Tag Archives: literacy

Leave Me Alone, I’m Reading – Maureen Corrigan

Maureen Corrigan is a book reviewer for National Public Radio’s Fresh Air program, and as such, reads scads of books. In her nonfiction memoir “Leave Me Alone, I’m Reading,” she shares her insights into literature and the many ways in which books have touched her life and indeed all of our lives. Because of the very literary and educated tone of her writing, I expected Maureen to say that she prefers to read highbrow literature, but I was surprised to hear her say that her favorite books are hard-boiled detective novels. She does read and review a variety, however, and … Continue reading →

Ella Minnow Pea – Mark Dunn

I truly enjoyed “Ella Minnow Pea,” a first novel by playwright Mark Dunn. By the time the book drew to a close, I was astounded and impressed by the ingenuity, cleverness, and humor of this author. Off the coast of South Carolina is a fictional island called Nollop. It was founded by a man named Nevin Nollop who, you will be greatly interested to know, was the inventor of the sentence, “The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dogs.” Because of Nollop’s love of language, everyone on the island is very literate, uses a variety of long words to … Continue reading →

Book Awards: The Nobel

The Nobel Prize is one of the most coveted honors that can be received. The mere thought of being a Nobel winner sends chills down aspirants’ spines and makes them drift off into lovely daydreams . . . yes, I’ve had those daydreams and I know what they look like. Once you are chosen to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature, you know that you have truly made your mark on the whole world, and not just a small portion of it. When Alfred Nobel outlined the criteria for nominees for this award, he said, in part, that the prize … Continue reading →

Book Awards: The Whitneys

As you browse your library or bookstore, you’ll see various logos on the covers of the books – winner of the Caldecott, winner of the Newbury, winner of the Christy – the list is endless. Jaime Egan did a marvelous series on the Caldecott Medal and another on the Newbury last year, and I thought it would be interesting to take a look at other awards that are available in the literary world. That way, when you see one of those logos, you’ll know why that book is being honored and what made it so special. I’m going to start … Continue reading →

Books on Tape and CD

With the advent of books on tape, more commuters than ever are enjoying good literature. It’s very easy to throw a tape or CD into a player and listen along while driving. For many commuters who have a long distance to go, this is the only way they can read. Books on tape also enrich the lives of the blind, and of those who cannot yet read. You can find a broad selection of audio books at nearly every bookstore now, and they are also offered by Amazon.com. Just out of curiosity, I just did a search on Amazon, and … Continue reading →

Ideas for Encouraging Summer Reading

Last week, I blogged about summer reading programs. If you don’t have access to a library offering such a program, or if your kids aren’t really excited about what’s being offered, you can design a program specifically tailored to your family. First, decide a reasonable goal. Some children really struggle with reading, while others could do it morning, noon, and night. If you are working with multiple children, set goals for each of them that will cause them to stretch, just a little bit, but aren’t so unattainable that the child will feel overwhelmed. Second, decide what the rewards will … Continue reading →

Head Start with the Book of Mormon – Vicki Lynn Rasmussen

“Head Start with the Book of Mormon” shows LDS parents how to teach their children to read using the Book of Mormon as their text. While it is specifically geared toward LDS families, I can see how the methods used could easily be adapted to fit young readers of any denomination, using religious works that are applicable to that sect. The author begins by sharing her strong belief in the importance of teaching children to seek out the scriptures, and how implementing religious philosophies while the child is young can help build a stronger foundation for their futures. She quotes … Continue reading →

Summer Reading

Here we are, just a few short hours away from the official start of summer, even though we’ve have temperatures in the 90’s for quite a while where I live. School’s out, kids are home, moms are busy – and that doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for reading. Many children do their reading in conjunction with school, and this is why libraries set up summer reading programs, to give kids the incentive to keep reading when they’re not at school. You can check with your library to see what they’re offering by way of reward – we got … Continue reading →

The Neverending Story (1984)

You have not seen a children’s fantasy film until you have seen “The Neverending Story.” And, after you’ve seen it, you’ll agree right along with me that all the other films pale in comparison and should probably just go home. Bastian’s mother has been dead for a while, and he has buried his sorrows in the reading of fantasy books. His father (Gerald McRaney) is deeply concerned about his son, but doesn’t know how to express it, and so he tells him to keep his feet on the ground, anxious for Bastian to move forward with his life. Bastian (Barret … Continue reading →

The Sunday Times

About a year ago I abandoned my local Sunday newspaper and took comfort in the arms of the grand old lady, The New York Times. I pay a small fortune for the privilege of receiving this beefy two-part Sunday paper, double bagged and waiting for me at the end of my driveway each weekend morning, but it is worth every penny. Much like getting the mail each afternoon, seeing the The Times lying there, just waiting for me to slip it out of it’s slightly transparent blue baggie, makes me as happy as schoolboy. To pile up the pillows and … Continue reading →