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Life is a series of changes but with the advent of fall comes the change that we at BTBL love most of all. The visual changes as the bloom of flowers leave us and the trees display their magnificent colors before dropping their leaves. This time also offers great outdoor experiences for children. A wonderful way to experience the changes of fall might be to read the story My Autumn Book by Wong Herbert Yee and then enjoy the wonders of nature with your child and collect the treasures the season has to offer and create your own Autumn Book.
Change at this time of year can also involve starting school or moving to a new grade. A wonderful story about the challenge of accepting change and letting go in order to grow up is Little Tree by Loren Long. With so many changes that occur in a young child’s life, it is vitally important that some routines and traditions remain, such as snuggling and sharing a story. Children are often confronted with daily changes and most of these changes are beyond a child’s control, which can lead to stress and anxiety. It is the established routines that can give a child a sense of control for they know what to expect. Routines give children a sense of consistency and security in an ever changing, unpredictable world. A routine of reading with your child will make them feel safe and secure and create an everlasting bond. Choose stories that help your child see that though life presents challenges, not all is lost such as Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst.
Do you have a library card? If not, it's time to get one!
What is happening in September?
2nd: Labor Day - To honor the contributions workers have made to this country help your child explore careers. Some books to consider are When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic, Lola Dutch When I Grow Up by Kenneth Wright and the The Berenstain Bears Jobs Around Town by Stan and Jan Berenstain.
8th: Poet Jack Prelutsky’s Birthday - With his innovative word play, Prelutsky’s poems are a must read for every child. Consider Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young and The New Kid on the Block.
Author Jon Scieszka’s Birthday - Nationally recognized reading advocate and the founder of the literacy program for boys GUYS READ. Share one of his picture books with your young one or for the older set a title from his Time Warp Trio chapter book series.
International Literacy Day - Helps to raise awareness for those who cannot read or write. Help your child understand how important reading is to life by reading Oh, How I wished I Could Read! by John Gile.
11th: 9/11 Remembrance Day - Honor those who were taken from us in your own special way.
13th: Author Roald Dahl’s Birthday - Who didn’t grow up with Dahl’s classics such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or James and the Giant Peach? Share one of his timeless stories with your child.
14th: Curiosity Day – Each year, around the birthday of H.A. Rey, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) hosts an event called Curiosity Day. This is a day set aside to celebrate the magic of learning and discovery through reading, particularly the stories of everyone’s favorite curious monkey, George. You can find more information about this day and ways to celebrate on HMH’s official Curious George web page.
16th: Author H.A. Rey’s Birthday - Rey, with wife Margret, brought the delightful exploits of a mischievous and beloved little monkey to life, Curious George. Read about their remarkable journey to escape the Nazi invasion of Paris in The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margaret and H.A. Rey by Louise Borden.
17th: Constitution Day – A day to celebrate our Nation’s Constitution. Consider reading We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States by David Catrow.
25th: Poet Shel Silverstein’s Birthday - Silverstein has delighted children with his poems and drawings for years. Among his notable works are The Giving Tree and Where the Sidewalk Ends.
The Last Week is Banned Books Week – Celebrate the freedom to read by choosing your favorite book. For a list of frequently challenged/banned books, visit the American Library Association's website.
"No two persons ever read the same book."
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When we think of seasons we always look to nature for indications of change, but any person who goes shopping realizes that August and September are the beginning of the Back to School season with specials, sales and offers of all kinds on anything and everything school related. While you’re busy getting all the requisite supplies, don’t forget the most important supply: books! Not the notebooks, though you will need those, but the storybooks to keep the fun and the whimsy alive when homework begins to bog the kids down.
Some titles to consider with a back to school theme are:
- We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
- School Days by B. G. Hennessy
- My New Teacher and Me by Al Yankovic
- The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
- Choose a title from Natasha Wing for your child’s age such as...
