Spring Into Reading!

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     The March saying, “in like a lion, out like a lamb” makes us wonder what the month will bring after an already interesting winter here in Michigan. March is also designated as National Reading Month and March 2 is the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss, as well as Read Across America Day. We at BTBL enjoy Dr. Seuss books filled with silly words and rhymes and are saddened when we read about groups wishing to ban some of his books. We don’t agree with banning any books but instead to discuss concerns with your children before and after you read the book. You also have to take into account the historical context of any book and the world climate, the author’s background and what was taking place at the time it was written. You cannot alter history and we feel that challenged books make for an excellent learning opportunity.

"Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory."
- Dr. Seuss

     Regardless, whether you choose to include Dr. Seuss titles or not, we hope that you will fill the month with books. Use this month to:

• Read aloud to your child(ren) every day and hopefully it will become a habit if it isn’t already.
  
• Share a favorite book from your childhood.
• Extend a story with an activity to make it memorable (follow us on Facebook and Pinterest for additional ideas not found on our blog)
• Create or join a book club or just get together with other parents and children to read a book and do a craft. Turn it into a readers theatre.
• Encourage your child(ren) to read to a pet or to a favorite plush book buddy. Research has shown that reading to a pet or book buddy helps struggling readers gain confidence because they don’t feel so self-conscious or judged.
• Visit your local library to participate in the many activities offered during National Reading month.
• Visit a local bookstore to look at their displays and peruse new titles. Choose a store you haven’t been to before. Don’t forget about used bookstores too. You never know what books you'll find when browsing at a used bookstore or sale.

Special Days in March

     March is a month filled with nods to literacy. In addition to March being National Reading Month, the 14th is Pi Day as well as Albert Einstein’s birthday, the Ides of March on the 15th, the 17th St. Patrick’s Day and author/illustrator Kate Greenaway's birthday, the 21st World Poetry Day and the 22nd illustrator Randolph Caldecott’s birthday. All of these occasions offer wonderful opportunities for reading and learning.

14th: Pi Day – Celebrate the never-ending number with Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi by Cindy Neuschwander or grab a slice of pie and read a pie book with your little ones. Refer back to our blog Celebrate National Pie Day with a slice of pie and a storybook to see a list of books all about pie!

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Albert Einstein’s Birthday – “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” – Albert Einstein.
There is no argument that Albert Einstein was intelligent. He along with many others recognize the value in reading fairy tales. Celebrate the day by reading your favorite fairy tale. If you don’t have a favorite, check out our Fables, Folktales & Fairy Tales list for some recommended titles. Also, learn about Einstein’s life by sharing a picture book biography such as On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne and/or I Am Albert Einstein by Brad Meltzer.

15th: Ides of March - The soothsayer’s warning to “beware the Ides of March” opens up an opportunity for you to learn about Julius Caesar and Shakespeare’s play as well. Consider reading the Who Was? series or History for Kids. Plays are fun to read aloud as, by nature, character reading is done with more feeling and inflection, which aids in fluency and comprehension. Try Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar for Kids by Brendan P. Kelso.

17th: St. Patrick’s Day – Celebrate the foremost patron saint of Ireland by going a little bit green. One of our favorite stories to read aloud in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day is The Night Before St. Patrick's Day by Natasha Wing. Check your local library or book store for St. Patrick’s Day displays and more book suggestions.

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Kate Greenaway’s Birthday – The Kate Greenaway Medal, established in 1955, honors the legacy of the British author and illustrator it is named for and is awarded annually to a UK illustrator of children’s books. Paving the way for authors and illustrators such as Beatrix Potter, Greenaway is most famous for her children’s book illustrations of Victorian children wearing her version of late 18th century and Regency fashions.

20th: Vernal Equinox (First Day of Spring) - Celebrate the time of transition from blustery cold, gray days to warm sunshine filled ones. Spring is considered to be a time of rebirth with flowers pushing up through the earth and the new buds waiting to blossom on trees. Some of our favorite books to share at this time of year are Miss Maple’s Seeds by Eliza Wheeler, Flowers are Calling by Rita Gray, A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Who Likes Rain? by Wong Herbert Yee.

21st: World Poetry Day – “A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom” – Robert Frost               
A time to appreciate and support poets and poetry! One of our favorite picture book poems to read aloud is All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon. Share your favorite poems and discover new ones. Take a look at our Poetry & Nursery Rhymes list for anthology recommendations and read our previous blog From Words to Poetry to learn about the benefits of reading poetry.

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 22nd: Randolph Caldecott’s Birthday – The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of British artist and illustrator Randolph Caldecott. Choose a Caldecott Medal winner from 1938 to present to share with your child. Look for the gold Caldecott medal on the cover of books when browsing at your local library or book store or take a look at this list of medal winners from the American Library Association. Interesting fact...Caldecott and Greenaway (mentioned above) were both born in March of 1846 and worked as illustrators during the Victorian era.

     Enjoy this month in celebration of reading but continue throughout the year to place reading at the forefront and instill in your children the value of books. Most of all, just bond with your children and read, read, READ! These times when they are young are all too precious and end all too soon, so cherish the reading aloud snuggles while they last.

Happy reading!

-Kate @ BTBL

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Author

We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest editions, a daughter for Kate (now 3) and a son for Amanda (now 1.) We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.