Fun Book of the day: The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

This book by Don & Audrey Wood is one of my favorite books to read at storytime. A friend of mine who worked with me loved to read this book also, she was so expressive that the children really thought there was a Big Hungry Bear! It is just a really fun book that all can love!!!!

Back to School---Dictionaries

It is back to school time and parents are searching for anything that might help their child succeed. There are many reference tools that children can use but one of the most important tools is a good dictionary. Yes some kids use the Internet to find their information but most would agree that a dictionary is more than just a tool to help them spell or give a definition. {Having a book on the desk can be less distracting then running to the computer to look something up.} Dictionaries provide pronunciation guides, homonyms and synonyms. Some even provide sample sentences. Most dictionaries also provide maps or other reference materials that are useful for students. When I was working in the bookstore I would help parents, grandparents or even the child themselves pick out a dictionary by following a few rules. For example: if they were choosing between two different publishers or editions I would tell them to look up a word~ any word. Then I would have them compare the entries. Can they read it? Some printings may be hard to read due to font, color or size of print. Can they understand the explanation? Is there a coinciding illustration or photograph? I always like the photographs but some may like plain illustrations. They should take all these things and more into account. Then if they still couldn't decide then they could look at the price----sometimes a dollar or two can make the difference.

Above are two examples of popular children's dictionaries----remember just because it is popular may not mean it is the right one for you!

All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg

The first book I want to tell you about is All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg. I guess I should disclose the fact that Ann Burg is my sister. She is an author who has written quite a few children's books. I am very proud of her. When I was a little girl she would sit on my bed and read to me the stories and poems she wrote. She took me for my first library card and instilled in me the love of books. My mother was also a great influence to me regarding the love of reading~that is another story. But it was my sister who read to me often and made the words seem real. This book brought home to me a time when I was growing up but did not understand because I was so young. I saw the images on the TV of the helicopters and soldiers, of children being lifted into those helicopters. I never understood why. I knew a girl in high school from Vietnam but she wasn't one of those children. As an adult I learned more but still never really thought about what had happened to these children. I felt bad that the vets had been treated poorly but again I had no understanding of their feelings. When my sister started this book and read to me passages I started to get a glimpse of these children and soldiers and their struggles. This book is a great read for all ages but especially for young readers. As you can see there is a baseball on the cover~so boys should like it ! Baseball and music are central to the plot. It gives a fresh perspective on a very tumultuous time~Check it out!

Welcome 2

I thought I would introduce myself. My name is Rosemary and I have been in the book business most of my adult life....well probably even before as my first real job was in a library while in high school. I have been out of the book world for a bit but find I miss it alot. One of the things I miss most is helping people find books. It was always a joy for me to place books in people's hands. For this reason I thought I would start this blog, if I can't put a book in a person's hand physically than why can't I do it virtually? I hope to expand the blog to include tips and even virtual storytimes. That is the other thing I miss, reading to children. I mentioned I was in the book world but I was specifically in the children's book world. I love kids books because they are pure and honest. If I can help moms, dads & grandparents find something to read with their kids then I will be happy~here's to a future of reading!!!

Welcome to my blog!

Buying or selecting books for children can be a daunting task. This blog is here to help. Whether it is for buying a present or just selecting a book for your child I want to make this task easier and less stressful.