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School by Davide Cali
- This School Year Will Be The Best! by Kay Winters
- Click, Clack, Quack to School! by Doreen Cronin
- Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London
- It’s Back to School We Go!: First Day Stories from Around the World by Ellen Jackson
- Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
- Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
- The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School by Deborah Diesen
- Monsters Love School by Mike Austin
- If You Take A Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff
- Little Critter: First Day of School by Mercer Mayer
- Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
- How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills
- Emily's First 100 Days of School by Rosemary Wells
- Timothy Goes to School by Rosemary Wells
- How To Get Your Teacher Ready by Jean Reagan
- Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate
Many of these titles are geared for the younger set just entering school but don’t let the older ones fool you into thinking that they don’t enjoy these too. There are many titles out there for older children as well that are just plain fun or that help with anxiety and stress or help to teach a valuable lesson. Check with your local librarian or local book shop for ideas.
And speaking of your local library, this month is Library Card Sign-Up Month so get the family together and head out to your library and get everyone a card and then peruse the books and check out some titles that interest. Perhaps even find a title that can be read aloud as a whole family such as The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, Little Women or Little Men by Louisa May Alcott, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss, the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, or A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. Start a family tradition of a chapter a night after dinner or before bedtime.
Though children head off to school and schedules become hectic, don’t forget the importance of reading aloud, even to older children. Many schools don’t fund libraries and teachers don’t always have the time to read aloud so keep reading alive in your house through daily read alouds.
Remember that reading aloud to your child helps:
Remember that reading aloud to your child helps:
- build background knowledge
- build vocabulary
- build concentration and focus
- build imagination
- build strong bonds
What's happening in September?
7th: Labor Day - To honor the contributions workers have made to this country help your child explore careers. Some books to consider are When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic and the Barenstain Bears’ On the Job and Jobs Around Town.
8th: Poet Jack Prelutsky’s Birthday - With his innovative word play, Prelutsky’s poems are a must read for every child. Consider Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young and The New Kid on the Block.
Author Jon Scieszka’s Birthday - Nationally recognized reading advocate and the founder of the literacy program for boys GUYS READ. Share one of his picture books with your young one or for the older set a title from his Time Warp Trio chapter book series.
International Literacy Day - Helps to raise awareness for those who cannot read or write. Help your child understand how important reading is to life by reading Oh, How I wished I Could Read! by John Gile.
11th: 9/11 Remembrance Day - Honor those who were taken from us in your own special way.
13th: Author Roald Dahl’s Birthday - Who didn’t grow up with Dahl’s classics such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or James and the Giant Peach? Share one of his many stories with your child.
16th: Author H.A. Rey’s Birthday - Rey, with wife Margret, brought the delightful exploits of a mischievous and beloved little monkey to life, Curious George. Read about their remarkable journey to escape the Nazi invasion of Paris in The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margaret and H.A. Rey by Louise Borden.
17th: Constitution Day – A day to celebrate our Nation’s Constitution. Consider reading We the People by David Catrow.
25th: Poet Shel Silverstein’s Birthday - Silverstein has delighted children with his poems and drawings for years. Among his notable works are The Giving Tree and Where the Sidewalk Ends.
The Last Week is Banned Books Week - Celebrate the right to read by picking up your favorite book or a frequently challenged book. You can find challenged and banned book lists on the American Library Association's website.
Curiosity Day - Each year, sometime around the birthday of H.A. Rey, publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) hosts an event called Curiosity Day. This is a day set aside to celebrate the magic of learning and discovery through reading, particularly the stories of everyone’s favorite curious monkey, George. You can find more information about this day and ways to celebrate on HMH’s official Curious George web page.
8th: Poet Jack Prelutsky’s Birthday - With his innovative word play, Prelutsky’s poems are a must read for every child. Consider Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young and The New Kid on the Block.
Author Jon Scieszka’s Birthday - Nationally recognized reading advocate and the founder of the literacy program for boys GUYS READ. Share one of his picture books with your young one or for the older set a title from his Time Warp Trio chapter book series.
International Literacy Day - Helps to raise awareness for those who cannot read or write. Help your child understand how important reading is to life by reading Oh, How I wished I Could Read! by John Gile.
11th: 9/11 Remembrance Day - Honor those who were taken from us in your own special way.
