50 Books in One Year ... Update

Well, I haven't been blogging much lately ... but I'd like to think that's because I'm working on the biography I have been assigned by Enslow Publishers (And loving it by the way.) ...  But truth be told, my family also keeps me super busy ... between Taekwondo, volunteer work, homework, and chores, I stay pretty busy. Still, I've also found some time to read too and I am VERY happy about that! It is by far my favorite pastime...

So far this year, I have read 14 books ...That is two books ahead of schedule (in order to make my goal of 50 books in one year). And, I am starting the 15th book this week.... (I will be reading IN TOO DEEP by Amanda Grace.)

Overall, I have read some really great books! I can't believe how many great authors are churning out really high quality books! They definitely have set the bar high for the rest of us ....

In case you're interested, here's a review of one of my favorites so far ...

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After I read this book, I can tell why it was a nominee by the National Book Foundation. Excellent. Told from two perspectives, the author does an excellent job building two very different characters whose lives intersect. "How to Save a Life" is book that is believable, real and heartbreaking as young girls face both loss, pain and learn that together they can save a life. I can't really give you much more without giving away the plot, but the book had me in tears at points. Loved it.

View all my reviews

Some other awesome titles include .... GETTING CAUGHT, THE QUEEN OF KENTUCKY, STAY, A LITTLE LESS GIRL and DITCHED. I would recommend any of these titles ... I was that pleased with each of them!

My Kindle Inspired Me!

Can I read 50 books in one year?

When e-readers first came out, I told others I would probably never own one. My reasons? … I liked the feel of a real book, with real pages in my hands….I liked the smell of books … I am a writer, so I wanted to support the publishing industry… I probably would never use it…. You get the point. But then, Amazon came out with the Kindle with Special Offers, lowering the price and catching my interest. Combine that with my shrinking space to store my books and I decided buying one would be a good choice. 

Then, something miraculous happened … Now I'm reading books like my life depended on it. Just like I did when I was a kid. And I love it! I really don't know why this happened. Maybe it's because there are so many good books out there. Or maybe it's because the Kindle is so portable. I can throw it in my purse and pull it out during my kids' Taekwondo classes, while I'm waiting in the pick up line at school or while I'm waiting to see the doctor. Or maybe it's because I can download a book and start reading it within minutes if I want to. But whatever the reason, my Kindle has made reading easier, more accessible and more enjoyable. Weird, but true.  

As a result, I decided to challenge myself this year … and set a goal to read 50 books in one year. If my math is correct, that is just about one book per week. Given that I'm also working on a young adult fiction novel as well as freelancing for some online web sites, this could turn into a real challenge for me as my writing time and my reading time compete for my attention. But I'm confident I can make it happen. (Well, I better be … I just told the whole world that I want to read 50 books in a year!)

So far I’ve read five of my 50 books this year and January isn't even over. So I'm feeling pretty good about things right now. If you're interested in what I've been reading, I've listed a few of the reviews on this blog. Just click the link at the bottom that says My Book Report, to see what I have been reading this month. In the meantime, let me know what you have marked to read this year. If I am going to make my goal of 50 books this year, I need all the ideas I can get. So drop me a note and let me know what you recommend. 

November Is Picture Book Month!

So grab a book and celebrate!

Nearly a year ago, the New York Times published an article declaring that picture books are no longer a staple for children. Of course, this incited a barrage of responses from authors, librarians and children’s book publishers defending the picture book. And out of this response, the idea to celebrate the picture book one month out of the year was born. In fact, according to the founders, Picture Book Month is an “international initiative to encourage and celebrate literacy with picture books.”

So, what’s my take on picture books? Yes, we do live in a digital age, and eBooks and eReaders do make our lives simpler, but there is still a very real need for picture books. Can you imagine reading a bedtime story to your one-year old from a Kindle? There is something magical and something much needed about an actual book at these early ages.

If you are like me, you love picture books and you especially love reading them to your kids (or your grandkids). Looking at the pictures, feeling the pages (even if they are now a little grimy and worn) and snuggling together all help create wonderful memories – and future readers. In fact, when my kids were younger, bedtime was a special occasion because they knew we would snuggle up close and read some books together. It was a wonderful way to end the day. And even before they could actually read – they often had the stories memorized and could “read” them to me, sometimes even mimicking my style and tone. In fact, some of my favorite memories with my kids are those quiet evenings reading a picture book together.

