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  • Marconi

    Summer Reading for Kids

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    http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/24/opinion/sunday/how-to-choose-summer-reading-for-students.html?src=recg

    All good advice, but i am still sceptical i can get my two teens to read for pleasure, let alone read for World Knowledge!
    Marconi started this discussion 10 months ago. ( reply | permalink )

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  • uplandpoet
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    i am frustrated that i cannot seem to interest my 7 yr old in fiction. he loves to read science related non fiction, but will only read a piece of fiction if required by school..... drives me and his mother nuts, as we both love a good story. he has read and enjoyed "true stories" especially about marine animals.

    posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
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    • nina d
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      that's better than fiction, imo

      Besides how many tales have you heard that are 'stranger than fiction'
      Many of our family tales are regarded as fiction by outsiders, but I know they're true.

      As long as they're reading...it's a good thing.

      posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
    • Beginnings
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      Nina so true.

      posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
    • Lauren
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      My favorite thing to do with my kids is to pick a book I think they'll enjoy and browse through it myself, reading them some parts out loud that I think will pique their interest. Usually if I do that, and then leave the book out on the coffee table, they will be all over it by the next rainy day. I did that with my son when he was 10 with the Redwall graphic novel, and he read 20 books from the same author in the next year and a half.

      posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
    • Jewels
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      Try the Beast Quest books - my 11yr old is devouring them one book a day - costing me a fortune but he loves them. They are aimed at the 7+ age group so I am sure he will enjoy.
      Worth a try ....

      posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
    • uplandpoet
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      thanks all!

      posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
    • ishabali
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      The magic tree house series might be perfect - if he has not read them already. Each is a fictional book - exploring the world / historical events / settings etc. - with an accompanying excellent research guide. Can't praise them enough. They and ABC mysteries were what kept my son reading at that age, esp. the ABC mystereis.

      posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )
    • uplandpoet
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      Currently reading the non fic research series for tree house books!

      posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )
    • ishabali
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      wish my son had read those, but he mainly read the fictional counterparts. The grass is always green ....

      posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )
    • uplandpoet
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      :)

      posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )
    • ishabali
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      Oh yes, my son just loved the 'JUST' book series by Andy Griffit - 6 books - Just Annoying, Just Tricking, Just Shocking, Just Stupid, Just Wacky and Just Disgusting'. Short stories in each, very humorous, gross n full of practical jokes. He went on to write the popular - 'Bum' books, we never read those.

      "Before he introduced the world to butts gone beserk, Andy Griffiths unleashed the JUST books: outlandish collections of silly stories that turned him into a bestselling sensation. Now Andy brings his insane brand of humor to this side of the Pacific -- and American readers won't believe what they've been missing! In JUST ANNOYING, you'll meet Andy, a boy with a dream: to become the most annoying kid in the world. Watch Andy bug his friends, irritate his sister, and drive his parents crazy -- and find out how much fun annoying people can be!"

      posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )
  • Marconi
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    Just tie him down and read Conspiracy of Dunces out loud in two-hour chunks. That should innoculate him for life!

    posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
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  • mmolino54
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    Either of you try comic books or graphic novels? Just curious. We're fortunate that our son has inherited the reading genes.

    posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
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    • uplandpoet
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      mm, hadnt thought of it, but will give it a try. wonder what i might find in the YA market scientific tales involving marine mammals and other oceanic nature themes (not moby dick, he hates for people to catch fish, much less mammals....)

      posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
    • Riddley
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      20,000 Leagues Under the Sea? There's even a graphic novelization - http://www.amazon.com/Jules-Vernes-Twenty-Thousand-Leagues-under/dp/1933865083

      posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
    • uplandpoet
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      Excellent! Thanks! Jules verne's other works might expand his horizon!

      posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
    • Jonas D
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      Jules Verne was my gateway drug to reading.

      posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
    • uplandpoet
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      JV is wickedly addictive:)

      posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
  • llevinso
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    Just some food for thought, when I was younger I wasn’t much of a fiction fan. If I was going into the bookstore I was always headed to the non-fiction section, probably one of the reasons I ended up getting a history degree! But now that I’m older I read tons of fiction. Actually I feel I’m neglecting the good non-fic reads out there a lot of the time.

    posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
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    • uplandpoet
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      I can hope

      posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
    • nina d
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      Became a fiction fan when my grade school teacher started reading us The Hobbit, but
      couldn't finish it by the end of the year. So found it on my own, and then LOTR after,
      which started a life long reading addiction.

