Family-friendly Gift Ideas 2008

The Read-Aloud Handbook (6th Edition) by Jim Trelease. "Since the publication of his first Read-Aloud Handbook, Trelease has made a serious avocation of spreading his gospel about the value of reading aloud to children and teens." You can find out more about Jim Trelease at his website. And you can even read excerpts from his books. (Small snippets are available from each chapter. But there is more than enough there to "sell" you on the idea of the book.)

How To Get Your Child To Love Reading: For Ravenous and Reluctant Readers Alike by Esme Raji Codell. "Codell gives an admiring nod to the work of Jim Trelease (The Read-Aloud Handbook), while presenting her own theory that interest (finding the right books for the childHow to Get Your Child to Love Reading: For Rave...), integration (using reading as a springboard into other disciplines) and invention (when a child's unique ideas are inspired by the writing) can make the difference in how a youngster approaches reading. Codell, a teacher and librarian, resists grouping books by age level, explaining, "don't let somebody else's scoring system define your child, and don't let reading levels level your child's love of reading." Instead, she offers a simple method for determining whether a book is too difficult while pointing out that kids may listen on a much higher level than they read." Visit her website.

Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox. "An introduction for parents about reading aloud to their children. Fox explains that babies are born learners, discusses the importance of books in the home, and stresses the value of a read-aloud ritual. She also includes a chapter on how to read aloud, which novice readers will find useful." Here is a site listing Fox's Read-Aloud Commandments. Mem Fox's website.

George and Martha: The Complete Stories of Two Best Friends Collector's Edition. James Marshall. My thoughts? Best. Book. Ever. Seriously. Someone could easily write a book called All I Needed to Know About Life I Learned From George and Martha.Perfect for kids. Perfect for adults.

The Frog and Toad Collection Box Set by Arnold Lobel. My thoughts? These are timeless for a reason. I loved these growing up. I still love them.

Little Bear Boxed Set by Else Holmelund Minarik. My thoughts? I can't remember if I read each and every Little Bear book growing up, but I do know that the ones we had...I read and enjoyed a lot.

The Complete Adventures of Curious George by H.A. Rey. Who doesn't love a curious little monkey like George? How well do you speak monkey?

The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne. There aren't enough words for me to explain all the reasons YOU need Pooh. I love, love, love this book. It's timeless. It's practically perfect. It's food for the soul.

Beatrix Potter The Complete Tales. Do I really need to explain this one?

© Becky Laney of Young Readers