Writing the first draft of my second novel as a new mom living in Nicaragua and Miami Beach, I have no workshop to instill fear, excitement and motivation in me. But I do have one vociferous little mentor: my toddler, Amalía.
When I had kids, I promised myself that I would do everything in my power to encourage them to love reading. I knew firsthand that lectures wouldn't work. They didn't work on me. Instead, for the first time in my life, I embraced reading.
Marc Tyler Nobleman had the idea for an author "talent show" for Sandy Hook almost immediately. Here is the wonderful, loving and positive result of that idea.
It's hard to tell which recently published books will stand the test of time, but in my decades of experience as a nanny, I've learned what to look for: Books that are designed to be read with children, not to them. Here are some of my recent favorites.
In the dark of predawn I lay in bed, tucked snugly beneath my downy comforter, sleet pinging against the window panes in soft yet fitful waves. Against all odds associated with parenthood, no one under the age of 8 burst into the room to announce that the sky was falling.
Whether it's construction, trains or Princess Barbie, the drill is the same. Our kids live it and breathe it. When your child wants nothing but more trains, trains, trains, don't try to distract him. Give him trains! Go to the library and lead him to all those delectable books about trains.
I recently had the chance to chat with first lady Daniels about her favorite books, her thoughts on the importance of reading rituals, and how she's helping to ensure that the children of Indiana grow up as successful readers.
I will always remember one of my first reading groups in Yonkers, N.Y. One afternoon four little girls walked in and took a seat with me at our reading table. I said, "Oh, it's us girls today!" Then little Alfonse walked in and I said, "And one boy!"
It's no secret that classic fairy tales aren't the bright and happy stories Disney would have you believe. (The way the Brothers Grimm tell Cinderella...
My four-year-old daughter is illiterate. She can only sight read her own name, has not memorized short board books, and can barely write five letters of the alphabet. I am more than fine with all of this. In fact, I am proud.
It shouldn't matter what kids want to read. They should just read. If they want to spend half an hour doing MadLibs, or reading a sports magazine, or a comic book, or novel, or a fix-it book, or a book of jokes they should. It's all reading.
Want to kick off 2010 with a few good deeds? If you're in the Los Angeles area, ABC-7 has you covered. From giving back a little puppy love to raisi...
