L.B. Anne's Blog, page 7
July 16, 2020
Getting Kids to Read More Books
How do we help our children develop a love of reading? Some say the answer is reading with them. But not just any book. They need stories that make them laugh and imagine. We want the smiles, oos, and ahs. And don't forget the things that interest them like dragons, cars, or jungles. Pfft! I know I don't have to tell you that. You know what your child likes.
There's so much I've already said regarding this subject in other blog posts, so I thought I'd turn this over to other moms.
I asked several mothers from across the country, and different walks of life, how they approach reading with their children. I also asked what their favorite reading memory was from childhood. Take a look at what they shared:
L. H., Author and Homeschooler, Maryland
I try to read with my children every day. Ideally twice a day. And at least one of the times I pause to ask comprehension questions, discuss meaning, and observe pictures. There are a lot of educational opportunities while reading and I try to take advantage of them.
Favorite reading memory:
My memory is finishing a chapter book of the little mermaid when I was seven years old and realizing I can read chapter books now. I read Ralph and the motorcycle next and couldn't wait to explore other books.
D. B., Teacher, Florida
I ask the girls what they want to read. I also ask them if they want me to read it to them or they can read it to me. I want the girls to grow up enjoying to read. We have a ton of books in our house. They know that some books help you grow as a reader (mainly the books for the six-year-old with sight words) and some books help you grow in knowledge of a subject or knowledge in a character/situation. They can read a book where the main character gets into a lot of trouble, and they can figure out the solution--without having to get into that same situation themselves.
Favorite reading memory:
I loved it when my second grade teacher, Mrs. Fike, would read to the class. That inspired me to read Roald Dahl books to my kiddos in my classroom.
H. J. University Advisor, Florida
I read with them, the book of their choice. But honestly, they read to themselves or each other now.
Favorite reading memory:
My favorite book from my childhood was The Story about Ping by Majorie Flack and Kurt Wiese.D.V. Healthcare, Maryland
I try to find books that focus on things she likes, as well as books that remind me of her personality. I encourage her to read daily.
Favorite reading memory:
My favorite reading memories were back in elementary school. I read two-three chapter books a week. The best part included being rewarded with free pizza each month from Pizza Hut!T. M. Attorney, Alabama
Reading books with the kiddos is a bedtime ritual. Although, I’m convinced it’s a ploy to avoid going to bed. We read at least three books and I try to engage them as much as possible. I love to ask them questions and even ask them to read.
Favorite reading memory: One of my favorite childhood books is ,,The Snowy Day.
Dr. S. P., California
I homeschool our twin daughters, so we read together all the time in different ways, depending on the purpose and the subject. We see it as an important part of learning how to communicate and learn. Recreationally, we made going to the library weekly for fun books a fun time. I let them get whatever books they wanted, even if they were beneath their reading ability, just because they liked the book.
Favorite reading memory:
My own favorite reading memory in my childhood (I’m about to date myself) is reading the Encyclopedia Brittanica. My aunt had a set that she would let me borrow, one book at a time. I’d read those pages and learn a little about every subject in the world. From a young age, it expanded my world and I loved it.There you have it, friends. I noticed a common theme here. Did you? All of these moms make time to read with their children. As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, I love the idea, especially with boys, of finding books about things they are interested in. With my son, it was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle everything. Phew! I'm so glad those days are over. Now it's all about manga and anime with him.
Now, I'd be remised if I didn't share reading options with you from my own catalog. :)
Chapter book for girls, ages 6-9, who love funny stories and hairstyles: ,,Pickled Pudding Curly Girl Adventures
For girls and boys, ages 9-12, who love funny middle school stories: ,,Lolo and Winkle Go Viral
For Tweens and Teens girls ages 11-14: ,,The Girl who Looked Beyond the Stars LB's favorite things:
I had never had a corn cake before in my life. I'm a waffle person, and my husband is a pancake person. I never expected to like these. Now they're my favorite, and it's the only kind of pancake my husband will eat now. Do not leave out the orange zest. And try it exactly like the recipe first, with the honey and berries. Yum! My husband, however, went straight for his Log Cabin syrup.
I made them twice last week. Get the recipe here: Ricotta-Citrus Cornmeal Pancakes
Friends, thank you for stopping by. I hope you're encouraged that your children can enjoy reading as much as you do. Don't give up. I truly believe there's a book for every child.
Blessings,
L.B.
There's so much I've already said regarding this subject in other blog posts, so I thought I'd turn this over to other moms.
I asked several mothers from across the country, and different walks of life, how they approach reading with their children. I also asked what their favorite reading memory was from childhood. Take a look at what they shared:L. H., Author and Homeschooler, MarylandI try to read with my children every day. Ideally twice a day. And at least one of the times I pause to ask comprehension questions, discuss meaning, and observe pictures. There are a lot of educational opportunities while reading and I try to take advantage of them.
Favorite reading memory:
My memory is finishing a chapter book of the little mermaid when I was seven years old and realizing I can read chapter books now. I read Ralph and the motorcycle next and couldn't wait to explore other books.
D. B., Teacher, Florida I ask the girls what they want to read. I also ask them if they want me to read it to them or they can read it to me. I want the girls to grow up enjoying to read. We have a ton of books in our house. They know that some books help you grow as a reader (mainly the books for the six-year-old with sight words) and some books help you grow in knowledge of a subject or knowledge in a character/situation. They can read a book where the main character gets into a lot of trouble, and they can figure out the solution--without having to get into that same situation themselves.
Favorite reading memory:
I loved it when my second grade teacher, Mrs. Fike, would read to the class. That inspired me to read Roald Dahl books to my kiddos in my classroom.
H. J. University Advisor, Florida I read with them, the book of their choice. But honestly, they read to themselves or each other now.
