Be a Reading Model

In the last post, I talked about the importance of reading to your children from infancy in order to help make them readers. There is another key factor in helping your children to become readers--modeling. And no, I'm not talking about strutting around the house in the latest outfit you bought on Amazon.

Monkey see, monkey do. Kids are nothing if not impressionable, and the adults around them serve as models to imitate. When they see an adult doing something, they want to do it, too. If an adult is cooking, they will want to cook. If an adult is building something, they will want to build. Similarly, if kids see an adult reading, they will want to read.

If your kids don't see you reading, the concept of reading and books will be foreign to them. It's difficult to get them to do something if they don't see you doing it first. As they get older, your kids may even make the argument, "Why should I have to read if you don't have to read?" That's a legitimate question, in my humble opinion.

Reading should not be a chore for anyone, young or old. I know we're all busy and tired these days, but let's try to set aside 20-30 minutes each evening for leisure reading. It can be a thriller, a romance, a cookbook, a how-to book, a newspaper, even a graphic novel (hey, it's still reading). Just read and let your kids see you reading. And don't forget to read to or with your kids, especially when they're very young. When your kids are older, talk with each other about what books you're reading. It will give you a subject for conversation as well as an opportunity to bond and know each other better.

Wishing you many good family reading moments from the perch.

Get Them While They're Young

A number of you know I lead Storytime on Wednesdays at 10:30, but more recently I've also been reading books on Friday mornings at the Child Development Center. My experiences there with the preschoolers have been nothing less than eye-opening, to say the least.

Each week I read to a different classroom, and it never fails to amaze me how eager the kids are for books and listening to stories. They're so excited and aren't afraid to comment about the characters or the pictures they see on the pages. Sometimes, by popular demand, I need to read a book more than once. Other times, several children rush to give me books they enjoy from a classroom shelf so I can read them aloud.

I taught high school English 20 years ago, and I honestly don't remember my students being half as excited about reading as the preschoolers at the CDC. More often than not, trying to get the teens to participate in class discussions was as easy as pulling teeth, no matter how I tried to get them involved or interested. Even though I made Friday a day to read any book for pleasure in class (in my time, it was called SSR or "Sustained Silent Reading"), some students agonized over reading. And bringing some reluctant readers to the school library to help them choose books about things they liked didn't always make a difference.

Thinking about my high school students from years ago and seeing the CDC kids' enthusiasm for reading today has made me realize, more than before, that if you want your children to be readers, you need to start reading to them and with them from infancy. Yes, infancy. Reading board books to babies and progressing to picture books as they grow help kids develop a love for books and reading in addition to developing their thinking, analytical skills, and imagination. It sets them up to succeed in school and beyond. Spark their interest in reading while they're very young; that spark will transform into a raging fire as they get older.

What are some of your favorite childhood books? Share with us!

Looking forward to sharing more reading journeys from the perch.

Learning from Lula

I recently read Kirsten Miller's Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books, a book I thoroughly enjoyed. It's a light read that deals with the serious subject of banning books, something that's happening more often in more places.

The book is set in a small Georgia town where everybody knows everybody, history goes deep, and gossip goes even deeper. Lula Dean, bless her heart, creates the Concerned Parents Committee that aims to rid the school and public libraries of "pornographic" books in order to protect the town's children. She then puts up a little library, in front of her house, filled with conservative books that made her the person she is today. What Lula doesn't know is that the daughter of her high school archrival replaces all her books with banned books, putting false dust covers on them.

It's funny to read about the readers' surprise when they find different books in the covers, but it's inspiring to see how the books change their perspectives and their lives. Books are powerful in helping people learn--about history and each other. Sometimes, the lessons are difficult and unpleasant, but they're necessary for moving forward to a better future and to avoid being mired in the mistakes of the past.

Kirsten Miller does a great job presenting the issues surrounding book banning in a fun, interesting, and non-preaching way. Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books is a real page turner filled with the unexpected. It's sure to stay with you for a while.

Have you read Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books? What are your thoughts on it? Share with us!

Ever yours truly from the perch.

Thinking About the Summer Reading Program?

Just do it! 😊📚

https://fairchildafblibrary.beanstack.org

Cooking for Dad

Father's Day is this weekend, and one way to a dad's heart is through his stomach. The barbecue may be a popular option, but there are other options for tasty, summertime cuisine. And let's not forget desserts--sweets are just as popular with dads as they are with moms!

If you're stumped on what to make for your Father's Day feast, take a look at the following cookbooks and websites offering simple and delicious recipes for dads of all tastes:

Cookbooks

• The Firehouse Grilling Cookbook by Joseph T. Bonanno Jr. (641.5784 BON)  The FDNY author lives up to the culinary reputation of firefighters. There are all kinds of recipes for your cookout, from appetizers and salads to marinades for your meats. Drinks and sweets? They're included.
• The Art of the Pie by Kate McDermott (641.8652 MCD)  My dad has always been a big fan of pie, and this cookbook is bound to please pie lovers of all kinds. Fruit pies, berry pies, creamy pies, even savory pies--they're all here. Various gluten-free and vegan crust recipes are also offered along with those for no-bake crusts.
• 20-40-60 Minute Dinners by Kate Otterstrom (641.5 OTT)  Who says you have to work your fingers to the bone cooking for dad? This book has plenty of quick and easy dishes that dad and everyone will love. From sandwiches to casseroles and more, make a meal that won't take all day.
• Taste of Home All-American Cookbook (BT 641.5 TAS)  Sliders, pigs in a blanket, burgers, corn dogs, pastas, pulled pork sandwiches, baby back ribs, deviled eggs, potato salads, cobblers, cheesecakes, pies...do I need to go on?