      A cousin could barely read, but he loved cars. Started to learn to read by reading car manuals.

      A matter of fitting the material to the child. Each has their own peculiar interests.

      posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
  • Beginnings

    Beginnings (edited)

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    Hi Marconi,

    My daughter is volunteering during the summer with the Tweens. I asked her "What is a tween? Could a Tween be likened to a Twinkie without the filling?" :) The YA librarian let her borrow a book titled "Connecting Young Adults and Libraries" A How-To-Do-It Manual Third Edition Patrick Jones, Michele Gorman, and Tricia Suellentrop
    Chapter 11 mentions Youth Involvement -which could range from serving on the teen library advisory board - interns or even employees.

    Also may be of interest-

    Hooking Teens with the Net by Linda W. Braun

    Good luck!

    posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
  • tapbirds
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    Is it heretical to say that not all children will grow up to love fiction? Even though I feel it important to expose youth to classic works, I also sincerely believe that not every child will become a reading addict, any more than every child will love math, science, natural history, etc. What is probably as, if not more important is the exposure to all disciplines which will allow them to sooner-or-later "find themselves."

    posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
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    • mmolino54
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      Good grief, you sound like some sort of teacher! ; )

      posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
    • amright
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      Yes, I too feel that just as a doctor's child should not be expected to follow in his or her footsteps so a book lover should also not expect his/her child to automatically become a reader of books. Let the child be. They'll eventually find their way.

      posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
    • llevinso
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      Too true! My brother, much to my mother's shagrin, is not a reader. I am however (obviously). We were raised by the same parents, on the same books, but we just chose different paths. And that's perfectly fine as long as we're both happy :)

      posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
    • tapbirds
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      Marc: Ha! Appearances (or posts) are deceiving!

      posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )
    • uplandpoet
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      some children dont love math and science? i think it might be fairer to say some kids are not introduced to science and math in an interesting way! i fear you may be right about fiction though.

      posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
    • tapbirds
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      UP: I don't know if it is still popular (probably not), but the Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Warner got me hooked on reading when I was 8 years old. I'm not sure how old Christopher is, or if books might catch his interest, however I vaguely remember that he liked trains.

      posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
    • uplandpoet
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      Thanks! He will be 8 next month. He read three boxcar children books a couple of years ago. He liked them. We might relook at the rest. At least the rest of the original 19

      posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
    • tapbirds
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      Great! The key is to find the "hook" that captures a child's interest. This is true for math and science, as well as for reading. For instance, last year I developed a geometry rap to get my student's attention - - - and it worked!

      posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
    • Jewels
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      It's great when they find the reader within ... My 11yr old is a fact fanatic, so we have about 20 books on Dinosaurs, more on space etc etc but then suddenly when he was about 9/10 he discovered that there is more out there to read and now I cannot stop him.
      He is reading a book a day or every two days, bankrupting me in the process but I cannot say no to books. We cannot walk past a bookshop without going in to have a look.
      So hang in there Up, I am sure that you son will find out that there is more to read about than facts.

      posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
    • uplandpoet
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      thanks!

      posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
  • Beginnings

    Beginnings (edited)

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    Read to Help Build Shelters
    for Rescued Horses

    Read for a Reason this summer and help provide shelters for horses at San Diego County's oldest, non-profit, all-volunteer horse rescue ranch, Horses of Tir Na Nog!