Favorite reading memory:
My favorite book from my childhood was The Story about Ping by Majorie Flack and Kurt Wiese.D.V. Healthcare, Maryland
I try to find books that focus on things she likes, as well as books that remind me of her personality. I encourage her to read daily.
Favorite reading memory:
My favorite reading memories were back in elementary school. I read two-three chapter books a week. The best part included being rewarded with free pizza each month from Pizza Hut!T. M. Attorney, Alabama
Reading books with the kiddos is a bedtime ritual. Although, I’m convinced it’s a ploy to avoid going to bed. We read at least three books and I try to engage them as much as possible. I love to ask them questions and even ask them to read.
Favorite reading memory: One of my favorite childhood books is ,,The Snowy Day.
Dr. S. P., CaliforniaI homeschool our twin daughters, so we read together all the time in different ways, depending on the purpose and the subject. We see it as an important part of learning how to communicate and learn. Recreationally, we made going to the library weekly for fun books a fun time. I let them get whatever books they wanted, even if they were beneath their reading ability, just because they liked the book.
Favorite reading memory:
My own favorite reading memory in my childhood (I’m about to date myself) is reading the Encyclopedia Brittanica. My aunt had a set that she would let me borrow, one book at a time. I’d read those pages and learn a little about every subject in the world. From a young age, it expanded my world and I loved it.There you have it, friends. I noticed a common theme here. Did you? All of these moms make time to read with their children. As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, I love the idea, especially with boys, of finding books about things they are interested in. With my son, it was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle everything. Phew! I'm so glad those days are over. Now it's all about manga and anime with him.
Now, I'd be remised if I didn't share reading options with you from my own catalog. :)
Chapter book for girls, ages 6-9, who love funny stories and hairstyles: ,,Pickled Pudding Curly Girl Adventures
For girls and boys, ages 9-12, who love funny middle school stories: ,,Lolo and Winkle Go Viral
For Tweens and Teens girls ages 11-14: ,,The Girl who Looked Beyond the Stars LB's favorite things:
I had never had a corn cake before in my life. I'm a waffle person, and my husband is a pancake person. I never expected to like these. Now they're my favorite, and it's the only kind of pancake my husband will eat now. Do not leave out the orange zest. And try it exactly like the recipe first, with the honey and berries. Yum! My husband, however, went straight for his Log Cabin syrup. I made them twice last week. Get the recipe here: Ricotta-Citrus Cornmeal Pancakes
Friends, thank you for stopping by. I hope you're encouraged that your children can enjoy reading as much as you do. Don't give up. I truly believe there's a book for every child.
Blessings,
L.B.
#childrenreadmore #gettingchildrentoread #roalddahl #thesnowyday #thestoryaboutping
July 15, 2020
Getting Kids to Read More Books
How do we help our children develop a love of reading? Some say the answer is reading with them. But not just any book. They need stories that make them laugh and imagine. We want the smiles, oos, and ahs. And don't forget the things that interest them like dragons, cars, or jungles. Pfft! I know I don't have to tell you that. You know what your child likes.
There's so much I've already said regarding this subject in other blog posts, so I thought I'd turn this over to other moms.
I asked several mothers from across the country, and different walks of life, how they approach reading with their children. I also asked what their favorite reading memory was from childhood. Take a look at what they shared:
L. H., Author and Homeschooler, Maryland
I try to read with my children every day. Ideally twice a day. And at least one of the times I pause to ask comprehension questions, discuss meaning, and observe pictures. There are a lot of educational opportunities while reading and I try to take advantage of them.
Favorite reading memory:
My memory is finishing a chapter book of the little mermaid when I was seven years old and realizing I can read chapter books now. I read
,,D. B., Teacher, Florida
I ask the girls what they want to read. I also ask them if they want me to read it to them or they can read it to me. I want the girls to grow up enjoying to read. We have a ton of books in our house. They know that some books help you grow as a reader (mainly the books for the six-year-old with sight words) and some books help you grow in knowledge of a subject or knowledge in a character/situation. They can read a book where the main character gets into a lot of trouble, and they can figure out the solution--without having to get into that same situation themselves.
,Favorite reading memory:
I loved it when my second grade teacher, Mrs. Fike, would read to the class. That inspired me to readH. J. University Advisor, Florida
I read with them, the book of their choice. But honestly, they read to themselves or each other now.
,Favorite reading memory:
My favorite book from my childhood was D.V. Healthcare, Maryland
I try to find books that focus on things she likes, as well as books that remind me of her personality. I encourage her to read daily.
,Favorite reading memory:
My favorite reading memories were back in elementary school. I read two-three chapter books a week. The best part included being rewarded with free pizza each month from Pizza Hut!,,T. M. Attorney, Alabama
,Reading books with the kiddos is a bedtime ritual. Although, I’m convinced it’s a ploy to avoid going to bed. We read at least three books and I try to engage them as much as possible. I love to ask them questions and even ask them to read.
,Favorite reading memory: ,One of my favorite childhood books is
,Dr. S. P., California
,I homeschool our twin daughters, so we read together all the time in different ways, depending on the purpose and the subject. We see it as an important part of learning how to communicate and learn. Recreationally, we made going to the library weekly for fun books a fun time. I let them get whatever books they wanted, even if they were beneath their reading ability, just because they liked the book.
,Favorite reading memory:
,My own favorite reading memory in my childhood (I’m about to date myself) is reading the Encyclopedia Brittanica. My aunt had a set that she would let me borrow, one book at a time. I’d read those pages and learn a little about every subject in the world. From a young age, it expanded my world and I loved it.,There you have it, friends. I noticed a common theme here. Did you? All of these moms make time to read with their children. As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, I love the idea, especially with boys, of finding books about things they are interested in. With my son, it was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle everything. Phew! I'm so glad those days are over. Now it's all about manga and anime with him.
