I know that I sound like a moron but exactly how does one “read” a wordless picture book? I’m the kind of person that needs detailed instructions so I thought I’d research it because this whole concept of wordless picture book is newish to me. I didn’t grow up with these but my kids and I have enjoyed a stack of them. Perhaps, though, flipping the pages like a slow-motion flip book is not the way to go. Read more…
The Children’s Choice Book Awards is the only national book awards program where the winning titles are selected by children and teens of all ages. Did you vote for them? Are you curious about last year’s winners? I also have the Top 100 Kids’ Favorite Books which might make a great summer reading list to choose from. Read more…
It seems only fitting that a wordless picture book get the briefest of introductions. I didn’t really “get” wordless picture books when my kids were very young and learning to read. I thought that words WERE necessary to tell a story. And that the point of words in a picture book is to teach kids to read. But now I am among the converted. Wordless picture books teach kids to use their imaginations. Read more…
Maurice Sendak has left the house but it’s comforting to know that his work will live on forever, and thus, he will be beloved forever. There is a great piece in the New York Times: Read more…
My 7-year-old son loves alien books. While some boys are put off by the weird Alien language, he thinks it’s funny. I read Henry P. Baloney to his Kindergarten class the week he was the Star of the Week, and I noticed most of the kids did not find the book as funny as we do. Author Jon Scieszka in a sly use of foreign language onomatopoeia, uses words from almost two dozen languages that kind of sound like English words in this engaging picture book. Read more…
It all started when I saw the Osprey that Doodles and Jots photographed near her home in Cape Cod. Several weeks prior (5 to be exact), I spotted an Osprey in North Captiva, Florida. Could it be the same Osprey? Probably not, but it was fun to speculate. Read more…
I love getting book requests from readers. This one came in recently:
Hi There –
I read your blog, especially for inspiration when organizing my daughter’s book club meetings (I’m the host for seven 5th grade girls each month).
I was wondering if you ever discuss or read poetry with your kids and, if so, if you have any recommendations for me. I’d like to focus on poetry for our next book club meeting but am not sure how to go about doing it – whether we should read/discuss a few poems together? or if each girl should bring a poem to share? Read more…
My 4th grade daughter, PickyKidPix, thinks that this middle grade chapter book, Double Dog Dare by Lisa Graff, is FUNNY! Read more…
Today, Thursday, April 12, is Drop Everything and Read Day. National D.E.A.R. Day is a special reading celebration to remind and encourage families to make reading together on a daily basis a family priority. Read more…
I'm a co-chair of KidLitCon. It's March 22-23, 2019 (next year) in Providence, Rhode Island. Click on image for more info.