Websites

• Better Homes and Gardens  The recipes here are traditional but with interesting twists to make dad's mouth water. Try the Scandinavian Steak and Potatoes, Bacon Cheeseburgers with Kentucky Bourbon Sauce, or Pineapple-Ginger Wings, among others. 
• the kitchn  This site offers 57 scrumptious recipes for dad's big day. There are plenty of dishes featuring beef, chicken, fish, pasta, veggies, barbecue, and more. Grill outside or cook inside, light or hearty, there's something for everyone.
  
• Simply Recipes  For the dad with a sweet tooth, 30 dessert recipes are sure to satisfy, including Flourless Chocolate Cake, Peach Cobbler, Cowboy Blondies, Easy Dump Cake from Scratch, and Blackberry Pie. Bake or no-bake, take your pick.
  
• What's Gaby Cooking  There are various recipes for every course: appetizers, salads, main dishes, and desserts. Among them are a 5-ingredient recipe for Paprika Roast Chicken, Hatch Green Chili Ribs, Blackberry Peach Crisp, and a no-bake Cookie Icebox Cake, perfect for summer.
  

Still not finding the recipes you want? Then stop by the library to take a look at our cookbook selection or search the internet for other cooking blogs and websites.

Do you have a special recipe for dad? Share with us!

Happy Father's Day wishes from the perch.

Why handwrite?

In my previous post I talked about handwriting letters and places/people where you can send them. Perhaps you thought, "Perch Librarian, we have email, text, and social media, so why bother with pen and paper, things that are going the way of the dinosaurs?" 

Believe it or not, handwriting does have advantages over typing. Allow me to elucidate:

• Personal  A handwritten letter is more personal than something typed in a printout or on a screen. My most cherished gifts from my husband are his birthday/anniversary/Valentine's Day cards to me in which he handwrites a note.
• Relaxing  No electronic device is involved. No distractions or interruptions. It's just you, the paper, the pen, and your thoughts.
• Self-Reflection  It's so easy to bang out something on a keyboard, and often on social media we see people giving knee-jerk reactions (I'm sure you know what I mean). Since handwriting takes longer, we need to think before we write.
• Exercising Your Brain  Of course, brainwork is involved in typing, but scientists have proven that your brain works differently and makes more connections when you form each alphabetical character by hand versus tapping a key, which requires the same movement regardless of the letter. Additionally, handwriting aids in learning, spelling correctly, and memory recall.
• Mental Health  Handwriting has a more positive effect on a person's mental health. It improves your mood when you take the time to handwrite to someone, thinking about that person while also getting thoughts out of your mind and down on paper.
• Tangible  A handwritten letter is a small part of someone's personality, something that person touched and created that will last through the ages. Imagine not having all those letters written by ordinary people during the Civil War or other historical periods; imagine not having cards handwritten by your grandparents or your parents.

When I look at my mother's handwriting in the birthday cards she's given me over the years, I can see changes in her reflected in the pen strokes--the smooth, smaller, and steady lines when she was younger, the larger characters that have lost their steadiness with arthritis as she ages. Even when I look at things I've handwritten myself twenty (!) years ago, I can decipher a person who's not quite the same as the person I am today. These are things that typing can't replicate. What will people in the future make of all the digital notes we type today?

Wishing you cherished moments of reading and letter writing from the perch.

The Power of the Pen

When was the last time you've handwritten a letter? You know, the "old-fashioned" way with pen and paper? Years? Since you were a kid? Never? Similarly, it may have been ages since you received a handwritten letter through "snail mail" as well.

I've just finished reading Kate Thompson's The Wartime Book Club (available on Libby), which I had the most difficult time to put down. In a nutshell, it's a historical fiction book about the Nazi Occupation of Jersey, part of the Channel Islands belonging to the UK. One of the characters is a postal worker who, in an act of defiance, steals letters sent to German soldiers stationed on the island. She opens the letters to find they're from family and sweethearts, very human and rather personal. In the additional material after the end of the book, the author addresses the lost art of letter writing and different outlets in the UK that allow people to write and receive handwritten letters.

That got me thinking: What are some writing or pen pal clubs out there? Venues that give an opportunity to practice handwriting or (something that is rarely taught these days) handwriting in cursive? Lo and behold, there are a number of such clubs that you can join:

• Global Penfriends  Based in Australia, this free website claims it's safe, secure, and family friendly. All profiles are reviewed by a human and it's set up so children can't be contacted by adults. Write in your own language or in another language to practice your foreign language skills.
• Kids for Peace  A website that connects kids with other kids as pen pals either inside or outside the US, allowing them to practice their handwriting skills. Furthermore, they will have the chance to share and learn about other parts of the country or the world.
• Love for Our Elders  So many of the elderly living in nursing homes or assisted living facilities feel lonely or isolated. Why not cheer one or a few of them up by writing something to them? You can read their profiles and write about something you have in common.
• A Million Thanks  There are plenty of military men and women--active, reserve, and veterans. Pick up the spirits of one by handwriting a letter of thanks and gratitude that will be delivered either abroad or on the homefront.
• Up Cancer  Encourage someone with cancer by handwriting a note to that person. Inspire another person and yourself at the same time. Send your letters to Up Cancer's address in Georgia, and Up Cancer will distribute your letter to a cancer patient.

There are other websites that can get you started with your letter writing besides the ones mentioned above. Not sure about writing to someone you don't know? How about handwriting a letter to a relative or friend you care about? Imagine that person's surprise and joy of receiving a letter in the mail from you!

Wishing you happy letter writing/reading from the perch.