When is a comic not a comic? When it’s a book. I have nothing against comic books, except that sometimes they can be a bit violent and they’re not always terribly well-written. Fortunately, there is a healthier alternative. These books have superheroes and illustrations like comic books, but they’re non-violent […]
Author: JHHCanada
Why I love the library: Part I
There are so many great ways to enjoy the library. This post is the first of many, as I share with you a love of libraries. Being enthusiastic about libraries rubs off on children, and the library can become a place where kids feel comfortable and empowered. When my son […]
What you say he is, he will become
How many times have you said, “My child’s not a reader.” If you’ve said it, he’s heard it. The way we define our children goes a long way towards making them that way. So if we tell people our child’s not interested in reading, he’ll live up to that expectation. […]
Election literacy
Elections provide great opportunities for reading. Not just the words themselves, but what everything on an election sign means. My son and I discussed the concept of the “incumbent,” sparked by the word “re-elect” on a sign we saw. Check out an election sign, and talk to your child about […]
Mom got her son reading!
Great news. Remember the mom from the Oct. 1 post? Well, she has done an amazing job and in just one short week, her son is now picking up books and reading more. She says she went right home and got out a selection of books in subjects that interested […]
Great make: plasticine books
This great comment from Cathy was too good to leave in the comments section. Hi Joyce: You’ve got me thinking about what sorts of things encouraged my boys to enjoy reading when they were small. One idea that really worked and was a lot of fun: When my son was […]
Books wherever they are
I was talking to a mom at baseball practice on the weekend. She said her son wasn’t reading at grade-level, and she’s just signed him up for an expensive course to teach him phonics. (Or read this blog – for free. Plus it’s more fun. But I digress.) Another mom […]
Word on the Street – over for another year
It was a crush, but I got a lot of great books.Here’s the Scholastic booth, which is where I spend most of my time – and money – at Word on the Street. It looks crowded, and it is, but you get to the front pretty quickly. The Scholastic people […]
Nancy’s Book of Poems
You may remember Nancy, from our Sept. 18 post. She’s the little girl who wasn’t terribly keen on reading. Her mom and I discussed getting her to write about something she’s interested in. Well, Nancy and her mom took the idea and ran with it! We’re pleased to present her […]
Word on the Street – Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This Sunday, a tribute to the written word arrives in Toronto. We’re so fortunate to have Word on the Street each year. Children can play games (and win books), meet some of their favourite TVO personalities, and generally see how many people are excited about books and reading. It’s a […]
