Literary Doppelganger

Who remembers Prince Valiant? My son has just been introduced to the graphic novels of Harold Foster. A new client of mine recently remarked on my son's likeness to Prince Valiant and presented him with a beautiful copy of the comics first year in print.

I had never thought about it before, but without a doubt, he looks like the famous character! The hair certainly helps. What's even better is, my son loves the stories. He now has a whole new world of adventure to explore.

Time For a Library Card

Mom is very, very happy! Happy because one of the things I had hoped for since my son was born, has happened. My six year old son loves to read! The fact that he can read is not new. He started reading just before he was three years old.

What has happened now is that he reads for pleasure, just for himself and he is going through the books I have for him at full speed. Every night so far this week he has gone to bed to read. He reads until he falls asleep (usually about two hours of reading!). To see him sitting up in bed, completely engrossed in a book, warms my heart.

So far he really enjoys the "Nate The Great" detective series and "Pixie Tricks" books. I have the first Harry Potter here for him to read as well. He also likes "The Magic Tree House" series.

Now I need ideas about other good chapter books to find for him. I grew up on Nancy Drew and Little House books, but I'm not too sure he would want to read those (wow, that sounds rather sexist). Maybe he would like The Hardy Boys (and Nancy Drew) though? Suggestions are welcome!

After hearing so many stories about children who don't like to read, particularly boys, I was worried that he would not grow to love books the way I do. I was also worried that the computer might take their place.

So, I am now proud and very happy to report: I have a reader!

The Book Critic

A funny thing happened when my son started to read independently, he became a critic. Naturally I assumed he would have genres he preferred and authors that would become favorites, but I wasn't expecting him to dissect Dr. Seuss!

According to him, "It just doesn't make any sense!". I tried to explain to him that Dr. Seuss is supposed to be funny and silly but he says it still should make sense. So we have moved on to chapter books and adventure stories.

He also now loves to point out typos and grammatical errors, including my own. Good thing he doesn't read this blog! It's my own fault for teaching him how to write a complete sentence. So sorry Dr. Seuss, your just too silly!

Earthlings And Moonmen

After my robot building adventures, I received a request from a publisher to take a look at a comic book about aliens and earthlings. The book: The Lunar Antics "Boy I'd Hate To Be Made Out Of That Stuff ", contains both color and black and white comic strip stories.

The stories are written from the aliens point of view and pokes fun at our human antics. The aliens are visitors from the moon and quickly begin to share their eye-opening observations with the earthlings.

Children and adults will find these family friendly stories fun and entertaining.
The illustrations are similar to a 1950's or so newspaper style comic strip and that just adds to the charm. This a full size (8 1/2 by 11) book of 142 pages of comic strips and is sure to be a conversation starter in any home!

If you want to see a preview, go over to the website and you can download a book excerpt for free to have a look for yourself. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, I was!
* A copy of this book was provided for my review.

Storytime and Milestones

An amazing thing happened today! My son sat down and read his first book all the way through by himself. He is two months shy of five years old, and has known his alphabet and all the consonant sounds since he was two and half (thank you Starfall.com). We have been working on sight words and he has been able to read short sentences and books (with my finger pointing under the words) for some time now.

This was different, this was without prompting by me and he even corrected himself if he got a word wrong the first time. It was only a short early reader, ten pages of two or three sentences each, but I couldn't be more proud of him!

What started it was the new kitten. Ever since his arrival, my son has been "teaching the kitten" all his lessons. Today he decided to read the kitten a story. I'm not sure how much the kitten has learned but I now know just how much of his own lessons my son has retained!

Spelling Software for Children.

Recently the developer of SpellQuizzer software contacted me about trying out his spelling software. SpellQuizzer is a spelling program for helping children master their spelling and vocabulary. After looking at the demo on their website, I agreed to try the program and a copy of the software was provided to me.

As I have said many times before, I like my teaching methods, like my life: simple yet complete. SpellQuizzer is just that. This program allows parents to create their own personal spelling lists based on whatever their criteria may be.

According to their page for homeschoolers:

SpellQuizzer is ideal for...

1. Practicing the words in your homeschool curriculum. Just input the words in the spelling curriculum you are using and SpellQuizzer will help reinforce your child's lessons.

2. Preparing for spelling bees. You can create practice lists from the preparation materials provided by a spelling bee your child is entering. Also, we will be adding free, downloadable spelling lists for SpellQuizzer, complete with sound recordings, specifically for the purposes of spelling bee preparation soon. Watch our Downloadable Spelling Lists page for new lists soon.

3. Practicing the problem words that your child repeatedly misspells. Everyone has their own problem words that they have difficulty getting right. With SpellQuizzer you can create one or more custom lists of the words that your child struggles with. As the saying goes, "practice makes perfect". SpellQuizzer makes practice easy.