And although you probably don’t need much convincing if you are reading this blog, here are a number of ways that picture books impact early literacy in children (according to the Picture Book Month web site). “Picture books…

• celebrate childhood.

• contain universal truths, speaking to children about the world around them.

• are the gateway to literacy, allowing emergent readers to explore language.

• allow children to explore emotions and feelings in a way their current stage of development does not permit.

• expose children to vocabulary words and grammar, even before they step foot in school.

• can engage a group of children, allowing them to sit still, or wiggle, and imagine…

• showcase fine art, letting children explore a whole new visual world.

• allow children to explore a "dangerous" world in a safe environment.

• encourage children and grown-ups to bond over a shared experience.

• allow children to be children.”

In close, I would like to share with you the titles of our family’s favorite picture books – the ones we read over and over and over again. See if any of your family favorites are on this list. And the ones that aren’t included? Well, shoot me a note and let me know the titles.

Our favorite picture books….(in alphabetical order)

1. ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY
2. CORDUROY

3. DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS!

4. GOOD NIGHT MOON

5. HUSH LITTLE BABY (the version by Syliva Long)

6. IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE

7. I LOVE YOU FOREVER, I LIKE YOU FOR ALWAYS

8. I LOVE YOU STINKY FACE

9. LLAMA, LLAMA WHO IS YOUR MAMA?

10. THE RUNAWAY BUNNY

11. THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR

Dear Bully...

Seventy YA authors have shared their stories to create a compelling look inside the pervasive issue of bullying in the book Dear Bully by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones. Set to release this month, this book is the ideal conversation starter for parents, teachers, pastors and counselors. And most importantly, kids can relate. So move this book to the top of your "to read" pile. And if you don't want to take my word for it, check out this Goodreads review by Paul W. Hankins....

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/194176433?utm_medium=facebook_feed&utm_source=facebook.com&ref=nf

Seventy authors share their experiences with bullying while students in school. First things first, I want to thank every single YA author who contributed to this collection. Secondarily, I am especially grateful to the twenty authors found in this collection who have been a part of RAW INK Online or have interacted in some way with my students in the past few years.



This collection is so important and it couldn’t come at a better time. This book should be in every administrator’s office (their predecessor’s failing to address this issue is a common thread woven through the experiences shaed), every media specialist’s office, every counselor’s office, and in the classroom libraries of every teacher works with these students who stories have not been told. . .yet. Here is the catalyst for discussion. Here are the authors saying, “It happened to me too. . .tell me your story.”


So much more than a Chicken Soup for the Soul kind of collection, each story found within is like salve for the wound. Bullying hurts, from the localized hurt of the wound to the lasting hurt of the scar left behind. We have to start with where it hurts–by talking openly and honestly about this problem–and in time we can affect the whole. This flies in the face of conventional wisdom (?) that says, “Oh this will get better with time” or “someday you’ll look back at this and laugh.” We wouldn’t say such ludicrous things to accident victims or those in trauma. But what we see most often are administrators and policy makers tying the tourniquet and marking the victim’s forehead with a T, not for “terminal” as there seems to be this collective denial that bullying has long term effect, but with a T for time (our victims can “get over” this). It’s time to address the needs of these kids. How many tragic losses will it take before we stand up and say, “This bears as much of our attention as any conflated standard we could create.” We need to create citizens not kids who can conjugate. Dear Bully allows us to look into the problem from the gallery. If it is to get better–like any other life-threatening scenario, the time must be now. This is basic assessment. . .this is triage. . .this is important.


Ellen Hopkins’ introduction to the book should be of no surprise to readers who work with kids, but when you know the extended story behind her son, Orion, you feel every bit of hurt with Ellen and this very special young man.