,Now, I'd be remised if I didn't share reading options with you from my own catalog. :)
,Chapter book for girls, ages 6-9, who love funny stories and hairstyles:
,For girls and boys, ages 9-12, who love funny middle school stories:
,For Tweens and Teens girls ages 11-14: LB's favorite things:
I had never had a corn cake before in my life. I'm a waffle person, and my husband is a pancake person. I never expected to like these. Now they're my favorite, and it's the only kind of pancake my husband will eat now. Do not leave out the orange zest. And try it exactly like the recipe first, with the honey and berries. Yum! My husband, however, went straight for his Log Cabin syrup.
I made them twice last week. Get the recipe here:
Friends, thank you for stopping by. I hope you're encouraged that your children can enjoy reading as much as you do. Don't give up. I truly believe there's a book for every child.
Blessings,
L.B.
There's so much I've already said regarding this subject in other blog posts, so I thought I'd turn this over to other moms.
I asked several mothers from across the country, and different walks of life, how they approach reading with their children. I also asked what their favorite reading memory was from childhood. Take a look at what they shared:L. H., Author and Homeschooler, MarylandI try to read with my children every day. Ideally twice a day. And at least one of the times I pause to ask comprehension questions, discuss meaning, and observe pictures. There are a lot of educational opportunities while reading and I try to take advantage of them.
Favorite reading memory:
My memory is finishing a chapter book of the little mermaid when I was seven years old and realizing I can read chapter books now. I read
,,D. B., Teacher, Florida I ask the girls what they want to read. I also ask them if they want me to read it to them or they can read it to me. I want the girls to grow up enjoying to read. We have a ton of books in our house. They know that some books help you grow as a reader (mainly the books for the six-year-old with sight words) and some books help you grow in knowledge of a subject or knowledge in a character/situation. They can read a book where the main character gets into a lot of trouble, and they can figure out the solution--without having to get into that same situation themselves.
,Favorite reading memory:
I loved it when my second grade teacher, Mrs. Fike, would read to the class. That inspired me to read
H. J. University Advisor, Florida I read with them, the book of their choice. But honestly, they read to themselves or each other now.
,Favorite reading memory:
My favorite book from my childhood was D.V. Healthcare, Maryland
I try to find books that focus on things she likes, as well as books that remind me of her personality. I encourage her to read daily.
,Favorite reading memory:
My favorite reading memories were back in elementary school. I read two-three chapter books a week. The best part included being rewarded with free pizza each month from Pizza Hut!,,T. M. Attorney, Alabama
,Reading books with the kiddos is a bedtime ritual. Although, I’m convinced it’s a ploy to avoid going to bed. We read at least three books and I try to engage them as much as possible. I love to ask them questions and even ask them to read.
,Favorite reading memory: ,One of my favorite childhood books is
,Dr. S. P., California,I homeschool our twin daughters, so we read together all the time in different ways, depending on the purpose and the subject. We see it as an important part of learning how to communicate and learn. Recreationally, we made going to the library weekly for fun books a fun time. I let them get whatever books they wanted, even if they were beneath their reading ability, just because they liked the book.
,Favorite reading memory:
,My own favorite reading memory in my childhood (I’m about to date myself) is reading the Encyclopedia Brittanica. My aunt had a set that she would let me borrow, one book at a time. I’d read those pages and learn a little about every subject in the world. From a young age, it expanded my world and I loved it.,There you have it, friends. I noticed a common theme here. Did you? All of these moms make time to read with their children. As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, I love the idea, especially with boys, of finding books about things they are interested in. With my son, it was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle everything. Phew! I'm so glad those days are over. Now it's all about manga and anime with him.
,Now, I'd be remised if I didn't share reading options with you from my own catalog. :)
,Chapter book for girls, ages 6-9, who love funny stories and hairstyles:
,For girls and boys, ages 9-12, who love funny middle school stories:
,For Tweens and Teens girls ages 11-14: LB's favorite things:
I had never had a corn cake before in my life. I'm a waffle person, and my husband is a pancake person. I never expected to like these. Now they're my favorite, and it's the only kind of pancake my husband will eat now. Do not leave out the orange zest. And try it exactly like the recipe first, with the honey and berries. Yum! My husband, however, went straight for his Log Cabin syrup. I made them twice last week. Get the recipe here:
Friends, thank you for stopping by. I hope you're encouraged that your children can enjoy reading as much as you do. Don't give up. I truly believe there's a book for every child.
Blessings,
L.B.
#childrenreadmore #gettingchildrentoread #roalddahl #thesnowyday #thestoryaboutping
July 14, 2020
Getting the Kids to Read More Books
How do we help our children develop a love of reading? Some say the answer is reading with them. But not just any book. They need stories that make them laugh and imagine. You want the smiles, oos, and ahs. And don't forget the things that interest them like dragons, cars, or jungles. I know I don't have to tell you that. You know what your kids like. There's so much I've already said about this subject in other blog posts, so I thought I'd turn this over to other moms. I asked several mothers from across the country, and different walks of life, how they approach reading with their children. I also asked what their favorite reading memory was from childhood. Take a look at what they shared:L. H., Author and Homeschooler, Maryland
I try to read with my children every day. Ideally twice a day. And at least one of the times I pause to ask comprehension questions, discuss meaning, and observe pictures. There are a lot of educational opportunities while reading and I try to take advantage of them.
Favorite reading memory:
My memory is finishing a chapter book of the little mermaid when I was seven years old and realizing I can read chapter books now. I read Ralph and the motorcycle next and couldn't wait to explore other books.,,D. B., Teacher, Florida
I ask the girls what they want to read. I also ask them if they want me to read it to them or they can read it to me. I want the girls to grow up enjoying to read. We have a ton of books in our house. They know that some books help you grow as a reader (mainly the books for the six-year-old with sight words) and some books help you grow in knowing whether it is knowledge of a subject or knowledge in a character/situation. They can read a book where the main character gets into a lot of trouble, and they can figure out the solution--without having to get into that same situation themselves.