4. Learning words that can not be sounded out phonetically. Dr. Edword William Dolch, PHD identified 315 "sight words" which can not be sounded out phonetically and therefore must be learned on sight. We have all 315 Dolch Sight Words (220 "service words" and 95 nouns) available in free download lists, organized by grade level, for SpellQuizzer at our Dolch Sight Words page. Just download the lists, import them into SpellQuizzer and you're all set. The lists come with pre-made sound recordings just for SpellQuizzer.

The software sells for $29.95 and they offer a 30 day free trial. Considering how many years of school you can use this for, I think the cost is very reasonable. Your computer will need a microphone to record your voice. If yours did not come with one, they are very inexpensive to purchase.

The part that made it the most fun for my son was that I could use the spelling words in personal sentences that he could relate to. I even told a complete story to him, using the words on the spelling list in sentences. So as he practices his words, he is also hearing me tell him a story. After he finished spelling practice, I asked him to re-tell the story to test his memory. Also making sure I verbalized the punctuation at the end of the sample sentences, he learns about sentence structure as well.

The program is very user friendly and even young children (my son is 4) will be able to navigate the lessons with ease. I have a feeling I will be using SpellQuizzer for many years to come and I will probably find more than one way to use it!

A Bookcase for Every Child

When this story arrived in my inbox, I had to share.

Nationally syndicated newspaper columnist, Jim Davidson of Arkansas has started a project called "A Bookcase for Every Child".

The project aims to increase literacy by providing children from

low-income families with a handmade bookcase and a starter set of books and encouraging parents to read to their children.

Community volunteers have built 250 custom bookcases so far and delivered them to children, with books included.

The project is funded 100% by donations and from the proceeds of Mr. Davidson's book sales. He hopes that communities nationwide join in the project to help fight illiteracy in this country.

The idea of providing a bookcase with the books is what struck a chord with me. I remember when I was a girl and I finally got my own room, the one thing that I wanted most was a bookcase. That first bookcase was only made of cinder blocks and planks of wood, but to me it was my own private library! I arranged them in proper order and even started my own card catalog.

This is a wonderful way to give back and to help a child develop a lifelong love of reading. They will help you start a project in your own area as well, for more information visit: A Bookcase for Every Child.

At The Library

This week we went on our first trip to the library. The trip was not so much to introduce my son to the library, but to show him the environment there, because they have a story telling hour on Wednesday mornings for preschoolers.

He has not had any exposure to children in a group yet except one birthday party (that did not go well), so I thought this might be a simple, low stress way to get him involved in something other than our home school.

The few times we have been around a group of children and adults, he generally sticks with the adults or older children. When we are at the park, he wants to run out on the field and play whatever the big boys are playing.

Even though he loves books, all he really wanted to do at the library was try out every chair at the little tables they have set up. That is until a very cute little girl showed up who was about three. She couldn't get his attention fast enough and at first he was smitten. Then they decided to sit and read a magazine together, but each wanted to hold it at the same time and that’s where it all started to go downhill.

After what seemed like hours of "may I hold it"... "no mine"... "but you have to share"..."no mine", I finally had to manually extract my son from the building.
He tried to share, he really did, but she was too young to understand and he got frustrated and started to cry.

We didn’t even have a chance to get him a library card. I’m still going to try him in the storytelling group and maybe he will sit still and enjoy it. I hope he’s ok with the librarian holding her own book.

Our Favorite Beginning Reader

My son's current favorite story is "Bathtime for Biscuit"
by Alyssa Satin Capucilli .

This beginning reader is part of a series by this author, about a spunky little puppy named Biscuit. We were given several by a friend when my son was a baby and I used to read them to him.

Now that he is reading, he loves to read this one to me the most because he likes the part where the little girl falls in the bath and makes a big "splash"!

The illustrations are charming and the books are just

the right size (6" x 8") for him to hold.

We will definitely be adding more titles to our bookshelf!

*This is not a paid post, just sharing a good read.

Stand In Story Teller

Grandparents.com has an easy new way for grandparents (or anyone) to share a story with a child. It's called StoryTeller and all you need is a phone.

What you do is dial the phone number and listen for the prompts. When your done, it will be emailed to the children you list. That way your child can hear her favorite story being read by a grandparent any time they wish.

Just think, on those nights when you can't find the strength to read just one more story, you can let them listen to grandma, over and over again!

StoryTeller is free of charge. Your telephone provider's long-distance rates may apply.

Remembering Walnut Grove

Laura Ingalls Wilder was born today in 1867. As many of you know, she is the author of The Little House On The Prairie series of books.

When I was a girl those stories were the first I'd read about women being strong and surviving by using their strengths. I also was in love with the pioneer lifestyle. My Grandmother made my sister and I prairie bonnets and aprons to dress up in. Of course when the TV show came out, I cried every week watching the drama.