Dear Bully has been carefully collected, archived, and rendered. I have been wanting to see this book since Megan Kelley Hall first started talking about the idea at Facebook (where I friend her). There is an author that will be familiar to readers who work with children of every age group, from Jon Sciezka’s “Stench” and Mo Willems’ “Bullies for Me” (a delightfully poignant and summarily triumphant cartoon panel in which Willems becomes a canine character–priceless) to Lisa McMann’s BFFBOTT.COM,Lisa Yee’s “Regret” and R. L. Stine’s “The Funny Guy” to some of YA’s biggest names today, Jo Knowles’ “Kicking Stones at the Sun” and A. S. King’s The Boy Who Won’t Leave Me Alone” there is something for the elementary teacher, the middle school teacher, and the secondary teacher–and the media specialists that assist all of these age groups to pair a story with an author the students may be reading.

The collection is sectioned to allow the authors to share from their experiences, their regrets, their insights, and their opportunity to write back to bullies and to the victims of bullying everywhere. Further, the multi-genre approach taken by each of the authors communicates in a very quiet way that there are multiple ways of telling our stories and no one way is the best way or only way to do it. This makes Dear Bully Writer Workshop-ready as a genre study as much as a means for providing powerful mentor texts in preparation of drafting a personal narrative.

I am going to be bold in this review. There are so many schools that have an “anti-bullying” policy in place. They are nice. . .but like any initiative or program untended, they are failing. Kids are still hurting. Your intentions were good, but they were not good enough. The school that earnestly undertakes the problem of bullying in the hallways would make this book a part of its communications with parents and would read selections from the book as a means of sharing powerful anecdotes from familiar names/faces from the students’ reading. I’d really love to see some of the authors create video testimonials from Dear Bully to share as a kick-off to beginning of the year school programs. And even further, it may be time for administrators, librarians, and teachers to begin telling their own stories of bullying.

I have this collection dog-eared already for when we share Chris Crutcher’s short story, A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune and share the film adaptation, Angus. We might be able to use some of these narratives to open up the channels of discussion. I am noted for quoting George Ella Lyon time and time again, but she said it so wonderfully one time, “Who are we but our stories?” These seventy authors have chosen to share “Where [They're] From” and the place looks so familiar. . .

Rock the Drop!

Today is Support Teen Lit Day, an annual celebration to raise awareness among the general public that young adult literature is alive and happening with so much to offer today’s teens. To help make the day even more special, there is really cool literacy project that has been showing up EVERYWHERE on Twitter today. It's called ROCK THE DROP and here's how it works:


Organizers at the Readergirlz literacy project are encouraging people around the country to drop young adult books off anonymously in public spaces like coffee shops, buses, park benches, restaurants and so on. The hope is that in turn, these books will be picked up and enjoyed by teen readers.

To participate, volunteers download a free bookplate like the one posted here and stick it inside a book (or books) and drop them off in a public space. This way people know the book is not "lost" but theirs for the taking. But before you (the giver) hurries away, Readergirlz asks that you snap a photo of your drop and email it to them at readergirlz@gmail.com so they can chart the donations. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for drops happening all around you. You might find a title of something you haven't read yet!

I am so enamored with this project that I would like to see the parents in our school district get involved on a broader scale next year. So, I had this brainstorm that next year, we could organize a mass of parents armed with say 10 books each and do a community-wide drop on the designated ROCK THE DROP day! (Instead of just a few of us participating.) How cool would that be if LOTS of our kids found free books throughout the day -- in their lunchrooms, in their locker rooms, on their buses and so on? What a fun way to really promote literacy in our community! I can't wait!

For more information about Readergirlz, visit them at http://readergirlz.com/issue.html. They have a really rockin' site!

To Read or Not to Read 50 Books A Year!

British parents are in an uproar right now. Apparently, the country's education secretary came back from a trip to the U.S. in March (uh oh) and announced that every child over the age of 11 should be reading fifty books a year. On average, that equals out to about a book a week. For some kids, this is happening already. In fact, I know some children who read a book a day sometimes.

But what people are protesting about, is the fact that "requiring" reading may not equal a "lifelong love of reading." As British journalist Robert McCrum put it:

Of course our kids should read more (and better), but cramming them like force-fed battery geese is no way to promote the idea of reading as a lifelong joy. Reading should be a private pleasure. Children should be encouraged to try different kinds of book. To browse the shelves of the library (assuming it has not been closed). Reading for personal satisfaction and fulfilment should take place at whatever speed works best for them.

