books

  • Manners Matter and Books Can Help!

    Manners matter.  They matter for both children and adults. And I don’t believe I’m the only one who feels this way.  Maybe those of us who have “lived a bit more life” feel strongly about this, but I do have… Continue reading

  • Building Book Interaction

    We know as parents and grandparents that reading to our kiddoes is good for them, and even good for us. But, sometimes we just can’t seem to get our kids to stay focused as we try to complete a story.… Continue reading

  • WHATEVER WORKS!

    How long should our reading time be? Whatever works for your family. How many books should we read? Whatever works for your family. When should we try to fit this into our schedule? Whenever works! If you’re trying to establish… Continue reading

  • WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS has a Place on Our Bookshelves

    Ten years after his children’s book The Giving Tree was published, Shel Silverstein’s editor Ursula Nordstrom (Harper & Row) convinced him to write a book of poetry. In 1974, Silverstein released Where the Sidewalk Ends, and dedicated it, “For Ursula.”  I am one of the… Continue reading

  • What Doesn’t Dolly Do?

    LINK to register for IMAGINATION LIBRARY When our first grandson was born, my lovely DIL, Ashley, told us about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. At first, I felt guilty about signing up, knowing that we had ample access to books and… Continue reading

  • Back to Books!

    Hello “fall” and ….back to school time! Summer is coming to an end and autumn is around the corner. Most of our kiddos are back to school, preschool, and some sort of routine. When I was teaching (now retired), I… Continue reading

  • What The Giving Tree Gives

    The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein moved me the first time I read it and then it spoke to me every single time thereafter.  Shel Silverstein was a brilliant author and poet who understood children.   Our young children listened to this… Continue reading

  • Follow the Breadcrumbs

    Reading time with our kids can lead to something even more special. Talking. We just have to follow the so-called breadcrumbs. I’ve started to recognize the real value of LISTENING over talking.  I’m working on this, intentionally.  And I wish I… Continue reading

  • Fiction and Non-fiction; Value in Both!

    When we think back upon the first stories that we start reading to our little ones, many of them are fiction.  Clifford, the adorable, big red dog isn’t real, Barney the purple dinosaur doesn’t exist, and the cat in the… Continue reading

  • Leading our Littles in Love

    Even toddlers can gravitate towards certain types of books. It’s interesting how kids at two or three years old tend to like certain topics or themes, almost innately.  My grandsons spend a lot of time playing with trucks, backhoes, excavators-… Continue reading

  • Bring Back a Book (from “vacay”)

    Summer has arrived and here in NC, many of us hope to spend a bit of time at the beach or on vacation.  Many of you may call this “the shore”- same thing- we like the whole vibe of those… Continue reading

  • Manners Matter and Books Can Help!

    Manners matter.  They matter for both children and adults. And I don’t believe I’m the only one who feels this way.  Maybe those of us who have “lived a bit more life” feel strongly about this, but I do have… Continue reading