,Favorite reading memory:
I loved it when my second grade teacher, Mrs. Fike, would read to the class. That inspired me to read Roald Dahl books to my kiddos in my classroom.H. J. University Advisor, Florida
I read with them, the book of their choice. But honestly, they read to themselves or each other now.
,Favorite reading memory:
My favorite book from my childhood was The Story about Ping by Majorie Flack and Kurt Wiese.D.S. Healthcare, Maryland
I try to find books that focus on things she likes, as well as books that remind me of her personality. I encourage her to read daily.
,Favorite reading memory:
My favorite reading memories were back in elementary school. I read two-three chapter books a week. The best part included being rewarded with free pizza each month from Pizza Hut!,,T. M. Attorney, Alabama
,Reading books with the kiddos is a bedtime ritual. Although, I’m convinced it’s a ploy to avoid going to bed. We read at least three books and I try to engage them as much as possible. I love to ask them questions and even ask them to read.
,Favorite reading memory: ,One of my favorite childhood books is “The Snowy Day”.,Dr. S. P., California
,I homeschool our twin daughters, so we read together all the time in different ways, depending on the purpose and the subject. We see it as an important part of learning how to communicate and learn. Recreationally, we made going to the library weekly for fun books a fun time. I let them get whatever books they wanted, even if they were beneath their reading ability, just because they liked the book.
,Favorite reading memory:
,My own favorite reading memory in my childhood (I’m about to date myself) is reading the Encyclopedia Brittanica. My aunt had a set that she would let me borrow, one book at a time. I’d read those pages and learn a little about every subject in the world. From a young age, it expanded my world and I loved it.,There you have it, friends. I noticed a common theme here. Did you? All of these moms make time to read with their children. As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, I love the idea, especially with boys, of finding books about things they are interested in. With my son, it was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle everything. Phew! I'm so glad those days are over. Now it's all about manga and anime with him.
,Now, I'd be remised if I didn't share reading options with you from my own catalog. :)
,Chapter book for girls, ages 6-9, who love funny stories and hairstyles:
,For girls and boys, ages 9-12, who love funny middle school stories:
,For Tweens and Teens girls ages 11-14: LB's favorite things:
I had never had a corn cake before in my life. I'm a waffle person, and my husband is a pancake person. I never expected to like these. Now they're my favorite, and it's the only kind of pancake my husband will eat now. Do not leave out the orange zest. And try it exactly like the recipe first, with the honey and berries. Yum! My husband, however, went straight for his Log Cabin syrup.
I made them twice last week. Get the recipe here:
Friends, thank you for stopping by. I hope you're encouraged that your children can enjoy reading as much as you do. Don't give up. I truly believe there's a book for every child.
Blessings,
L.B.
I asked several mothers from across the country, and different walks of life, how they approach reading with their children. I also asked what their favorite reading memory was from childhood. Take a look at what they shared:L. H., Author and Homeschooler, MarylandI try to read with my children every day. Ideally twice a day. And at least one of the times I pause to ask comprehension questions, discuss meaning, and observe pictures. There are a lot of educational opportunities while reading and I try to take advantage of them.
Favorite reading memory:
My memory is finishing a chapter book of the little mermaid when I was seven years old and realizing I can read chapter books now. I read Ralph and the motorcycle next and couldn't wait to explore other books.
,,D. B., Teacher, Florida I ask the girls what they want to read. I also ask them if they want me to read it to them or they can read it to me. I want the girls to grow up enjoying to read. We have a ton of books in our house. They know that some books help you grow as a reader (mainly the books for the six-year-old with sight words) and some books help you grow in knowing whether it is knowledge of a subject or knowledge in a character/situation. They can read a book where the main character gets into a lot of trouble, and they can figure out the solution--without having to get into that same situation themselves.
,Favorite reading memory:
I loved it when my second grade teacher, Mrs. Fike, would read to the class. That inspired me to read Roald Dahl books to my kiddos in my classroom.
H. J. University Advisor, Florida I read with them, the book of their choice. But honestly, they read to themselves or each other now.
,Favorite reading memory:
My favorite book from my childhood was The Story about Ping by Majorie Flack and Kurt Wiese.D.S. Healthcare, Maryland
I try to find books that focus on things she likes, as well as books that remind me of her personality. I encourage her to read daily.
,Favorite reading memory:
My favorite reading memories were back in elementary school. I read two-three chapter books a week. The best part included being rewarded with free pizza each month from Pizza Hut!,,T. M. Attorney, Alabama
,Reading books with the kiddos is a bedtime ritual. Although, I’m convinced it’s a ploy to avoid going to bed. We read at least three books and I try to engage them as much as possible. I love to ask them questions and even ask them to read.
,Favorite reading memory: ,One of my favorite childhood books is “The Snowy Day”.
,Dr. S. P., California,I homeschool our twin daughters, so we read together all the time in different ways, depending on the purpose and the subject. We see it as an important part of learning how to communicate and learn. Recreationally, we made going to the library weekly for fun books a fun time. I let them get whatever books they wanted, even if they were beneath their reading ability, just because they liked the book.
,Favorite reading memory:
,My own favorite reading memory in my childhood (I’m about to date myself) is reading the Encyclopedia Brittanica. My aunt had a set that she would let me borrow, one book at a time. I’d read those pages and learn a little about every subject in the world. From a young age, it expanded my world and I loved it.,There you have it, friends. I noticed a common theme here. Did you? All of these moms make time to read with their children. As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, I love the idea, especially with boys, of finding books about things they are interested in. With my son, it was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle everything. Phew! I'm so glad those days are over. Now it's all about manga and anime with him.