I agree with him completely, in theory. Our children do need access to books that are interesting to them. And they need frequent visits to the library to browse the shelves and see what's available. They also should read at a speed that works best for them.

But even when these things are present, are our kids today even really reading? Some are and some aren't. Unfortunately in many cases, technology is getting in the way -- television in particular. In fact, television has become the central focus in too many homes. Research shows that children today watch entirely too much TV on average.

Consider for a minute that in many homes the television is on for 7 hours and 40 minutes each day and that 56 percent of American children between 8 and 16 have a television in their bedroom! Is it any wonder that reading is declining?

So what's the answer? While 50 Books in a year may be too much (or too few) and it may be the completely wrong approach to addressing the need to get kids to read more; it was at least an attempt to get people to wake up and take notice. Kids everywhere should be reading. And as parents it is our job to try to cultivate a love for reading at a very early age. How we do that probably has a lot to do with our parenting style and our child's temperament and reading ability.

So whether you want your kids to read 50 books (or more) in a year, I do encourage you to start kicking the television habit this month. In fact, Scholastic has designated April as National Turn Off the TV and Read Month. So there is no better time to start. We won't fix the problems with children's literacy overnight, but we have to start someplace. And this seems as good a place as any to me!

If you need book ideas for an 11-year-old little girl ... Here are the next 10 books my daughter hopes to read (in alphabetical order):

Claim to Fame by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Confetti Girl by Diana Lopez (she is currently reading this one)
Cupcake Diaries: The Cupcake Cure by Coco Simon
Finally by Wendy Mass
Lynn Visible by Julia DeVillers
My Best Frenemy by Julie Bowe
The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet by Erin Dionne
Thirteen by Lynne Myracle
Twelve by Lynne Myracle
Warp Speed by Lisa Yee

If you want to read Robert McCrum's entire article, you can access it at this link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2011/mar/22/michael-gove-children-reading-week

Raising Readers In The Digital Age

Can eBooks get reluctant teens to read?

Let’s face it. Our kids’ lives are hectic – busy beyond belief. Combine this with a plethora of technology begging for their attention, and is it any wonder that reading for pleasure often takes a backseat to everything else? In fact, there is no denying that the Internet, social media, twitter and text messaging have changed what it means to read (and write for that matter) in the Digital Age.

In fact, research shows that as kids get older and more involved with technology, they are reading fewer and fewer books. The amount of time kids spend reading books for fun declines while the time kids spend online and using a cell phone increases, according to the Kids and Family Reading Report conducted by Scholastic.

For most parents, this is a scary thought. We know that reading is an important life skill. Additionally, strong readers, and those kids who read for enjoyment, typically do better academically. As a result, we employ all sorts of tactics including limiting technology, purchasing award-winning books and requiring daily reading – all in an effort to be sure we are raising readers.

Meanwhile, some experts say our approach is all wrong. They maintain that allowing kids to use technology and the Internet for reading is nothing to worry about. The Internet, they say, has simply created a new kind of reading that parents and educators should not discount but instead embrace. In fact, they maintain that online reading will prepare teens for jobs in the Digital Age because they are learning how to gather and sort information and they are learning to determine what is relevant and what is not. Finally, experts point out that teens can access a lot of information quickly through the Internet while reading books on a particular subject may take much more time.

Skeptics, on the other hand, argue that online reading is only part of the answer. Their concern is that a heavy dose of online reading can be a lot like empty calories  – severely lacking in everything a teen needs. They worry that teens are not learning to contemplate things or to use their imagination as much as they could if they were reading books. They also maintain that online reading habits – such as reading only snippets of material – can have a long-term effect on concentration and memory. Furthermore, they are concerned that many teens often assume everything published on the Internet is true, which in turn can impact teens’ critical thinking skills. In fact, nearly half of the kids in the Scholastic study said they believe the information they find online is always correct!

So when you add these facts with the reality that kids and parents today can't even agree on what constitutes reading, you can see why parents are worried. For instance, 28 percent of kids between the ages of 9 and 17 think that looking through postings or comments on social networking sites like Facebook counts as reading. Only 15 percent of parents agree. And 25 percent of kids ages 9 to 17 think texting back and forth with friends counts as reading. Conversely, only 8 percent of parents agree.

