HOOK KIDS on READING: These Parents HOOKED their KIDS on READING

Saturday, September 26, 2009

These Parents HOOKED their KIDS on READING - EARLY!

My daughter Laura, and her husband Dave,
are terrific parents.

And my two wonderful grand-daughters are
much loved and cherished.

Laura with Karly & Reagan

Karly - 8 months

Reagan 2 1/2

Karly & Reagan
They are the delight of my life.

But what has all this to do with HOOKING kids on reading?

Read on. . .

These two great parents began reading to their girls from the moment they were born. Their house has so many children's books, it is beginning to resemble a library. They sit on the couch, flow onto the floor, tumble off tables, and crowd the girl's bedrooms.

In my daughter's home, reading to their girls is only a whisker less important than food, love, and nap time. HINT: Mom needs the nap breaks, even if the girls are still rarin' to go!!

Here are some of their favorite titles.
Read them to the small ones
in your life!

The Bunny Book - by Patsy Scarry
Max Counts His Chickens - by Rosemary Wells
(Reagan loves anything Max and Ruby related)
My "A" Book - by Jane Belk Moncure
Bramble Bear - I Wish I Was... - by Geoffrey Alan/Lynny Gibba
The Big Red Bus - by Judy Hindley
The Tale of Peter Rabbit - by Beatrix Potter

The bond, closeness, and fun of reading picture books to a child, in time can develop in them a genuine love of books, plus reading for the sheer pleasure of it.

Books can take your children where you can't afford to take them, give them insights they will treasure, and offer a window into the lives of a host of wonderful characters. Books can be fun, educational, or mind bogglingly intriguing.

My daughter and her husband have the right idea -
HOOK 'EM EARLY!

Make sure the kids in your life discover the
hidden treasure found ONLY in books!

My Website - Manuscript Critiques
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BUY any Autographed Book from my website, and
receive a FREE LINK to me READING that story!

8 comments:

Carol BrookeSeptember 27, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Hi Margot, Laura, Reagan and Karly are so cute! I love that picture. Alana also loves to read because I've read to her since she was a baby. Every night she reads herself to sleep. Lately, she says. "No, Mommy. Alana want to read." She takes the books and read through them hersef (as a picture walk) and goes to sleep. She's 2 now. It's amazing to see how much she loves reading, too.
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Magic Carpet of 16x BooksSeptember 27, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Two is a wonderful age, Carol. You can SEE their brain absorbing new things minute-by-minute.

Thanks for the comment mate.

Books - Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfinke.com
ReplyDelete
Replies
T. ForehandSeptember 27, 2009 at 6:18 PM
wonderful post and great pictures of your family. The most important thing a parent can do is to teach a child the importance of reading and what better way to do that but with fun and exciting books. Every child needs a spark of imagination and the friendship of a favorite character. You have got the right idea..Hook them on reading.

Warmly,
Terri
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Magic Carpet of 16x BooksSeptember 27, 2009 at 6:57 PM
Thanks for your comment Terri. Reading is a magic carpet ride no child should miss out on.

Books - Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfinke.com
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Replies
CherylSeptember 27, 2009 at 7:20 PM
What beautiful kids! My girls like Max & Ruby too and they're 8 and 5. I have one girl who always wants to read and the other who would rather do anything but read. It's funny how God can make them so different.

Cheryl
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Magic Carpet of 16x BooksSeptember 28, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Yes, I think they are just darling kids - but then I could be a little prejudiced!!

My son was a reluctant reader, so I write books like Rattlesnake Jam for boys. Lots of yuck and laughs. Just what boys like.

Books - Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfinke.com
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Replies
Donna McDineSeptember 28, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Hi Margot:

Terrific post and so very true. Your granddaughter's are beautiful!

Regards,
Donna
Children’s Author
Write What Inspires You Blog
The Golden Pathway Story book Blog
Donna M. McDine’s Website
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Magic Carpet of 16x BooksSeptember 28, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Donna, thanks so much. They are the light of my life.

Books - Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfinke.com
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SKYPING AROUND the WORLD

Today SKYPE flew my “Magic Carpet” back to a class on the east coast. I listened to all the wonderfully innovative stories these kids wrote after my first visit with them. They really remembered to use powerful words and add lots of action – FANTASTIC! They illustrated their books, and every child wrote a cute Bio to go with their story. They were so proud of their accomplishments, and I was busting my buttons too. Such a thrill to be a part of turning a class on to the joys of reading and writing. YAHOO! I also read them “Never Say BOO to a Frilly,” as a treat for all their hard work. And their teacher, Geralyn Downey, went all out to encourage each child, and make them feel proud of their writing. Great teachers like Geralyn are real treasures.

I made a Skype Author Visit to a classroom in Auckland, New Zealand. They were so enthusiastic and smart. They even made a Video about my visit. I was thrilled and humbled. Read about it HERE

I also Skyped with high school teens in New Delhi, India. They asked so many questions. It was wonderful to see so many enthusiastic kids interested in reading and writing.

