Books worth a look

Teaching Pre K-8, Nov/Dec 2003 by Pitino, Donna

Anna the Bookbinder by Andrea Cheng (Walker, 2003). Beautifully illustrated by Ted Rand, this book shows the value of quality in a world that is "speeding up." It's also the story of how children can contribute to their families, and how love and patience keep people level-headed during stressful times. A great gift for any book lover.

Andrew Lost in the Garden by U.C. Greenburg (Random House, 2003). The young inventors and bug enthusiasts in your life will love Andrew's latest adventure. Endnotes include facts about garden bugs, animals and plants, as well as a list of related nonfiction books. In addition, Andrew's best friend - a robot named Thudd - provides interesting insect facts throughout the story.

The Shoe Tree of Chagrin by J. Patrick Lewis (Creative Editions, 2001). Susannah DeClare's talent is making shoes that last a lifetime but, when a doubter challenges her, she must prove herself true to her word. The language and unexpected ending will draw the reader right into the legend of "Shoes-annah."

The First Last Part by Angela Johnson (Simon & Schuster, 2003). This is the story of Bobby, the single father Johnson introduced to us in Heaven. Children of single parents will certainly relate, but these characters will be recognizable to all children.

The Truth About Rats, Rules, & Seventh Grade by Linda Zinnen (HarperCollins, 2001). It can be hard for middle school students to talk to their parents, but this funny fiction book reveals how important it is to keep the lines of communication open.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (Farrar, Straus, &Giroux, 1975). If your child has seen the recent movie inspired by this classic book, encourage, him or her to read the book for comparison. Natalie Babbitt's poetic prose takes the reader through a thought-provoking what-if story. Try my daughters' favorite Natalie Babbitt book, The Search for Delicious.

PICKS FOR PARENTS

How to Get Your Child to Love Reading by Esme Raji Codell (Algonquin Books, 2003). This 500-page resource offers thematic book lists and activities that cultivate the joy of exploring literature. With 3,000 hand-picked, teacher-recommended titles and hundreds of ideas that make reading fun, this book will inspire parents of reluctant readers and reinforce the reading habits of children who already devour books.

What Works?

Has something worked well for you as a parent, that you'd like to share with our readers? E-mail your parenting tips to me at mdbcp @aol.com

Donna Pitino was a teacher for 14 years and is now a freelance writer. She is the mother of two daughters.