,Now, I'd be remised if I didn't share reading options with you from my own catalog. :)
,Chapter book for girls, ages 6-9, who love funny stories and hairstyles:
,For girls and boys, ages 9-12, who love funny middle school stories:
,For Tweens and Teens girls ages 11-14: LB's favorite things:
I had never had a corn cake before in my life. I'm a waffle person, and my husband is a pancake person. I never expected to like these. Now they're my favorite, and it's the only kind of pancake my husband will eat now. Do not leave out the orange zest. And try it exactly like the recipe first, with the honey and berries. Yum! My husband, however, went straight for his Log Cabin syrup. I made them twice last week. Get the recipe here:
Friends, thank you for stopping by. I hope you're encouraged that your children can enjoy reading as much as you do. Don't give up. I truly believe there's a book for every child.
Blessings,
L.B.
#childrenreadmore #gettingchildrentoread
May 30, 2020
Why Start a Reading Challenge
I was supposed to talk about summer reading challenges today, but in light of social distancing due to this global pandemic, I think now is a good time to start a reading challenge. Psst... Come closer. Reading challenges aren't just for kids.
In this time of mandatory isolation, someone needs to check on us huggers. We are not okay. This is me hugging myself every day. Look out world when this thing is over. There will be some mass hugging going on. LOL. I'm going to run up and down the streets hugging people. But seriously, how are you coping? Are you okay? 
That brings me to what I'm really here to discuss today. Reading challenges. There's a learning loss that kids can experience over the summer, right? So we get why a reading challenge is important over summer break. But what about now? I mean it just got real. We're in hiding like it's the zombie apocalypse out there. We don't know how long the kids will be out of school and we're homeschooling now. Homeschooling! I wasn't ready. I say every teacher's pay needs to be tripled. 
A reading challenge or plan keeps the kiddie's reading skills strong. You don't have to use a plan from your local library. You can do this yourself. [image error]Make it fun for them. Let's see how many books you can read or let's have a contest. Let's see who reads the most books. Your kid will be happy to compete against you. Then they'll do a dance like this--so competitive. Why are they like that? Or is that just me? :)
Keep track of your books in a big way. Use a poster board tacked on the wall. Create incentives for milestones. If your child finds reading difficult or claims he doesn't like reading, decide how many minutes a day he should read. Let the children see you reading. Read while they read. Younger kids love stickers. Use them. I mean on the poster board, like 5 stars per book or something. You guys are funny. How did you think they were going to use them, all over their faces?
Where are you going to get the books with everything being shut down? Now is a good time to utilize what your local library has available to you online. Independent bookstores are doing curbside pickup. Utilize Amazon or other online retailers for hard copies.
You can read unlimited books with Kindle Unlimited. There are also free and discounted book websites where ebook selections are emailed to you daily:
www.Bargainbooksy.com
www.TheFussylibrarian.com
www.Bookbub.com
www.freebooksy.com Have other kids join in to make it a larger competition. Neighbors, cousins, friends--all from their own homes. How about sharing a book report or review via Skype or Facebook with them? I don't recommend money or candy for incentives. But you can if you want because that's your business. Tacos. Try tacos. A taco per book. That would work for me. I'm just saying.
Don't make it difficult. This should be fun. Find books that excite you and take you to new worlds.
I hope this information has been helpful. If you're interested in using any of my books for your reading challenge, check them out here ( Children and Middle Grade , Young Adult ). You never know, If you add one of my books to your challenge and contact me, I may have to surprise your kids with a Skype visit for meeting their goal. Don't forget to tag @authorlbanne when you post a picture of or with one of my books.
Friends, I'm so happy you stopped by. Stay safe. I owe you a hug (insert wink.)
Blessings,
L.B.
In this time of mandatory isolation, someone needs to check on us huggers. We are not okay. This is me hugging myself every day. Look out world when this thing is over. There will be some mass hugging going on. LOL. I'm going to run up and down the streets hugging people. But seriously, how are you coping? Are you okay? That brings me to what I'm really here to discuss today. Reading challenges. There's a learning loss that kids can experience over the summer, right? So we get why a reading challenge is important over summer break. But what about now? I mean it just got real. We're in hiding like it's the zombie apocalypse out there. We don't know how long the kids will be out of school and we're homeschooling now. Homeschooling! I wasn't ready. I say every teacher's pay needs to be tripled. A reading challenge or plan keeps the kiddie's reading skills strong. You don't have to use a plan from your local library. You can do this yourself. [image error]Make it fun for them. Let's see how many books you can read or let's have a contest. Let's see who reads the most books. Your kid will be happy to compete against you. Then they'll do a dance like this--so competitive. Why are they like that? Or is that just me? :)Keep track of your books in a big way. Use a poster board tacked on the wall. Create incentives for milestones. If your child finds reading difficult or claims he doesn't like reading, decide how many minutes a day he should read. Let the children see you reading. Read while they read. Younger kids love stickers. Use them. I mean on the poster board, like 5 stars per book or something. You guys are funny. How did you think they were going to use them, all over their faces?
Where are you going to get the books with everything being shut down? Now is a good time to utilize what your local library has available to you online. Independent bookstores are doing curbside pickup. Utilize Amazon or other online retailers for hard copies. You can read unlimited books with Kindle Unlimited. There are also free and discounted book websites where ebook selections are emailed to you daily:
www.Bargainbooksy.com
www.TheFussylibrarian.com
www.Bookbub.com
www.freebooksy.com Have other kids join in to make it a larger competition. Neighbors, cousins, friends--all from their own homes. How about sharing a book report or review via Skype or Facebook with them? I don't recommend money or candy for incentives. But you can if you want because that's your business. Tacos. Try tacos. A taco per book. That would work for me. I'm just saying.