NOTE The only limit to an author visit to schools anywhere in the world are the Time Zones. They must work with where YOU live, as well as where the schools are situated.

SKYPE THANK YOU NOTES from TEACHERS

Thank you so much for this Margot. I am looking forward to skyping with you at 11. Just to let you know- the students took great pride in their stories. Although they are somewhat silly, and some maybe not too logical, the goal was for them to write and feel pride in publishing and sharing their stories. In that, they have all been successful. So, I hope that you will be able to sit back and let US take you YOU on a Magic Carpet Ride today! Talk to you soon! Geri

I did. . . and it was AWESOME!!

From a happy New Jersey teacher:

***********

"Thank you so much for our class skype today! The children learned so much, and cannot stop talking about it! They took your suggestions for writing to heart and are excited to begin writing their own stories tomorrow! LOVED this experience! Thank you!"
**********
SKYPE Inspires a Class:

Hi Margot,

I just wanted to let you know that my students have been working hard on writing their own stories since skyping with you. They were wondering if you might have time to Skype with us again to listen to their stories.

One little boy in particular has been so enthusiastic about this that he has been asking to work on his "book" every day since skyping with you. It is a very short story, but he could NOT be any prouder! You have really made an impression on him, as well as the other students! Thank you for this!

If you ever have time to skype with us again, they would LOVE to share their stories with you!

AND I AM GOING BACK TO HEAR THEIR STORIES AS SOON AS WE SETTLE ON A DATE.

*****************

Geralyn Downey shared your link: "To my teacher friends. Our class skyped with Margot Finke, children's author, and we LOVED it. Please watch this, and consider having her visit your class via skype. Believe me, you will love it! She was fantastic!"

***********

Thank you for the Skype! My class loved your storytelling!

From Mrs. Hime's Third Grade Class

***********

I just wanted to thank you for visiting our class! I know my students were so excited to engage with you and found your artifacts so interesting! My students struggle every day to battle obstacles that I would wish for no child, yet they do it fearlessly. With half of my students living below the poverty line, many of them will never see the world, nor the next parish. But I do believe that experiences like the one you gave them is invaluable in their realization that there is so much more out there! Thank you again for taking the time to talk to and read to my students!

Shane Silpe - 3rd Grade Teacher

***********

Thanks a ton for the Skype session with us. My students and I were absolutely thrilled to have you in our classroom. They wouldn't stop talking about you today. They shared their amazing experience with everyone at school and in their community as well. Today they wrote some poems for you. My students want to send you thank you emails and their poems. Do you mind if I let them email you on this id?

Once again thank you very much Margot. We thoroughly enjoyed your session, wish we could have listened you read the other story you showed us.

Regards, Harini - 4^th grade teacher in New Zealand.

***********

Thank you for spending your time with us. The children are still very excited about skype and sometimes have trouble sitting still! When the session was over, we discussed what they learned and they had a ton to say. We are also going to write a narrative using an Australian animal. It will take us a couple of weeks but I cannot wait to see what they produce. It was a great way to kick off our narrative writing unit. I think the children would love a copy of your book. Will you sign it for us? I know as they are writing their stories, yours would be a wonderful model for them.

Sincerely, Jennifer - 5th Grade Teacher

***********

Hi Margot,

Thank you so much for your email and especially for the wonderful Skype visit!! It was so much fun and so informative!! It was a huge hit and everyone raved about you!! :-) Regarding the books, I think it would be fine to send them to my school as there are lots of deliveries during the summer. I would love to do this again next year (preferably mid-year) with our new first grade classes!! Thank you so much for all of your time and enthusiasm!! I hope you have a wonderful summer!

Nancy – first grade teacher.

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GREAT BOOKS for RELUCTANT READERS and BOYS!

ASSORTED:
Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Hatcher by Gary Paulson
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

PICTURE BOOKS by Margot Finke
Rattlesnake Jam
Mama Grizzly Bear
Kangaroo Clues
Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind
Horatio Humble Beats the Big D
Don't Eat Platypus Stew
Prairie Dog's Play Day
Never say BOO to a Frilly
Squirrels Can't Help Being Nuts

YOUNG BOYS:
Cars That Go and Things That Go by Richard Scarry
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

MID GRADE BOYS:
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
The Baseball Card Adventure Series by Dan Gutman
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh
Taconi and Claude by Margot Finke

Jeff Kinney's WIMPY KID Series:
http://www.wimpykid.com/
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
The do it Yourself Book
Rick Riordan's books

Rick Riordan's Books:
The Titan's Curse
The Battle of the Labyrinth
The Sea of Monsters
The Lightening Thief.

Mystery of the Copper Turtle Doris Holik Kelly
The Revenge of Thelma Hill by Margot Finke

See how most of these authors are MEN.
Come on ladies, anything they can do . . .

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