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Parent Book Recommendations May 2007
By Sandy Meagher
Remembering our family trips with two parents and four kids in the car makes me smile now…but there weren't always smiles back then! I constantly tried to think of ways to juggle temperaments and needs and to make the ride as enjoyable as possible. We took turns with seating in a station wagon: One child sat in front, read the map and conversed with Dad; two sat in the middle with Mom in between and one child sat in the "way back" seat. What a vision we were, with bikes and all sorts of other paraphernalia strapped on top of the car. I always made sure to pack plenty of books and games to read and play together and on our own. Here are some ideas for books that travel well, whether across town or across the country.
To read Sandy Meagher's article Language Arts Offerings click here
Chuckles always abound when I hear a child or adult pick up a wordless picture book and say, "Look at this, no words! How come it's in the library?" Believe me, there are good reasons to have some wordless picture books. Children who are just beginning to read and preliterate children find easy-to-follow wordless picture books are exactly what they need to understand basic characters, settings and action. Try Breakfast for Jack by Pat Schories (Front Street, 2004, ISBN: 1-932-42516-0). Children can tell the story with their own language; parents can present this book and everyone can tell the story together by adding a new detail to each page. Older children can imagine what happens the next day or what happens when they go to the beach, etc. If visiting a museum is on your itinerary, try the wordless picture book Museum Trip by Barbara Lehman (Houghton Mifflin, 2006, ISBN: 0-618-58125-1). The fantasy is fun to imagine and it lends itself to teaching the reality of safety when traveling together.
Sparse words sometimes convey strong messages for very young children and that is exactly what will happen when you share the wonderful book A Splendid Friend, Indeed by Suzanne Bloom (Boyds Mills Press, 2005, ISBN: 1-590-78286-0). PreK children love to have a friend no matter the size, shape or color, and the book conveys the idea perfectly.
For older children, don't forget some easy-to-pack games, including The World Almanac For Kids Puzzler Deck: Reading! (Chronicle Books, ISBN: 0-811-85252-0) and The World Almanac For Kids Puzzler Deck: Math! (Chronicle Books, ISBN: 0-811-85260-1).
Another idea that worked for me when traveling with my kids was purchasing an inexpensive CD player and headset. So many great books come with musical CDs. Try Miles the Crocodile Plays the Colors of Jazz by Andy Blackman Hurwitz (Price Stern Sloan, 2006, ISBN: 0-843-12084-3). Go to www.babylovesmusic.com to see more.
Try You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Mother Goose Tales to Read Together by Mary Ann Hoberman (Little Brown and Company, 2004, ISBN: 0-316-14431-2). The type in this lovely book from the "You Read to Me, I'll Read to You" series is color-coded for two voices so each reader knows his or her part. It's a wonderful way to read together.
So much fun to be had - so pack up and enjoy!
To read Sandy Meagher's article Language Arts Offerings click here
Sandy Meagher is the Library Department Chairperson and School Librarian in the Wayne Highlands School District, Honesdale, PA.
May, 2007, Vol.37, No.8