Don't make it difficult. This should be fun. Find books that excite you and take you to new worlds.
I hope this information has been helpful. If you're interested in using any of my books for your reading challenge, check them out here ( Children and Middle Grade , Young Adult ). You never know, If you add one of my books to your challenge and contact me, I may have to surprise your kids with a Skype visit for meeting their goal. Don't forget to tag @authorlbanne when you post a picture of or with one of my books.
Friends, I'm so happy you stopped by. Stay safe. I owe you a hug (insert wink.)
Blessings,
L.B.
#readingchallenge #kidsreadingchallenge #kidsreadingplan #homeschooingreading #socialdistancingwithkids
The Trouble With Books for Eight-Twelve Year Old Readers
Is there trouble, you ask? Ha! Yes, there is. Okay, this is my rant for the month. I will say what I have to say. You can get mad at me if you want. Then we can kiss and make up and move on. How's that? Woo Woo Woo. I still love you!
Let's get right down to it. The term for books for this age group is middle grade fiction (MG). Now go to a school and look at an eight-year-old and a twelve-year-old. Or maybe not. That may look suspicious, and I'm not trying to get you arrested. You know what I'm trying to say though. There are physical differences, right? Well, their reading levels and preferences are different also, but they're both considered middle grade (Insert me screaming, "Why?").
All MG books are not created equal. "What is that you say?" (That's what I pictured someone asking.) A book that's amazing for one middle grader will be amazing for another, right? Errr... not exactly.
If you're reading this, I assume you know I write MG. Now keep in mind that children read up. That means that seven and eight-year-olds may read books for nine or ten-year-olds, etc. Whoa, that puts them in MG.
The issue with books for this age group is that some of the books written for middle graders seem nothing more than young adult fiction (books for 13-18-year-olds).
I know, I know. Before you say it, I know middle school students actually range in age from eleven-fourteen. But here's the thing. Some MG can come across as too young for some readers, while YA (young adult fiction) is too old. That's right. I said it. It's just my opinion (and L. B. can do that on L. B.'s blog) that a ten or eleven-year-old should not be reading YA.
What? Blame the authors? Nope. Lay off my tribe. It's not our fault. It's hard for authors who write MG to create a novel that suits the full MG spectrum.
We want to write books that will grab our readers, put them in a chokehold, and flip them over onto the ground. Okay, I just watched a movie on Amazon Prime about a female wrestler, Paige. That's where that came from. LOL.
We try to keep things light and interesting for young readers, while older readers want more action and conflict. What's a girl to do?I'll tell you what I've done. I've updated my website to help parents out a bit. Instead of listing books by titles in the drop-down menu, I've listed them by age group so you know exactly what age each series is appropriate for.
Under my young adult science fiction pen name, I realized my latest release is on the younger side. So on Amazon, I made sure the description states it's for fourteen-seventeen-year-old readers. That means thirteen-year-olds can read it (As I said, kids read up). It's clean with no profanity or sex. (You can check it out
From my author visits at schools, I can tell you that the middle school students I've presented to would love my Sheena Meyer series and would find my Lolo and Winkle series funny, but too young for them. If an author writes different types of books as I do, I think it's a good idea to further organize their catalog this way. What do you think? Am I wasting my time?
So there you have it. If we, as authors, can make it clear for parents what ages our books are appropriate for (beyond saying middle grade) I think it would help a great deal. My rant is over. Are we still cool?
Thanks to you, my wonderful readers, The Girl Who Looked Beyond the Stars is my best seller yet. Thank you for your reviews. I am overflowing with appreciation for your support. If you haven't read it yet, check it out
It's been a while since I've shared something that I've gone nuts over. Trust me. You need to try this
The first photo is from the Guys, thank you so much for stopping by. My next blog post will include a cover reveal for the third book of the Sheena Meyer series.
Blessings,
L. B.
Let's get right down to it. The term for books for this age group is middle grade fiction (MG). Now go to a school and look at an eight-year-old and a twelve-year-old. Or maybe not. That may look suspicious, and I'm not trying to get you arrested. You know what I'm trying to say though. There are physical differences, right? Well, their reading levels and preferences are different also, but they're both considered middle grade (Insert me screaming, "Why?").
All MG books are not created equal. "What is that you say?" (That's what I pictured someone asking.) A book that's amazing for one middle grader will be amazing for another, right? Errr... not exactly. If you're reading this, I assume you know I write MG. Now keep in mind that children read up. That means that seven and eight-year-olds may read books for nine or ten-year-olds, etc. Whoa, that puts them in MG.
The issue with books for this age group is that some of the books written for middle graders seem nothing more than young adult fiction (books for 13-18-year-olds).
I know, I know. Before you say it, I know middle school students actually range in age from eleven-fourteen. But here's the thing. Some MG can come across as too young for some readers, while YA (young adult fiction) is too old. That's right. I said it. It's just my opinion (and L. B. can do that on L. B.'s blog) that a ten or eleven-year-old should not be reading YA.
What? Blame the authors? Nope. Lay off my tribe. It's not our fault. It's hard for authors who write MG to create a novel that suits the full MG spectrum.
We want to write books that will grab our readers, put them in a chokehold, and flip them over onto the ground. Okay, I just watched a movie on Amazon Prime about a female wrestler, Paige. That's where that came from. LOL. We try to keep things light and interesting for young readers, while older readers want more action and conflict. What's a girl to do?I'll tell you what I've done. I've updated my website to help parents out a bit. Instead of listing books by titles in the drop-down menu, I've listed them by age group so you know exactly what age each series is appropriate for.