13th: Author Roald Dahl’s Birthday - Who didn’t grow up with Dahl’s classics such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or James and the Giant Peach? Share one of his many stories with your child.
16th: Author H.A. Rey’s Birthday - Rey, with wife Margret, brought the delightful exploits of a mischievous and beloved little monkey to life, Curious George. Read about their remarkable journey to escape the Nazi invasion of Paris in The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margaret and H.A. Rey by Louise Borden.
17th: Constitution Day – A day to celebrate our Nation’s Constitution. Consider reading We the People by David Catrow.
25th: Poet Shel Silverstein’s Birthday - Silverstein has delighted children with his poems and drawings for years. Among his notable works are The Giving Tree and Where the Sidewalk Ends.
The Last Week is Banned Books Week - Celebrate the right to read by picking up your favorite book or a frequently challenged book. You can find challenged and banned book lists on the American Library Association's website.
Curiosity Day - Each year, sometime around the birthday of H.A. Rey, publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) hosts an event called Curiosity Day. This is a day set aside to celebrate the magic of learning and discovery through reading, particularly the stories of everyone’s favorite curious monkey, George. You can find more information about this day and ways to celebrate on HMH’s official Curious George web page.
So, even though schedules are about to get much crazier, don't forget to make time to share books with your children and enjoy all of the delights that the beginning of the fall season has to offer!
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
It's Banned Books Week, the annual week-long celebration of everyone's right to read whatever they choose! In this age of free flowing information it comes as a surprise to many that books are often challenged and/or banned in libraries and schools across the country. What is even more surprising are the titles that are targeted, such as Shel Silverstein’s A Light in the Attic and Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are.
Why are books challenged and/or banned?
What is the difference between a challenge and a ban?
Below is a short list of some of most frequently challenged children's books and the reasons they have been challenged and/or banned:
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Challenged because of a cigarette and ashtray present in the illustrations. Later editions of the book
have been digitally altered to remove those elements.
Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle
Contains nude illustration of a man and woman based on Adam and Eve.
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Challenged because of inappropriate language, magical elements, references to drugs
and alcohol and it encourages disobedience.
In the Night Kitchen and Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The latter has been challenged for containing supernatural elements, witchcraft and showing a child
yelling at his mother, which was believed to promote disobedience. In the Night Kitchen has been
objected to because the main character, Mickey, is pictured nude.
Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss
Challenged for encouraging children to use violence against their fathers.
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Banned and challenged because of concerns that the poems promote/glorify violence,
disobedience, Satan, cannibalism and suicide.
It’s A Book by Lane Smith
Banned in two Massachusetts school districts for the use of the word “jackass” in reference to the
donkey character at the end of the story.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Challenged because of a cigarette and ashtray present in the illustrations. Later editions of the book
have been digitally altered to remove those elements.
Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle
Contains nude illustration of a man and woman based on Adam and Eve.
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Challenged because of inappropriate language, magical elements, references to drugs
and alcohol and it encourages disobedience.
In the Night Kitchen and Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The latter has been challenged for containing supernatural elements, witchcraft and showing a child
yelling at his mother, which was believed to promote disobedience. In the Night Kitchen has been
objected to because the main character, Mickey, is pictured nude.
Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss
Challenged for encouraging children to use violence against their fathers.
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Banned and challenged because of concerns that the poems promote/glorify violence,
disobedience, Satan, cannibalism and suicide.
It’s A Book by Lane Smith
Banned in two Massachusetts school districts for the use of the word “jackass” in reference to the
donkey character at the end of the story.
Help fight censorship and preserve intellectual freedom by reading challenged/banned books and having meaningful discussions with your children about their rights and respecting the rights of others.
Words have power!
**All images are courtesy of the American Library Association**
Words have power!
**All images are courtesy of the American Library Association**
Author
We are mom Sandra and daughters Amanda and Kate, all with backgrounds in literacy and education, who want to share our philosophy of taking the basics of life; books, simple toys that encourage play, imagination and creativity, and using cooking and baking to teach math and real life skills to raise happy, inquisitive children. Join us in exploring the old and the new and sifting through the myriad of research to consider what is best for our children.
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