The Magic Bookshelf: A Parent's Guide to Showing Growing Minds the Path to the Best Children's Literature

Rating:
Summary: Magic for Your Children, Magic for You
Review: It took me years to find just the right book that hooked me into reading for the rest of my life (The Hobbit). Giving my daughter a headstart so she can find just the right books--and opening a whole new world for her--is nothing short of miraculous. I can't think of anything I rather give her. This book helped me send this gift to my daughter and, I believe, it will change her life. Thank you.

Rating:
Summary: Essential Reading for New Parents and Grandparents!
Review: This book deserves more than five stars!

I wish that I had had this book available to me when I first became a parent. I certainly intend to give it as a gift to my children when they become parents.

The advice that parents used to receive from teachers was that it doesn't matter much what your child reads, just that she or he reads. This outstanding book takes appropriate issue with that way of thinking and proposes an alternative approach that will enrich your child (or grandchild's) reading skills, knowledge of good stories, and ability to write. I was impressed by the argument that you don't let your child eat just anything that he or she wants. Why would you let her or his mind be polluted with inappropriate thoughts?

From my own experience as a parent, I have one child who reads enormously but has read few good books. As a result, his grounding in basic ideas and literature is tenuous despite having a great deal of education. Clearly, I let him down in not steering him toward more useful books. If you are like me, you will want to avoid that error with your children and grandchildren. The Magic Bookshelf can help you a lot.

What we have learned about children's mental development has grown vastly in just the last few years. We now know that reading to babies is an important part of emotional and intellectual development. The Magic Bookshelf has many wonderful suggests for how to do this so you don't feel like you are "reading to the wall."

As soon as your child is old enought to have opinions, the authors have many excellent suggestions for how to find excellent books of the sort that will attract your child, and how to connect those books to other media. There's even good information about weaning your child away from (or avoiding) television.

The book also encourages you to be a good example by reading a lot, reading with your child, discussing books with your child, and doing writing together. You will get a lot of excellent advice about how to create a home environment that stimulates good reading.

I was impressed by the argument in the book that you encourage your child to see her or himself as a good reader, regardless of where your child's reading level is. So, don't take those age-specific labels seriously. Get books in your child's hands that he or she is ready for (whether less or more advanced than is typical for your child's age).

The key idea in the book is to have a Magic Bookshelf. This will be a set of books that your child will keep as a core of her or his own library, and reread throughout life. It can also be the core for his or her child's library later on.

The book also expanded my knowledge of the latest research concerning how children learn, and provided a wonderful bibliography to that research.

Naturally, there are helpful lists of books in the book to consider. These will be invaluable to those who are not very well grounded in children's books.

After you finish reading this excellent book, I suggest that you discuss what you learned with each of your children who is of an appropriate age. Presumably, you are reading about this book now after having been a parent for a while. You don't want to leave any stone unturned to help your children, regardless of their age today. Then ask your children if they would like to do a little directed reading of these children's books together. If they would, you can also help fill in gaps in their background now, regardless of their age. The reason I suggest this is that I often run into people who find themselves at a disadvantage because they do not know commonly-read stories. This gap can easily be filled by your action now.

Enjoy your reading as you set a good example and create better bonding and intellect for your children and grandchildren!

Rating:
Summary: Essential Reading for New Parents and Grandparents!
Review: This book deserves more than five stars!

I wish that I had had this book available to me when I first became a parent. I certainly intend to give it as a gift to my children when they become parents.

The advice that parents used to receive from teachers was that it doesn't matter much what your child reads, just that she or he reads. This outstanding book takes appropriate issue with that way of thinking and proposes an alternative approach that will enrich your child (or grandchild's) reading skills, knowledge of good stories, and ability to write. I was impressed by the argument that you don't let your child eat just anything that he or she wants. Why would you let her or his mind be polluted with inappropriate thoughts?

From my own experience as a parent, I have one child who reads enormously but has read few good books. As a result, his grounding in basic ideas and literature is tenuous despite having a great deal of education. Clearly, I let him down in not steering him toward more useful books. If you are like me, you will want to avoid that error with your children and grandchildren. The Magic Bookshelf can help you a lot.

What we have learned about children's mental development has grown vastly in just the last few years. We now know that reading to babies is an important part of emotional and intellectual development. The Magic Bookshelf has many wonderful suggests for how to do this so you don't feel like you are "reading to the wall."

As soon as your child is old enought to have opinions, the authors have many excellent suggestions for how to find excellent books of the sort that will attract your child, and how to connect those books to other media. There's even good information about weaning your child away from (or avoiding) television.

The book also encourages you to be a good example by reading a lot, reading with your child, discussing books with your child, and doing writing together. You will get a lot of excellent advice about how to create a home environment that stimulates good reading.

I was impressed by the argument in the book that you encourage your child to see her or himself as a good reader, regardless of where your child's reading level is. So, don't take those age-specific labels seriously. Get books in your child's hands that he or she is ready for (whether less or more advanced than is typical for your child's age).

The key idea in the book is to have a Magic Bookshelf. This will be a set of books that your child will keep as a core of her or his own library, and reread throughout life. It can also be the core for his or her child's library later on.

The book also expanded my knowledge of the latest research concerning how children learn, and provided a wonderful bibliography to that research.

Naturally, there are helpful lists of books in the book to consider. These will be invaluable to those who are not very well grounded in children's books.

After you finish reading this excellent book, I suggest that you discuss what you learned with each of your children who is of an appropriate age. Presumably, you are reading about this book now after having been a parent for a while. You don't want to leave any stone unturned to help your children, regardless of their age today. Then ask your children if they would like to do a little directed reading of these children's books together. If they would, you can also help fill in gaps in their background now, regardless of their age. The reason I suggest this is that I often run into people who find themselves at a disadvantage because they do not know commonly-read stories. This gap can easily be filled by your action now.

Enjoy your reading as you set a good example and create better bonding and intellect for your children and grandchildren!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Guide for grandparents as well as parents!
Review: This little book is a must for parents, grandparents and teachers who need some guidance in the world of children's literature.

The book gives sound suggestions without the "soapbox approach". I liked the authors' ideal that a magic bookshelf "can exist on the mind" as well as being physical

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Guide for grandparents as well as parents!
Review: This little book is a must for parents, grandparents and teachers who need some guidance in the world of children's literature.

The book gives sound suggestions without the "soapbox approach". I liked the authors' ideal that a magic bookshelf "can exist on the mind" as well as being physical

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Guide for grandparents as well as parents!
Review: This little book is a must for parents, grandparents and teachers who need some guidance in the world of children's literature.

The book gives sound suggestions without the "soapbox approach". I liked the authors' ideal that a magic bookshelf "can exist on the mind" as well as being physical