Under my young adult science fiction pen name, I realized my latest release is on the younger side. So on Amazon, I made sure the description states it's for fourteen-seventeen-year-old readers. That means thirteen-year-olds can read it (As I said, kids read up). It's clean with no profanity or sex. (You can check it out
From my author visits at schools, I can tell you that the middle school students I've presented to would love my Sheena Meyer series and would find my Lolo and Winkle series funny, but too young for them. If an author writes different types of books as I do, I think it's a good idea to further organize their catalog this way. What do you think? Am I wasting my time?So there you have it. If we, as authors, can make it clear for parents what ages our books are appropriate for (beyond saying middle grade) I think it would help a great deal. My rant is over. Are we still cool?
Thanks to you, my wonderful readers, The Girl Who Looked Beyond the Stars is my best seller yet. Thank you for your reviews. I am overflowing with appreciation for your support. If you haven't read it yet, check it out It's been a while since I've shared something that I've gone nuts over. Trust me. You need to try this
The first photo is from the Guys, thank you so much for stopping by. My next blog post will include a cover reveal for the third book of the Sheena Meyer series.Blessings,
L. B.
#middlegradebooks #middlegradefiction #ageappropriatebooks #whatshouldmiddleschoolersread #whatkidsarereading
May 28, 2020
New Middle Grade Book Release
What's better than tacos, pizza, chicken wings, mac & cheese, cake, and...umm...bacon? You're right! Book release day, that's what! ,Dun da Dunnnn (Sorry, I'm a little hyped up)! For readers ages twelve-fourteen (Although readers as young as nine years old are reading it). The third book of the Sheena Meyer series, The Girl Who Captured the Sun, has released. 
,Guess what? Collect yourself. Don't faint. Ready? I checked at the end of the day, and ,The Girl Who Captured the Sun, moved up the ranks to an Amazon #1 Best Seller in Teen and Young Adult Christian Fantasy and #1 New Release in Children's Christian Values Fiction. Say what? That's right, do your happy dance, because I'm doing mine. LOL!
,If you haven't read the Sheena Meyer series, you may be wondering what all the excitement is about. Let me tell ya, this series has gained some real fans. I receive countless emails with questions on what's going to happen next. You know, like in that scene from the Devil Wears Prada? The one where Miranda Priestly says her daughters want to know what happens next in a Harry Potter book that hasn't released yet? Yes. Like that.
,Check out what one reader had to say about book one of the series, ,The Girl Who Looked Beyond the Stars,. I appreciate each and every review and try to read them all.
I couldn't have said it better myself. I don't know about you, but right now, I'd be saying, "What in the world has L.B. got going on over there? Let me have a look-see." No worries, I've got you. This link will take you to book one, and then you can check out the other books also.
Okay, now I'm going to get a little mushy. When I wrote this series. I didn't know if anyone would like it. To be honest, I thought It might be rejected because of the spiritual context. To my surprise, readers have enjoyed stories about a girl that can see angels, and the dark force that's out to get her. Not until book three do you find out why she's so important.
I can't count how many times I've been brought to tears reading your reviews and comments. Friends, I appreciate the support. Really. And because of that...
I think there's going to be a book four of the series. There are little hints to it in book three. But I would sure like to know what you'd like included. More About Ariel? How Chana came to earth? More about Sheena's dad? Just let me know.
Thank you so much for reading. Stay safe, be kind to others, and keep reading.
Blessings,
L. B.
,Guess what? Collect yourself. Don't faint. Ready? I checked at the end of the day, and ,The Girl Who Captured the Sun, moved up the ranks to an Amazon #1 Best Seller in Teen and Young Adult Christian Fantasy and #1 New Release in Children's Christian Values Fiction. Say what? That's right, do your happy dance, because I'm doing mine. LOL!,If you haven't read the Sheena Meyer series, you may be wondering what all the excitement is about. Let me tell ya, this series has gained some real fans. I receive countless emails with questions on what's going to happen next. You know, like in that scene from the Devil Wears Prada? The one where Miranda Priestly says her daughters want to know what happens next in a Harry Potter book that hasn't released yet? Yes. Like that.,Check out what one reader had to say about book one of the series, ,The Girl Who Looked Beyond the Stars,. I appreciate each and every review and try to read them all.
I couldn't have said it better myself. I don't know about you, but right now, I'd be saying, "What in the world has L.B. got going on over there? Let me have a look-see." No worries, I've got you. This link will take you to book one, and then you can check out the other books also. Okay, now I'm going to get a little mushy. When I wrote this series. I didn't know if anyone would like it. To be honest, I thought It might be rejected because of the spiritual context. To my surprise, readers have enjoyed stories about a girl that can see angels, and the dark force that's out to get her. Not until book three do you find out why she's so important. I can't count how many times I've been brought to tears reading your reviews and comments. Friends, I appreciate the support. Really. And because of that...
I think there's going to be a book four of the series. There are little hints to it in book three. But I would sure like to know what you'd like included. More About Ariel? How Chana came to earth? More about Sheena's dad? Just let me know.Thank you so much for reading. Stay safe, be kind to others, and keep reading.
