboos.com

www.spellingcity.com

www.wegivebooks.org

http://interactivesites.weebly.com
How To Read With A Beginning Reader:
•Encourage your child to use his/her finger to point to each word.

•Read a sentence and have your child repeat it.

•Take turns reading a sentence each or a page each.

•Talk about the story as you read it. What do you think will happen next? What does this story remind you of? How do you think this character feels?

•Don’t be afraid to read the same book again! Repeated reading helps build reading fluency!

Check For Understanding
Start the book by making predictions. What do you think will happen in this story?

Ask questions and make comments duringthe reading process.

After reading a book, have your child tell you the events from the story in the correct order.

What was the problem in this story?

How did the character feel when…

Encourage your child to make connections. Does this story remind you of another book you read, an event in your life, a movie?


15-20 minutes is plenty for a beginning reader!
@ All Students Can SHINE 2014