Blog Entries

Attention Young St. Louis Area "Writer-types"

julie@mohumanities.org — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:00:00 +0100

Do you know a kid who loves to write, or would like to learn more about writing? Check out Studio STL's website to find out more about this amazing place for young scribes.

http://studiostl.org/StudioSTL/about.php

Great Resource for Finding What to Read

julie@mohumanities.org — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:00:00 +0100

So many great children's books, so little time!! I rely on several blogs to help me navigate through the world of children's literature. One of my faves (and NOT just because Sue is a friend of mine) is a blog written by children's writer Sue Bradford Edwards. Sue has a way of finding the coolest new (or new to me) books (check out her post on June 19 for an unusual ABC book called Zoo Flakes). Sue looks at books through a writer's eye. Check out her blog for [...]

Twist of Fate is a great summer read!

julie@mohumanities.org — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:00:00 +0100

I always love when I can recommend great new books to my friends. Twist of Fate: The Miracle Colt and His Friends is a wonderful book by Missouri author Chris Stuckenschneider and illustrator Kevin Belford. You may remember the story a few years ago of a truckload of horses that overturned on I-44 in Missouri as it headed to a slaughterhouse in Illinois. One of the suviving horses later gave birth to a colt named Twister, the narrator of this beautiful story. Twis [...]

READ from the START Alive and Well

julie@mohumanities.org — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:00:00 +0100

Missouri parents and caregivers have joined in book discussions all over the state this spring! READ from the START programs have been held in locations including the Mother to Mother program at Dexter Regional Healthcare Foundation, Kornerstone in Shell Knob, many Head Start Centers and Parents as Teachers group meetings, and several public libraries. In fact, we have presented 50 RFTS programs in 2009 and have many more scheduled.

At a program in Steele, parents [...]

KidLitosphere Central

julie@mohumanities.org — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 06:00:00 +0100

KidLitosphere is an online community of bloggers who share a love of children's and young adult literature. A new website, http://www.kidlitosphere.org/KidLitosphere_Central/Welcome.html , enables children's lit lovers to access a wealth of book reviews, discussion groups, book award information, and social networking opportunities with fellow readers. The group organizes a yearly conference, has its own facebook group, and even sells some great tee shirts and mugs that [...]

Raise a Reader in 2009

julie@mohumanities.org — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:00:00 +0100

Well, here are some resolutions that don't require eating more veggies, sweating at the gym, or cleaning out your closets!

Diane Petryk Bloom offers some wonderful advice about how to resolve to raise a reader.

http://www.examiner.com/x-591-Childrens-Book-Examiner~y2009m1d1-5-resolutions-to-guarantee-youll-raise-a-reader--start-with-a-little-pixie-dust

Role Models and Children

julie@mohumanities.org — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:00:00 +0100

In the November 2008 volume of The Figure in the Carpet, Jian Leng writes about the need for parents to be selective about the kinds of role models their children see. She talks specifically about movies, but what she says can also apply to books and stories. Leng points out "Children learn what they see, and parents are their first role models." (To read more of Leng's article, go to http://cenhum.artsci.wustl.edu/publications/FITC/Nov.%2008.pdf )

One of the [...]

Encouraging Parents to Read to their Children

julie@mohumanities.org — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Two of our Read First! communities are finishing up a month of activities designed to encourage parents to read to young children, and two more communities are gearing up for Read First! in November. It has been exciting to see how the towns are promoting family reading through book give-aways, special preschool story times at the library, Read First! displays in storefronts, an ad on the screen at the local movie theater reminding parents to read, workshops and READ from the START program [...]

Books About the Culture and Language of India

julie@mohumanities.org — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:00:00 +0100

One of the perks of my job is getting to meet other children's book lovers! Recently I had a wonderful conversation with Ramesh Damani from Meera Masi, a publishing company that specializes in books for children about the culture and languages of India. Ramesh shared with me some of the beautiful books written for young children. The books introduce children to Hindi and other languages that are spoken in India. The books are bright and engaging! Check out the Meera [...]

