Only two weeks into summer vacation, and it’s started already. I’m not going to mention the “b word.” I forbid my children to use the “b word”, because they have bright minds and should be able to find interesting things to do.
Yet, lately they’ve found a way around the “b word.” They say: “Mom, there’s nothing for me to do.” Can you relate? Any word nerd worth his or her sobriquet (Don’t remember that one? See the vocab page) should have one reply: find a cozy corner and READ!
But how to find something good to curl up with? Since my children have already read hundreds of books (literally; I am blessed), finding new material for them poses a challenge. However, last summer, I found great resource to help me: Some of My Best Friends Are Books, by JudithWynn Halstead. It intends to provide information for gifted readers, but if your child is a voracious reader, and not necessarily identified as gifted, this book still would be helpful.
Some of My Best Friends… explains intellectual and emotional development and bibiotherapy. It also provides suggestions for how to choose good literature and set up book discussions. But the most beneficial component is an annotated bibliography over 200 pages long. It lists, with brief descriptions, books for every age, by age group, from preschool to high school. It also includes discussion questions for each book based on topics like moral development and drive to understand.
The bibliography includes old favorites, like Harriet the Spy and From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler, as well as some more recently published books that I have never heard of. Even better, my kids haven’t heard of them either.
Yesterday, I sat down with note cards (I love note cards, especially the fun, color coded ones) and started jotting down book ideas for each kid. I starred suggestions that might work well for family reading time. (I use that extra hour of summer evening light to read aloud to my kids; they also enjoy reading to each other. It nurtures love for books and also gets the children settled and calm even if the sun is still out! Later in the summer, I might use that time to read something they wouldn’t choose on their own, like a classic or a biography.)
If my local library doesn’t have all the books from Some of My Best Friends…, I can request from other libraries in the system or start searching Amazon. Our library now allows us to borrow ebooks! I just have to take the time to set up my Kindle and get started!
How will you find books for your kids this summer? Can you name a few “forgotten favorites” or lost gems? Leave your suggestions in the comments, and thanks for stopping by!
Related Word Nerd Posts:
Coming next week: More suggestions for summer reading from my favorite picture book author!
Julia
Oh the “b” word…. When I was teaching, my mentor/coach would come into my classroom and tell the kids who claimed to be bored with their books: “Only boring people are bored.” It kept them quiet!
I love that and will use that statement the next time I hear “the b word”.
I needed this info! My sister adopted a little boy from Eastern Europe a couple of years ago and he just finished transitional kindergarten. He has some developmental deficiencies because of his premature birth and the orphanage environment he was in. We were looking some resource material and this will be a great reference!
Thanks, Julia!
I’m so glad you found it helpful. This book offers a lot of great information.