Too many books? No! Yes! More!
November 20th, 2009 by Treena ShapiroMy daughter earns a pizza every time she meets a reading goal.
While she's not terribly interested in pizza in general, she likes rewards and, as a result, she's become a reading machine. We quickly exhausted all the books she can read in our own personal collection and ended up buying a bunch of digital books for our iPod Touch and Kindle while waiting for an opportunity to go to the library.
I'd just ordered several books of the Scholastic book form she brings home every month when she asked for Dav Pilkey's Ricky Ricotta books, which are such great starter chapter books that I couldn't refuse.
My son has been reading a couple different series, with books that aren't terribly expensive on their own, but add up when he needs a new installment every few days. And since I like seeing my kids' reading, I don't say no to most requests for novels. In fact, I feel so strongly that all children should be able to read that earlier this week, I also donated a couple dozen books through a couple different causes.
As for myself, despite having little time to read these days, I can always find time to buy books I intend to read someday. My future reading, anchored by the ever-present (and never completed) "Ulysses" and "Swann's Way," has grown by several volumes this week — with lots of local books, new releases by some of by favorite best-selling authors and a couple of "grown-up" vampire books I ordered when people suggested them as an alternative to "Twilight."
At a book sale at the school today, I knew I was spending a lot, but since I was buying Christmas presents for the kids and for charity, I didn't flinch when I got the total. I did, however, do some mental math and, well, over the past couple weeks the amount I've spent on books is roughly equivalent to a round-trip ticket to the West Coast.
I'm not even going to pretend that I feel guilty about any of it, but now that the kids and I all have enough reading material to get us through the rest of the year, my book buying focus is turning to gifts... and I'm always looking for suggestions.
Tags: book donations, iPod Touch, Kindle, library, reading
November 20th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
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November 22nd, 2009 at 10:54 am
Pizza is not a healthy reward.
Once a week you should play Scrabble with your children. Let them read but have fun spelling. Scrabble can teach spelling and the points won. Go to Jellies or some bookstore and buy old books that are cheap. I like Jellies. Old or New books. I was watching a Disney Show about an African American girl who when young played Scrabble with her late Dad. She trained and tied for First Place in the Spelling BEE. From what I don't read, I learn from Documentaries on TV. Sometimes childrens shows too. Even Adults can keep on learning.
Teach your child how to speed read. Speed reading can cut time of reading and more time doing the math or science or actual paperwork involved. Less time reading more time to correct subjects. More time to play. Just have fun learning with your child too.
If you can afford to buy the books, more the merrier. Buy online at Amazon.com. They sell many used books for children and add ons for you Ipod or Kindle. Way cheaper than a new add on. Buy at Jellies Bookstore in Aiea.
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:56 am
Michael, I agree. Scrabble is a great game. I'm an addict, and my daughter has shown enough curiosity watching me play that I think she's just about ready the Scrabble Jr. version. Right now, the game of the moment is Hangman, which is interesting with a creative speller.
As for the pizza, that's a Pizza Hut thing that the school's can take advantage of. It's not healthy, but it does motivate her and we end up getting more books because of it. I wish more kids' books were available digitally, but my teenager can download a lot of books at his reading level.