Blessings,
L. B.
#middlegradebooks #newmiddlegradebooks #childrenschristianfiction #childrensbestsellers
April 23, 2020
Books Make the Best Gifts
Today is World Book Day. Bring on the new worlds, new experiences, and new adventures. That's what I'm excited about when I start a new book. Where will it take me? Well, right now I'm one of the Faeren, wounded and riding on the back of a wolf to a healing lake guarded by a great white bear. I'm reading Robert Beatty's Willa of the Wood. Have you thought about what you want to read next, or what you would like to gift to someone? You can't lose with Willa of the Wood. If you think the kids will scream, "No! Not another book!" you're wrong. Well, it could start out that way, but you'll find them snuggled up in their favorite spot unable to stop reading. And what will be their response at the end? "Bring on another!" LOL. Move without a sound. Steal without a trace. To Willa, a young night-spirit, humans are the murderers of trees. She's been taught to despise them and steal from them. She's her clan's best thief, creeping into the log cabins of the day-folk under cover of darkness and taking what they won't miss. It's dangerous work, but Willa will do anything to win the approval of the padaran, the charismatic leader of the Faeran people. When Willa's curiosity leaves her hurt and stranded in the day-folk world, she calls upon the old powers of her beloved grandmother, and the unbreakable bonds of her forest allies, to survive. Only then does she begin to discover the shocking truth: that not all of her human enemies are the same, and that the foundations of her own Faeran society are crumbling. What do you do when you realize that the society you were born and raised in is rife with evil? Do you raise your voice? Do you stand up against it? As forces of unfathomable destruction attack her forest home, Willa must decide who she truly is--facing deadly force with warm compassion, sinister corruption with trusted alliance, and finding a home for her longing heart. L.B.'s Thoughts: This is probably my favorite book this year. I was already a Robert Beatty fan, but this just took my loyalty over the top. There are scenes that are written so poetically in the way he describes the forest and the animals. I was just in awe. Honestly, I didn't want it to end. You will totally fall in love with the main character, Willa. And let me tell you, I don't think a middle grade book has ever brought me close to tears. I enjoyed it even more than Beatty's Seraphina series. But... There's just one teeny-tiny thing you should consider. First, let me just say if you haven't read my post about the problem with middle grade books (books for 8-12 yr olds), you can read it here. It will explain what I'm getting at. The violence in Mr. Beatty's books can cross the line into young adult fiction. There. I said it. I love his books so much, I didn't want to bring in a negative notion. But how many parents actually read books before their kids, to help determine if it's a good fit for them? Sorry, I can't even raise my hand. That's why I'm trying to help. I would say, this book is for the older spectrum of middle grade readers, not your eight or nine year old--possibly not even a ten year old. Of course that's up to you--the parent. You may feel your child is an advanced enough reader, but you also must consider the visuals. Do I want that in my child's head? How will it affect them? That's it. That's the worse thing I have to say about it. That wasn't so bad, right? Willa of the Wood deserves five stars. I'm probably going to read it one more time because I miss Willa. LOL! Thank you for stopping by, and if you're in the neighborhood, please bring me tacos. :) Blessings. LB #middlegradebooks #willaofthewood #robertbeatty #booksfor8to12yearolds #willaofthewoodreview #worldbookday #bookgifts #booksforkids
March 29, 2020
Why Start a Reading Challenge
I was supposed to talk about summer reading challenges today, but in light of social distancing due to this global pandemic, I think now is a good time to start a reading challenge. Psst... Come closer. Reading challenges aren't just for kids. In this time of mandatory isolation, someone needs to check on us huggers. We are not okay. This is me hugging myself every day. Look out world when this thing is over. There will be some mass hugging going on. LOL. I'm going to run up and down the streets hugging people. But seriously, how are you coping? Are you okay? That brings me to what I'm really here to discuss today. Reading challenges. There's a learning loss that kids can experience over the summer, right? So we get why a reading challenge is important over summer break. But what about now? I mean it just got real. We're in hiding like it's the zombie apocalypse out there. We don't know how long the kids will be out of school and we're homeschooling now. Homeschooling! I wasn't ready. I say every teacher's pay needs to be tripled. A reading challenge or plan keeps the kiddie's reading skills strong. You don't have to use a plan from your local library. You can do this yourself. Make it fun for them. Let's see how many books you can read or let's have a contest. Let's see who reads the most books. Your kid will be happy to compete against you. Then they'll do a dance like this--so competitive. Why are they like that? Or is that just me? :) Keep track of your books in a big way. Use a poster board tacked on the wall. Create incentives for milestones. If your child finds reading difficult or claims he doesn't like reading, decide how many minutes a day he should read. Let the children see you reading. Read while they read. Younger kids love stickers. Use them. I mean on the poster board, like 5 stars per book or something. You guys are funny. How did you think they were going to use them, all over their faces? Where are you going to get the books with everything being shut down? Now is a good time to utilize what your local library has available to you online. Independent bookstores are doing curbside pickup. Utilize Amazon or other online retailers for hard copies. You can read unlimited books with Kindle Unlimited. There are also free and discounted book websites where ebook selections are emailed to you daily: www.Bargainbooksy.com www.TheFussylibrarian.com www.Bookbub.com www.freebooksy.com Have other kids join in to make it a larger competition. Neighbors, cousins, friends--all from their own homes. How about sharing a book report or review via Skype or Facebook with them? I don't recommend money or candy for incentives. But you can if you want because that's your business. Tacos. Try tacos. A taco per book. That would work for me. I'm just saying. Don't make it difficult. This should be fun. Find books that excite you and take you to new worlds. I hope this information has been helpful. If you're interested in using any of my books for your reading challenge, check them out here (Children and Middle Grade, Young Adult). You never know, If you add one of my books to your challenge and contact me, I may have to surprise your kids with a Skype visit for meeting their goal. Don't forget to tag @authorlbanne when you post a picture of or with one of my books. Friends, I'm so happy you stopped by. Stay safe. I owe you a hug (insert wink.) Blessings, L.B. #readingchallenge #kidsreadingchallenge #kidsreadingplan #homeschooingreading #socialdistancingwithkids
February 20, 2020
The Trouble With Books for Eight-Twelve Year Old Readers
Is there trouble, you ask? Ha! Yes, there is. Okay, this is my rant for the month. I'm will say what I have to say. You can get mad at me...
January 20, 2020
Best Middle Grade Books of 2019
This is a list of my favorite middle grade books of 2019. There were many that I loved, but these six books are the ones I'm giving away to
