Children's Lit Newsletter 2/14/2025

Still trying to find a free image of a soapbox to go with this - but no luck so far. I'd appreciate any leads

Many thanks to those who reached out after this ran and told me how much you appreciated it (yes, this battle is still on-going)

ANYWAY: Years ago I used to have a blog called Life, Literature, and Laughter. I was sharing an old post with a friend and she said, "You should post that again. After all, it's been ten years." So, I've decided to occasionally repost something from the blog. This one is titled:

RAISING A READER

As a children’s literature reviewer who gives talks to parent or professional groups, I often get asked, “My child/student is not reading, how do I get her/him to like reading?

Most everyone knows the basic advice, read aloud to your child, have a variety of reading material, etc. Let’s go on to factors that are often not considered in raising a child who find pleasure in reading.

We know a love of reading is often a good indicator of academic success. So, what does it take to raise a reader and what are some of the common mistakes that both parents and teachers make?

My first question to parents and teachers is “Do you read for pleasure?” A majority of the time the answer is “Oh no, I’m too busy.” Well, as long as the message is that reading is not fun, not an activity we CHOOSE to do and make the time for, then no amount of lip service will convince a child otherwise. Likewise, most classrooms have an SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) or DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) time and it breaks my heart when I see that the teacher not following her own rules. “It’s a good time to get some work done.” is what I often hear. I understand, I completely sympathize that there are not enough hours in a teacher’s day. However, there is a huge impact for a child in seeing her teacher prioritizing and enjoying reading time.

Reading aloud in the classroom is always a great choice. Ignore test prep, reading aloud IS test prep. Go for something funny. I have read The Giggler Treatment to classes from first through six grade and it’s a HUGE hit every year (have ‘poo’, um chocolate pudding at the end, you’ll see why when you read the book).

It’s never too early to start reading aloud to children. When they’re young, go for rhythm. Sun Song (by Jean Marzollo, Harper/Trophy, 1997) has beautiful language and a luminescent portrayal of the Woodside Hills by local illustrator, Laura Regan. Possum Come A-Knockin’ by Nancy Van Laan (Dragonfly Books, 1992) is a fun, lively read aloud.

Remember, not all books are good or interesting to everyone. Just because a child doesn’t like a particular book or books, does not mean that they don’t like to read, they just haven’t found the right book yet. Shannon Hale (Princess Academy) talks about this in her school presentations. She asks the self-identified non-readers to raise their hands and then they find books that the kids have enjoyed and she says, “See, it’s not that you don’t like to read, we just have to find the right books for you.” She then has them take an oath to PUT DOWN a book they are not enjoying (unless it is a school assignment) and go in search of one they like better.

We have higher standards for children than we do for ourselves. We don’t just want them to read, we want them to read GOOD stuff. Books that will teach lessons, stretch their minds, build their vocabularies, CHALLENGE them (ah yes, one of the most overused words in education).

Think about this for a minute. Have you ever had a friend recommend a book to you because it would teach you a good lesson and expand your vocabulary or do they simply tell you it’s a good, enjoyable read?

Why do we think that literature for children needs to be edifying, can’t it simply be entertaining? If a child reads for pleasure, your battle is won. They WILL read hard books, sigh, challenging books, as well – but first, they have to actually want to pick them up.

If they hesitate to pick up books, get them storytelling or books on CD. They get the story and a sense of narrative. There are various ways to approach literature

What else do we put on them that we don’t put on ourselves? Reading levels. It has to be at or above their level for it to be ‘worthy’. Well, first of all, reading levels are hooey (this is not the normal term I use, but this is a family website). On Lexile scores, a score evaluated by vocabulary alone, Byron Barton’s BOARD BOOK The Wee Little Woman (Harper/Collins, 1995) evaluates at a college sophomore level (the word ‘wee’ is considered unfamiliar and shows up multiple times). On the other hand, The Old Man and the Sea comes up as third grade, because Hemingway never used three syllables when he could use two.

We can turn off children from reading by denigrating their reading choices. I’ve seen readers turned into non-readers by well-meaning teachers who have forbidden ‘too easy’ books from entering their classrooms.

As I always tell kids when doing presentations, if anyone tries to take away my People magazine because it’s not at my reading level, things are going to get ugly.

And, most of all, don’t give up hope. Even multi-award winning author Katherine Paterson had a daughter who did not understand the big deal about reading until she was fourteen and read Catcher in the Rye. Just make sure they have a lot of reading (and listening) choices and they will eventually discover the joys of literature.

We haven't had an indie here since we lost the much beloved Secret Staircase bookstore (where 'Baby Sasha' went to her first author event when she was only one month old). So excited to welcome Taylor and Andrew, the married couple who GOT MARRIED AT THE BOOKSTORE to the community.

From Taylor and Andrew:

Fireside Books & More is Redwood City's new independent bookstore. We hope to have a book for every reader! We also have a wide selection of cards, stickers, jewelry, and other gifts, with a focus on local- and California-made goods. For fans of children's lit, we have sections for children's books, middle-grade readers, YA, Spanish language, and kids' graphic novels. And we hope to start hosting storytimes soon!

We are located in downtown Redwood City, at 2421 Broadway (across from The Sandwich Spot).