While the majority of kids are not trying to make the argument that reading comments on Facebook is reading, it is clear that they embrace the technology more than their parents might. The answer, some experts say, is not to fight technology but for parents to meet kids where they are at.

But how?

The good news is that kids eagerly embrace technology. As a result, eBooks and eBook readers may be the answer in getting kids to read more for enjoyment. According to the Scholastic study, 57 percent of kids ages 9 to 17 said they were interested in reading an eBook and one third of them said they would read more books for fun if they had access to eBooks or an electronic device – this includes both kids who say they read five times a week and those who say they only read once a week. So even reluctant readers say they would read more books if they could do it electronically. The report also found that choice is crucial to getting even the most reluctant teens to read. In fact, nine out of ten children say they are more likely to finish a book when they choose it themselves.

Perhaps the answer then lies in this ... by combining technology with the power of choice parents may still be able to raise readers ... even in the Digital Age.

To Censor or Not?

Today is Read Across America day. A day when schools, teachers and parents encourage kids to read. Fortunately for me, both my kids enjoy reading. So getting them to read is not the issue. The problem I face is a more complicated one. Now that my daughter is on the cusp of middle school, I am more concerned with "what" she is reading than "if" or "when" she is reading.

To give you an example, a recent trip to Barnes and Noble comes to mind. My daughter picked up a book with "butt" in the title. (The actual title was "The Day My Butt Went Psycho!" which given who the author is, I am sure is a fine book.) Immediately, I frowned and asked "can't you find something a little less offensive?" She giggled, liking the fact that I was put off by it. She even read the inside flap that said parents and teachers would not understand this book. (I guess I really didn't. Sort of reminded me of this book my husband's friend wrote called -- "Poop Phonics.") I frowned and thought to myself I am NOT going to buy that book! This resulted in a mad search around the store pointing to a dozen other options ... What about this book by Margaret Peterson Haddix? You haven't read "Lynn Visible" yet by my friend Julie DeVillers! Or what about this one by Beverly Cleary...No. No. No. Came the answers.

Finally, a light bulb went on. I suggested we grab a chair by the Thomas the Train table (so her brother could play) and that she read the first chapter. Afterwards, I asked if the book was really as good as she thought it would be. (I prayed of course that it would be horrible. I was not buying the "butt" book! Not today anyway. Although I have to admit that is a catchy title.)

Fortunately for me, she said the book "wasn't what she was looking for" and she started on a search again for just the right book. Again, I thought it was my duty to make suggestions. After all, I was paying! But the more I suggested, the more she was determined to find her own book. Finally, I gave up. Eventually, (and what seemed like hours later) she selected a very suitable book titled "Eleven" by Lynn Myracle.

As we made our way to the check out, my daughter was already entrenched in her new book. The woman checking us out chuckled to herself when I had to wrestle the book from her hands to pay for it. She hasn't put it down since. And she has even asked if she can read the next books in the series "Twelve," "Thirteen" and "Thirteen Plus One." Phew! No more mention of the "butt" book. (Although I am still thinking about it! What does it mean for a butt to go psycho?) Anyway...

That night as we all sat reading our new "finds," several thoughts occurred to me and I'd like to share them with you...


1.) It's important to teach my kids to be critical consumers. I realized it was good to let her "test" the book out and make her own decision. That carried a lot more weight with her than if I had simply said "no." She made the decision that it really didn't fit what she was looking for-- not me. And I think that goes a long way. Teaching a child how to evaluate a book and determine if it fits with their interests, values and beliefs is much more valuable than simply censoring them or forbidding it.

I think this applies even with books they do read. Down the road, if my daughter can read a book and tell me why she liked it, why she didn't like it, why it offended her or why she can't wait to read the next in the series -- that is a lot more important to me in the long run. The way I see it is this ... Eventually, my kids are going to be out of my home and engaging with the world. If my husband and I teach them now how to evaluate books (and media and messages), then we are preparing them for when they leave the nest. We don't want them to be blind consumers. We want them to make decisions about what they are taking in and be able to talk about why they do or don't like something. If we simply censor them, are we really preparing them for the future?


