Don't waste time on a dud
Everybody likes a good story, and that's what we often share with one another in daily conversation.
Some people are better at sharing their stories than others because they know how to capture their audience and keep their attention.
The same is true when we share stories through books. If the book is well written, it will captivate the listener/reader.
If the book is just so-so or a dud, interest will quickly diminish. The unfortunate by-product for the child who is exposed to the less-than-stellar books will be to equate books and reading to an unpleasant experience.
Perhaps the best barometer of knowing whether a book clicks with a child or not is to be sensitive to the child's level of attention. If the book isn't striking a chord with the child, where is it written you have to finish it?
If the book is a thumbs-down, put it down, and find another.
There are thousands upon thousands of children's books to choose from. Don't risk losing your audience by force-feeding books that aren't of interest. Keep searching. Every child is worth the effort.
The following book is available at many public libraries.<B>"Fireman Small to the Rescue" </B>written and illustrated by Wong Herbert Yee, Houghton Mifflin, 16 pages; read aloud: age 1 to 3; read yourself: age 1 to 6.Farmer Pig's barn is on fire, and Fireman Small must hurry to put it out.From the fire company, where he dresses quickly and gets into his fire truck, to tackling the flames amid the fears of his farmyard friends, hosing the barn and extinguishing the flames, to final exhaustion falling into his bed for a much needed rest, Fireman Small might be tiny, but he's mighty.Sturdy board book pages, vibrant color illustrations, and a story toddlers are certain to be engaged with, "Fireman Small to the Rescue" has all the right components to ensure a terrific reading experience.
<B>Library:</B> Saxonburg Library, 240 W. Main St., Saxonburg<B>Library Director: </B>Steve Twentier<B>Children's Programmer:</B> Judy O'Brokta<B>Choices this week: "Little Beaver and the Echo"</B> by Amy MacDonald; <B>"Finklehopper Frog" </B>by Irene Livingston; <B>"On Top of Spaghetti"</B> by Paul Brett Johnson
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>"The Giant Jam Sandwich" </B>written and illustrated by John Vernon Lord with verses by Janet Burroway, Houghton Mifflin, 2009, 30 pages, $6.99 board book; read aloud: age 2 and older; read yourself: age 6 to 7.One hot summer day, the village of Itching Down had a big problem on its hands when four million wasps flew into town.There was a lot of stinging going on, and the villagers held a meeting to try and decide what to do.Fortunately, Bap the Baker came up with an excellent idea: Make a giant strawberry jam sandwich and trap the wasps in the sticky mess!Everyone sprang into action to help create the largest jam sandwich in the world. Teamwork and clever thinking resulted in a very successful (and amusing) result, leaving Itching Down free from wasps forever.Rhyming, clever text and hilarious illustrations combine to make "The Giant Jam Sandwich" a pure delight in every regard.<B>"Good Egg"</B> written and illustrated by Barney Saltzberg, Workman, 2009, 19 pages, $9.95 hardcover; read aloud: age 18 months and older; read yourself: age 5 to 7.Who ever thought a simple egg could be so much fun?Award-winning author and illustrator Barney Saltzberg did, and that's precisely what he's created in "Good Egg."Simple commands to Egg such as sit, lie down, roll over, and more have Egg complying in every instance. But when Egg is asked to speak ¿ well, Egg cracks up!Fun, funny, and loaded with flaps to lift and tabs to pull, this engaging and highly inventive little book is certain to have little children amused through repeated readings.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.