Her stories taught me about learning to live with the earth and to celebrate the smallest things. They also taught me about devotion to family. I think all children today would benefit by reading her work, especially now when times are hard from some of them.

You can read more about her at Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum.

New On Our Bookshelf!

We ordered some great new books today so I thought I'd share. My son's obsession with words continues and now he falls asleep at night with a pile of letters and my paperback dictionary in bed with him.
His new "game" is to spell a word on the bed with his letters and then try to find it in the dictionary. I thought it was time for his own dictionary so I ordered My First Dictionary by Betty Root.

It has 1000 words and definitions plus colorful photos. He is sure to love it!

I also ordered Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe, a early reader story about loving nature enough to set it free.

Finally Love You Forever by Robert Munsch, which conveys a message about the never ending love a mother has for her child even as he grows.

I hope this year as he turns four, he will be more inclined to sit and read a story with me. He loves books to explore on his own but has not been too interested in being read to. Maybe some new stories will help. I hope so, because I really want to sit and read together!

We Love This Book!

I want to tell you about my son's current favorite book:

On The Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier.

He is enthralled by this board book. He calls it his "born book"

The author writes about the birth of a child and what is going on in the universe to prepare for his arrival. It is a loving and spiritual family celebration...

"On the day you were born the Earth turned, the Moon pulled, the Sun flared, and, then, with a push, you slipped out of the dark quiet where suddenly you could hear... ...a circle of people singing with voices familiar and clear".

The artwork includes simple yet very telling images of the stars, planets and animals.

The prose is lyrical and beautifully written.

I feel it's more moving for the adult reading it than for the child.

This book would make a perfect baby gift and will definitely be part of my memory box!

Tasha Tudor, my memories

At 92 my favorite childhood author has died. Tasha Tudor passed away June 20 2008 from old age at her home in Vermont.
I can not tell you how sad this makes me but at the same time how glad I am that she lived a very long and rewarding life.
Her book "Take Joy, The Tasha Tudor Christmas Book" was my constant holiday companion during the Christmas season in the islands. The stories and art in that book represented a "Real Christmas" to me as a child who lived with palm trees and sea shells all year long.

My mother played the Christmas carols on the piano from the music in her book and that's how I learned the words to the classic Christmas songs. When I was a young girl, I made a book cover from Christmas wrapping paper to protect it, and now at 47, I have a beautiful, worn but well loved book to read to my son.
This book is out of print but if you are able to find a copy of it, I urge you to have a look!
Indeed Tasha Tudor, take joy in the knowledge that your art forever changed my childhood and that of many I'm sure!

Tasha Tudor
1915 - 2008

Mother's Gift

Just in time for Mother's Day, I finished my second original children's book.

This one is the story of a pot of flowers, from seeds to full bloom.

It's told in watercolor pencil illustrations and the pages are laminated for safekeeping.

These books are only 5" square, but I love doing things in miniature!

I'm going to invest in some special cutters soon, to round the corners and leave a cut out design on the laminated pages.

I think that will finish them off nicely, don't you?

What I learned from John Holt

For all the homeschooling parents out there who have ever wondered about the origins of the homeschool movement,

you must read Teach Your Own, by John Holt.

John Holt (1923-1985) was a private school teacher and author who became a critic of public education and a strong supporter of the homeschool movement that was taking place in this country during the seventies.

In his words a selection by John Holt:

...I have used the words "homeschooling" to describe the process by which children grow and learn in the world without going, or going very much, to schools, because those words are familiar and quickly understood. But in one very important sense they are misleading. What is most important and valuable about the home as a base for children's growth into the world is not that it is a better school than the schools but that it isn't a school at all. It is not an artificial place, set up to make "learning" happen and in which nothing except "learning" ever happens. It is a natural, organic, central, fundamental human institution, one might easily and rightly say the foundation of all other institutions. We can imagine and indeed we have had human societies without schools, without factories, without libraries, museums, hospitals, roads, legislatures, courts, or any of the institutions which seem so indispensable and permanent a part of modern life. We might someday even choose, or be obliged, to live once again without some or all of these. But we cannot even imagine a society without homes, even if these should be no more than tents, or mud huts, or holes in the ground. What I am trying to say, in short, is that our chief educational problem is not to find a way to make homes more like schools. If anything, it is to make schools less like schools.

I think you will find it both enlightening and rewarding.

Visit HoltGWS.com for more information on his work.

I See Me

Grandma brought my son a wonderful gift today!

If you haven't seen them yet, I See Me makes personalize stories for children.

My son's book is about how he was named when he was born. It is full of colorful amusing illustrations of animals picking out the letters that spell his name.

In the back there is a legend, listing all the animals used to represent each letter of the alphabet.

They have other themes and personalized items for sale on their website. If you want your child to show more interest in reading, these books are sure to help!

My son is absolutely enthralled by this book and is currently fast asleep on top of it!