Making Friends with a Book in Tarkio

julie@mohumanities.org — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

On Thursday night I had the honor of attending Friendship Day in Tarkio, one of our Read First! communities. The local committee used the annual celebration to spread the word about upcoming Read First! events in Tarkio. Parents signed up for READ from the START programs that will be held in September. Kids received free books. Everyone seemed to enjoy the free food and fun and the weather cooperated quite nicely! If you live in or near Tarkio, give the Tarkio [...]

Dads Who Read to Kids

julie@mohumanities.org — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Check out this interesting article by Kendal Rautzhan for the Daily Item about the value of dads reading to their children, especially their sons! Rautzhan reiterated what our fellow blogger, Mike, just said about the importance of children hearing and seeing their dads or other signifigant males reading. The article makes some excellent suggestions about books that both dad and child will enjoy. http://www.dailyitem.com/0300_entertainment/local_story_206082726.htm [...]

Where do I begin??

mike@01creative.net — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:00:00 +0100

As the proud owner of an 8 month old son [he still has the new car smell, too!], I have no idea where to begin when it comes to starting his interest in reading. I guess the old adagium of "what he sees papa do, he'll do" is what I have to start with. :)

I have memories of my sudden comprehension of those symbols being letters, the letters forming words, then suddenly...AHA! I CAN UNDERSTAND THE WORDS THAT GO WITH THESE BERENSTEINS BEARS DRAWINGS!!! [my first book i remem [...]

Never too soon to start a family tradition of reading

julie@mohumanities.org — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:00:00 +0100

I was reading the blog of a children's author and noticed that she is a proud new grandmother. The baby is only a few days old and the author commented that she had already read to the baby! It really is never to early to get started reading to a child. Family reading can be a rich tradition in a family. When my own daughter was very small, we had a wonderful snuggly tradition of building a "magic carpet" and taking an imaginary trip. It wasn [...]

What's funnier than cows that type?

julie@mohumanities.org — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:00:00 +0100

I was so happy to learn today that First Book is making Doreen Cronin's CLICK CLACK MOO available in its First Book Marketplace for the deeply discounted price of $1.82. If you are not familiar with First Book, visit http://www.fbmarketplace.org/servlet/StoreFront to find out how organizations that serve children from low income families can purchase excellent children's books. Cronin is one of my favorite authors! (I adore funny barnyard animals, what can I say?) How cool that this [...]

"Library" Baby Shower

julie@mohumanities.org — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:00:00 +0100

This is one of the coolest ideas I have heard in a long time! My sister recently was invited to attend a baby shower where the guests were encouraged to help the new parents start their new baby's library. The invitation suggested giving the new family a favorite children's classic along with sharing a memory about the book.

I think if I were attending this shower, it would be difficult to choose which book to give! With so many wonderful new books for the very [...]

History of Children's Literature

julie@mohumanities.org — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:00:00 +0100

For those of you who are lovers of children's books, take a look at this review of two books that explore the history of children's literature and its impact on us. http://www.nysun.com/arts/out-of-aesops-overcoat-two-histories-of-childrens/80183/

Parents' Call to Action

julie@mohumanities.org — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:00:00 +0100

According to the THE 2008 KIDS AND FAMILY READING REPORTTM
CONDUCTED BY YANKELOVICH AND SCHOLASTIC, children report having difficulty finding books they can connect with, are certain that the printed book will have a place in their lives in spite of their high use of technology, and are most influenced by their parents' efforts and modeling when it comes to developing a love of reading. One key finding in the study showed that only half of parents began reading to their children un [...]

Read First! Ready to Roll

julie@mohumanities.org — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:00:00 +0100

We have just finished two days of Read First! orientation here in St. Louis. 19 representatives from our Read First! communities met to strategize and get energized for the upcoming Read First! month in each of the towns. Judging by the enthusiasm and commitment these women showed, Read First! is going to b [...]

Once Upon a Time...

julie@mohumanities.org — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:00:00 +0100

"Once upon a time..." What happens when you hear those words? Do you settle back in your chair and anticipate an adventure? Do you stop what you are doing and lean in, intent on not missing a word? Or perhaps it's your cue to pick up your pen and write a story of your own.

For those lucky enough to have grown up listening to stories, those four little words signal the start of something exciting. This blog is all about those shared reading experiences. Visit often [...]