2.) It's important to allow some freedom when it comes to choosing books. I have learned my kids are much more excited about reading when I give them the freedom to choose their own books. Then, getting them to read is not the issue. Doing so also helps me. I can learn a little bit more about them. I know what they like and dislike, what interests them and from there I can find books that are similar in style. It also gives me a peek inside their heads. What issues are they interested in learning more about? What types of themes are present in the books they select?


3.) It's important to still be the parent. In all honesty, I probably dodged a bullet when my daughter chose against the "butt" book. Because if she had insisted it really was good, I would have been forced to read the first chapter and determine if it really was appropriate for her to read. (I was only basing my decision on the title, which is not fair to any book or author.) Still, she is only 10 and still needs a parent to guide her. Unfortunately, there are times when we simply have to say "not now" to some books. The language or the subject may just be too mature for them. But I think the key is not that we simply censor the book, but that we give an explanation as to why the book is inappropriate at this point in their lives. Our kids may or may not accept our explanation. But that's OK. We still have to be the parent.

Make Summer A Page-Turner

It's hard to believe summer is almost here -- the time when we get to kick back and relax. For many of us, summer is the perfect opportunity to catch up on that list of books we've been meaning to read. Meanwhile, our kids look at summer as a time to put as much distance between them and books as possible.

But according to reading experts, children who don't read over the summer lose half a grade level of reading skills. Conversely, students who participate in summer reading programs are more likely to read at their grade level or above when they return to school. And those reading above grade level are more likely to retain those skills into the next school year.

So how do you help your kids avoid summer losses and instead turn the summer into gains? You can start by making sure there are plenty of books around. We are fortunate that our city has one of the best library systems in the nation – the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML). What’s more, it offers an excellent summer reading program. Kids can win some great prizes. Barnes and Noble also is offering a summer reading program. Kids who read eight books will win a free book.

In addition to summer reading programs, parents can teach kids that reading can be fun. One way to accomplish this is by reading for pleasure when the kids can see you. Research shows that children read more when they see other people reading! Here are some other ideas for demonstrating that reading is both important and fun. I first wrote out these ideas for my church newsletter. But, I wanted to share them with you too.

Critics’ Choice
Let kids decide what they want to read about. They are more likely to read if you give them a choice. Additionally, one research study found that if children read one million words a year, they will add at least 1,000 words to their vocabulary. You also can learn a lot about your children when you take time to discover their interests.

And, you can help make reading exciting for them if you help them find books they are interested in. One excellent resource is Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt. This family favorite has everything parents need to find the best books for their children.

The book also discusses the ways reading affects children’s views of the world and how reading impacts their imagination. It also includes an indexed list of the best books on the market. Critics say that Hunt’s suggestions will enrich the cultural and spiritual life of any home.

Bound Together
Reading with, or to your children, also is a great to bond with them. And no matter what their "love language," you can fill their emotional tanks through reading. For example, if “time” is your child’s primary love language, spend an afternoon or evening exploring together at the library. If “touch” is their primary love language, cuddle on the couch while reading or sit shoulder to shoulder with an older child.

If your child’s primary love language is “service,” offer to organize his or her books or return library books. And if “gifts” are your child’s love language, purchase a book by a favorite author, or give a book in place of a greeting card.

Closing Thoughts
Reading for enjoyment is one of the great predictors of future academic performance and it is a predictor of whether kids are going to be involved in drug abuse and premature sexual activity. So one of the best things you can do for your kids is to teach them to read for enjoyment. Why not start this summer? Make the following months a page-turning adventure for your kids!

10 Ways To Encourage Reading

This week is Right To Read week at my children’s school, which made me think about the state of reading in this country (again!). Sadly, reading seems to be on the decline. In fact, according to a study called To Read or Not to Read, the number of 17-year-olds who say they never read for pleasure has doubled in the past twenty years!

