reading-matters
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A Rhythm of Reading
Routines can be GOOD. Routines can help us get things done, right? We have our morning routines to prepare for the day and our organizational routines to help us get ready for school or work. We may have routines for… Continue reading
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In the Beginning
The Jesus Storybook Bible In the beginning, God created. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. In the beginning of their lives, a foundation is laid for our children. In the beginning of understanding, we as parents,… Continue reading
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JESUS and Santa
Jesus and St. Nicholas have two very different stories. We have merged their separate stories into one holiday, Christmas, because of timing. Saint Nicholas was a generous man who helped those in need. He certainly practiced the loving kindness that… Continue reading
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Prepare Him Room
Our pastor’s sermon one Sunday last Christmas was titled PREPARE HIM ROOM. There was no “room” at the Inn, or anywhere in town, as Mary and Joseph entered into Bethlehem. As the Creator of the Universe entered into humanity, there… Continue reading
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A Job About JESUS
As parents of faith in this world, we have a job during Christmas. It’s our most important job, our responsibility, but in its true essence, it’s our privilege. We plan: we take pictures for a family card, we check addresses, we shop online… Continue reading
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THINKING THANKFULLY
The very first Thanksgiving took place in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Itwas a gathering of 52 English settlers and about 90 Wampanoag NativeAmericans, celebrating a successful harvest. Previously, many of the Englishsettlers had perished due to cold and hunger, and… Continue reading
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Books Can Set the Tone in the Home
In literature, “tone” refers to the author’s attitude toward a certain topic. Through specific word choices, an author reveals their opinions, feelings and intentions regarding the text. Tone reflects a writer’s feelings toward the topic, such as formal, informal, serious, humorous,… Continue reading
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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
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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
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A Picture Really is Worth a Thousand Words
This title may sound contradictory to what I’m trying to do with this post! The purpose of this weekly BLOG is to provide ideas of how we can use BOOKS to help our kids!– reading books- but please keep going,… Continue reading
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LESS LIKE ME
A Little More Like Jesus, by Zach Williams and illustrated by Lisa Molloy “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance… Continue reading
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Sleep vs Sleepover – BOOKS can Help!
If you have a young child who is starting to create their first friendships, play dates and gatherings will naturally occur. And at one point, somebody is going to ask to host a sleepoever….and sleepovers can be a challenge. They… Continue reading
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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
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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
Nina Wheeling 