    All ages, birth - adults, read for 5 hours or 5 books. When you've completed the program, our generous sponsor, the Del Mar Country Club, will reward your reading by donating $1, up to a maximum of $3,000. Make a difference in the lives of these beautiful horses.
    Sign up today!

    Learn more about Horses of Tir Na Nog

    Meet the Horses of Tir Na Nog

    Learn how to volunteer or donate
    to Horses of Tir Na Nog

    Thank you Del Mar Country Club and our partner, County of San Diego Department
    of Animal Services.

    Credit-https://host.evanced.info/sdcl/sr/homepage.asp?ProgramID=22

    Perhaps Reading For A Reason ?

    posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
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  • ishabali
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    The Wimpy Kid series hooked my son who was a very reluctant reader - novel with comic illustrations. Very funny. I loved them too, as did every one of my kid's friends. Followed by the Big Nate series. He loves the Naruto graphic novels. I know kids who love the Beast Quest series. He now reads fiction, but I want him to read more non-fiction too.

    He just completed The Hunger Games, at age 11. He himself couldn't get over the fact that he read this long books. Loves Alex Rider for the action - like a kid James Bond, with all gizmos n gadgets. Loved Percy Jackson too - with a Greek mythology base.

    Asking my son for recommendations - he says, "Awesome, who's this child, I want him for a friend." Lol.

    posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
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    • uplandpoet
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      thanks! well maybe they can eventually be pen pals:)

      posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
    • tapbirds
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      Just a follow up: many of the students in the middle school where I teach loved (devoured) the Hunger Games, in fact all of Suzanne Collins novels in the series.

      posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
    • uplandpoet
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      I was concerned that the hunger games might be too emotionally disturbing for a 7 yr old

      posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
    • tapbirds
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      Excellent point on Hunger Games. I forgot that the age range is much younger (7 or 8). That makes a big difference.

      posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
    • mmolino54
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      When Dominic was that age, he seemed to like the same stuff I did at that age: Garfield, Calvin & Hobbes, Chronicles of Narnia, The High King series. I certainly second The Wimpy Kid series. If he has a scientific interest, might he also enjoy mysteries or puzzle type books like Nancy Drew, The 39 Clues, or perhaps a children's version of Sherlock Holmes? Both the Harry Potter and the Percy Jackson series of books were big hits, too. Periodicals are also another great approach: Highlights, Under the Juniper Tree (currently online only, but free), Nat Geo Kids (no fiction in this one, but it's still fun), etc. There are books he wouldn't touch or didn't seem interested in at age 8 that he's suddenly interested in now (at age 10) either because he's decided to give them a try or because one of his friends has (the recommendation of someone else: a friend, a librarian, etc. seems to carry a lot of weight). There's a really nice collection of Native American legends here: http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/Legends-AB.html

      I think this topic probably interests quite a few of us in the group, Upland, so thanks for bringing it up.

      posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
    • ishabali
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      The Hunger Games were even harrowing for my 11 year old, he is a bit afraid about reading the next 2 parts of the trilogy. But as I expected, book 1 hooked him and kept him reading.

      posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )
  • Jewels
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    The Wimpy Kids books are great and so are the Captain Underpants, my boys devoured them. We have now discovered Horrid Henry but they only listen to those as an audio book. Good luck

    posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
  • uplandpoet
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    thanks all, looks like i have a good starting point with my son's reading!

    posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
  • Jewels
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    The Stink books are also great - Judy Moody's little brother - also enjoyable and have pictures in them, as do the Wimpy Kid/Captain Underpants/Beast Quest books. Oh and the other ones are Alien Invaders. Both the Alien Invaders and Beast Quest books have collectors card in the back of them, which I think is also there to encourage the reading as the kids want the cards a little more than the books :)

    posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )
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  • Beginnings

    Beginnings (edited)

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    Hi Up,
    Reading factual biographies of scientists/ inventors-most had/have wicked imaginations which can certainly be an adept way to intertwine the world of fact and fiction.

    Live storytelling at the public library is offered here in San Diego-which is another way to give credence to both fact and fiction simultaneously.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )
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