This fact does not surprise me. Not only are kids scheduled to the max, but they are constantly plugged in. Whether it is a computer, a video game, a cell phone, or an iPod, they are so busy with technology and activities that the thought of reading for pleasure seems archaic to them. But remember, good reading habits start at home while they are young. If you’re wondering how you can help get your kids interested in reading, here are ten ways to start:

1. Read Out Loud. Read stories, poems or articles from magazines and newspapers out loud with your kids—even the Sunday comics. In honor of Right to Read week, we have decided to read C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe together as a family each night instead of watching TV.

2. Visit The Library. Make sure your kids have regular trips to the library and plenty of time to find books and other material that interests them. Get them a library card of their very own. This makes reading “special” to a child.

3. Stock Up. The more books, magazines and other reading material you keep around the house, the more likely your children are to pick up the habit. (And studies have shown that more books mean greater achievement in several subjects on standardized tests.) But before you worry about how much creating your home library will cost you, check out library book sales, consignment stores, Goodwill and garage sales. And, remember that the library lends all kinds of materials for free – So if you can’t build a library, keep a regular stash of library books and magazines on hand.

4. Tune In. Planning a family vacation this year? Pick out an audiobook to listen to with your kids in the car. It’s much better than watching DVDs the entire trip.

5. Give The Gift Of Reading. Purchase inexpensive books from Scholastic and give them as gifts for a job well done at school, to celebrate the summer vacation and so on. Many teachers send the order forms home monthly. Or, instead of cards, give your children each a book for Valentine’s Day that tells them how much you love them (Guess How Much I Love You is a popular choice). And, Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go is a popular replacement for graduation cards, whether it is a graduation from preschool or a graduation from high school.

6. Allow Some Freedom. Give your kids the freedom to choose materials that interest them and speak to their interests and hobbies. For instance, if your child likes super heroes help him pick out books about super heroes in the library. Or, if your child likes Ramona books by Beverly Cleary, help her look for other books by the same author. Remember, kids may sometimes read material in school that does not interest them —let them pick up something light or fun to keep them interested in reading.

7. Share Experiences. Talk to your kids about what you read and ask them to talk about what they’re reading with you. Talking about what you have read makes it meaningful and provides a bonding moment for you and your children.

8. Be A Good Example. Make sure your kids know you set aside time to read every day and that you visit the library often. You’re a role model to your kids. If they see that reading is important to you, they’ll make it important to them.

9. Participate In Reading Programs. Aside from the library's summer reading program, I am fond of Barnes and Noble’s summer reading program. Get the details at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/.

10. Remember: Reading Is Fun. Reading is an engaging experience that can be both relaxing and informative. If your kids see you enjoying reading, they’ll realize that reading it is an activity worth pursuing.

Books Equal Academic Success

Have you ever looked around your home to see how many books you have? Do you have more than you can handle? If so, it could be a good indication that your kids will be successful in school. According to a new study from the University of Nevada, researchers found that children who live in homes with a lot of books – either children’s books or adult books – continued their educations three years longer on average than kids whose families had little or no books as home!

But what about the kids who don’t have books in their home? Sadly, studies have shown that children who lack early exposure to books and reading struggle academically, may suffer from low self-esteem, and are at much higher risk of substance abuse, teen pregnancy and delinquency. The children most at risk come from low-income families where books are an unaffordable luxury. In fact, research shows that families who live at or below the federal poverty level cannot afford to buy books and seldom have books in the home! This breaks my heart. Every child should own at least a few books.

As someone who is passionate about reading, it occurred to me how simple it would be to help address this problem at least in my own community. What if we contacted local food pantries and asked them if they would be interested in book donations as well as food for their clients? Or what about contacting our local schools and asking if they know of children in need of books at home? I would happily donate new and gently-used books that could be given to these kids. Could single parent fairs or parenting groups offer books to parents? There are countless avenues for getting books into the hands of children.

Down the road, what if we were able to organize a non-profit in Ohio like the organization, Page Ahead, in Washington State? Since 1990, Page Ahead has placed nearly 1.7 million new books into the hands of 550,000 at-risk children through collaborations with schools, social service agencies, preschools, and early childhood centers across Washington State!

As it says on their web site, literacy can make the difference between the poverty of one generation and the promise of the next. Shouldn't we try to do something to bring this same hope here? Let me know your thoughts...