More Books: Where to Find, Keep, and Read Them.
Check It Out
Dear Juno
by Soyung Puk
(Grade K–1)
Juno may be too young to read, but his grandmother’s special letters communicate a lot.
Edward and the Pirates
by David McPhail
(Grade 3)
Edward can’t get enough of books. His dreams of adventure stir him to read even more. But when one book brings him in contact with a bunch of illiterate pirates, he must find a way to keep them at bay.
Mr. George Baker
by Amy Hest
(Grades 2–3)
Harry befriends a 100-year-old neighbor who is also learning to read.
Tomas and the Library Lady
by Pat Mora
(Grades 2–3)
Tomas takes breaks from his migrant farm work and travels the world without leaving the library.
Too Young for Yiddish
by Richard Michelson
(Grades 2–3)
In this book, bound back to front like most Yiddish books, Michelson invites us to join Aaron as he grows to appreciate his granfather’s accent and traditional ways.
Up the Learning Tree
by Marcia Vaughn
(Grades 2–3)
A young slave is determined to learn to read despite the fact that it is forbidden to him.
Activities
■ Do you have a family library? Designate a special place for your family to keep books. An open box, a wooden crate, a basket, or an unused drawer can be a great place to store books.
■ Make your own books to add to your family’s library. Draw or glue pictures cut out from magazines on folded paper. Staple or tie the pages together through the fold. Your book can be about a new skill your child has acquired, a true story about someone you know, or a story that you and your child make up together.
■ Share the gift of reading. The next time you buy a gift, especially for a child, consider purchasing a book. Take your child to the store to help select a book he has already read and enjoyed.
■ Where are your favorite places to read? The best part about books is that they can go almost anywhere. Remember to take books with you when you visit the park, the doctor’s office, or the zoo. Make reading fun at home. Read to your kids while they’re in the bathtub, read outside on a blanket or the front steps, or create a secret reading place by draping a table with a blanket and cuddling up with a book in your instant cave.
Table Talk
It’s time to share what you have read lately. Did anything interest you? What books or articles would you like to read as a result of the experience? Ask each family member to share a special reading adventure.
Family Field Trip
Find out about author visits, movies, puppet shows, and other special events at your library. Mark your calendar and take your family. Most story hours and other events are free.