FEB 1–MAR 9, 2025
TICKETS NOW ON SALE

https://www.berkeleyrep.org/shows/the-thing-about-jellyfish/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA8Lu9BhA8EiwAag16b6nij8RY3i-T9KG2qOUaYK6VAR4---WckQmMPTQqMTDDhwqJhxNrVxoCszYQAvD_BwE

Adapted from the best-selling novel, The Thing About Jellyfish is a visually stunning and deeply emotional coming-of-age story about friendship, loss, and the profound expansiveness of the human spirit. When Suzy Swanson’s world shatters with the sudden loss of her best friend, her summer transforms into a deeply moving journey of discovery, change, and resilience. Through vivid imagination, breathtaking design, and poignant storytelling, The Thing About Jellyfish invites audiences on an emotional odyssey — one that explores the mysteries of life, the courage it takes to embrace change, and the enduring power of friendship.

Lawler’s Suzy is a poignant mass of fierce intellect and crushing vulnerability, of resolute determination and emotional chaos. She’s as fascinating as she is endearing, and her journey into the landscape of grief is the play’s greatest asset…A gleaming, high-tech theatrical experience full of gorgeous, crystalline projections, and set pieces in constant motion across the stage…But the magic here is Matilda Lawler and her heartfelt ability to convey an epic emotional journey with the simplest of special effects: her honesty, her power and her extraordinary talent.

Bay Area News Group

Have I said how much I love this store and what they stand for? I LOVE THIS STORE AND WHAT THEY STAND FOR!!!!

My apologies for not getting this out before Stacey's event. KILL HER TWICE is a FANTASTIC and thought provoking book!!!

Giveaway of a copy of Michael Leali's THE TRUTH ABOUT TRIANGLES and free registration for the February Ask the Author Book Club featuring Michael. Here's a link to a Google Form for people to enter: KIDLIT CRAFT GIVEAWAY (https://forms.gle/XUBMSqcskNzUKDWS9)

The Book Club is happy to give YOU WONDERFUL SUBSCRIBERS TO THIS NEWSLETTER 30% off any book club registration with the discount code BAY AREA

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Thanks for asking to include our new Ask the Author Book Club at KidLit Craft! We have four Bay Area authors for our spring slate.

Each month, we're reading a middle grade or young adult book, then we'll collect questions from those registered, and on the event date, we'll ASK THE AUTHOR, focusing on questions about craft and process. We'll end with time for a live questions from those attending. We will get nerdy!

I'm so excited to announce our inaugural season!
January - Stacey Lee's KILL HER TWICE
February - Michael Leali's THE TRUTH ABOUT TRIANGLES
March - Randy Ribay's EVERYTHING WE NEVER HAD
April - Lindsay Lackey's FARTHER THAN THE MOON
Links are to the books at Bookshop.org

You can register for each session individually, or get all four sessions for the price of three. You can also register for YA only (Jan and March) or MG only (Feb and April) at a discounted rate.

I'm happy to offer 30% off to your newsletter readers: use the code BAYAREA at checkout.

More information and register: kidlitcraft.com/book-club

LINDEN TREE EVENTS!!

Ages 4 to 8, Grades P to 3

The follow-up to Rocket Ship, Solo Trip that is sure to delight fans of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and explores the complicated emotions around building friendships and overcoming disappointment; featuring art from New York Times bestselling illustrator Scott Magoon!

CAROL FOOTE at Books Inc. Pruneyard

Join local author Carol Foote at Books Inc. Pruneyard for a celebration of her nonfiction picture book Trouble Dog, a thrilling story of a dog who found the perfect job and a loving home, based on the real heroes of Working Dogs for Conservation!

May 15, 2025

6:00pm – 8:30pm

The Green Room
San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center

Joining us for a fun-filled cocktail party with interactive exhibits, guest appearances from esteemed authors and illustrators, and an engaging program that underscores the importance of early learning and celebrates inclusion and belonging in children’s picture books.

Get Tickets

Your support helps to build a more equitable future for Bay Area children and families!

Hey all!!

Recently I have given Book Talks to students and parents that can focus on Engaging Reluctant Readers, Diversify Your (home or school) Bookshelves, and Great and Engaging Books (for various ages/grades). They've been well received and participants leave with TONS of information (and quite a few win prizes). I do these in schools or libraries, but would love to be hired by companies as a 'Perk' for their employees who have children in their lives. So, using my 'Social Capital' (that's you all) to spread the word.

I also work with teachers to help find great books that fit (and expand) the curriculum (otherwise known as my idea of a good time).

Please feel free to spread the word and send people my way: sharonlevin @ mindspring.com

We now return to our regular programming.

I try (when I have time/energy/spoons) to visit store websites and pull event information. However, the best way to get your events in is to e-mail me directly with FOR THE NEWSLETTER as the subject line. There are over 2000 subscribers to this newsletter - plus it gets posted on Facebook, Twitter (I said what I said), BlueSky and my local NextDoor. I am happy to spread the word, it's just easier if 'the word' (not the religious one) comes directly to my inbox

I'm only as good as my sources, so please do feel free to share events, good news, etc.! Please e-mail me at sharonlevin at mindspring dot com and put For the Newsletter as your subject line.

I'm always happy to feature giveaways. There is NO paid advertising in this newsletter - I do not require anything to feature a giveaway. I'm just happy to do it.