Jason Boog's Blog: Born Reading, page 6

Shel Silverstein & the Art of Interactive Reading

When I was in grade school, Shel Silverstein’s books were perpetually checked out at the library.His sillyand mischievous poems willinspire any kid.It was the first poetry I encountered as a young reader.

If you struggle to keep kids entertained while reading a book, you should listen to Silverstein’s rock star reading style. He can make any kid giggle and his poetry begs to be read out loud. Listening to his readings is like a graduate level course in the art of interactive reading.

Below, I’v...

Mark Frauenfelder & Interactive Apps

While writing Born Reading: Bringing Up Bookworms in a Digital Age, I consulted with Boing Boing co-founder and MAKE editorMark Frauenfelder to find the best interactive apps for kids.

Frauenfelder recommendedthat parents try the Story Dice app. Itwill help anyone (from three-year-olds to high schoolers) tell better stories: “a creative writing prompt tool to come up with ideas for plot, character, and setting.”

Apps like these can be powerful tools for parents. In an essay at the Joan Ganz Coo...