Are you trying to get your child to read this summer? We all know about the summer slide and how much learning they lose with the two plus months off. Most schools now assign summer reading and even summer work to help stop this. Do your kids do it? I find it is important for kids to find books they want to read. They need something that inspires them and you know what--I am the same. If I cannot get into a book I will not finish it. I have always been that way. I am a slow reader and if I am going to take the time and effort to read a book, it has to be a good book. Today I am going to share some books about what inspires authors and one that is a John Keats poem presented in a new way. I hope some of these might inspire your kids to read more!!
The first book is for older kids--grade nine and up. It is The Book That Made Me: A Collection of 32 Personal Stories edited by Judith Ridge. This book shares thirty-two young adult author's book that inspired them to write and/or affected their lives. It gives young adults a chance to look into the lives of their favorite authors and see what really inspired them. Of course the hope as I see it is for the young adult to be inspired to find that book and see how he/she likes it. I think this book is wonderful because these authors are sharing a piece of themselves and their own lives. I also see how this book will help a young adult find his/her place in the world and perhaps help him/her explore what to be as an adult. It is a great book, full of emotions, personal experiences and more.
Our next book is for the other extreme of readers--preschool through third grade. It is What's Your Favorite Color? by Eric Carle and Friends. Eric Carle got fifteen children's book artists to share their favorite colors with a reason and artwork. It is beautiful and fun to read.
The artwork is different from each author and it is fun to explore and learn a bit about the artists who bring books to life for our young ones.
I love how both of these books give readers a look into the personal lives and thoughts of the people who make books they love.
The final book for today is A Song About Myself which is the poem by John Keats and is illustrated by Chris Raschka. Do you know the poem? You can read the words here. The poem is about a naughty boy and sounds like it could have been how John Keats saw himself as a child. The illustrations in this book are beautiful. They are watercolor and are vibrant.
Raschka does a wonderful job of illustrating the details of this poem and makes it come alive and help the reader understand a bit of the poem. It is a wonderful introduction to poetry for the younger child.
I hope you will check out these books and I hope they inspire your child to read and discover the world of books and more!
