Let books take 'boredom' out of summer vacation
School is a full-time job. The better part of the weekday is spent in class, then homework at night and often on weekends. And, many kids are involved in extracurricular activities: sports, lessons of one kind or another, clubs and so on.
Sometimes children are too overloaded with structured activities. Just as adults need a break from their work, so do kids. When summer vacation rolls around, we can see evidence that our children are often lacking in free time not long into the summer you may hear the cry, "I'm bored!"
Year-round, children should have time to spend in creative, unstructured play. This critically important activity allows the imagination to run free without someone directing the child what to do or what to think. When the imagination is allowed to unfold, children will begin to imagine possibilities, answers and ideas. Reading great books is part of that imaginative mix; it's constructive entertainment that fuels the imagination. Many books, such as those reviewed today, plant ideas about things kids can do that are loads of fun.*
Balance whatever activities you have planned
for the children in your life with plenty of unstructured play, reading
and relaxation. It's a sure-fire recipe for taking the boredom out of a
long summer vacation.
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Books to borrow
The following book is available at many public libraries.
We Were Tired of Living in a House
by Liesel Moak Skorpen, illustrated in color by Joe Cepeda
G.P. Putnam's Sons
Read aloud: age 3 and older.
Read yourself: age 7 and older.
"We were tired of living in a house. So we packed a bag with sweaters and socks, with mittens and earmuffs. And we moved to a tree. We liked our tree."
Life in the tree for these two brothers and sister is delightful, until they finally tumble out. And so, packing up their belongings, the trio sets off to find a new place to live. From a pond to a cave to the sea, each place holds something different. But in the final analysis, the three siblings return to the place they love the best.
This charming book is certain to strike a chord with any child who has ever dreamed of leaving the nest prematurely while providing a conclusion that will appeal to young and old alike.
Please click on a flag
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Librarian's choice
Choices this week:
Stone Fox
by John Reynolds Gardiner
For ages 9-12
Please click on a flag
Detectives in Togas
by Henry Winterfeld
For ages 4-8
Please click on a flag
The Boggart
by Susan Cooper
For ages 9-12
Please click on a flag
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Books to buy
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.
Let's Do Nothing!
written and illustrated by Tony Fucile
Candlewick
Read aloud: age 6 – 9.
Read yourself: age 7 – 9.
Two boys have done everything they can think of. They've painted pictures, baked cookies, played every board game and sport ever invented and read every comic book. Exhausted, they decide to do nothing. Well, doing nothing isn't as easy as the boys thought. As a matter of fact, it is really tough! They pretended to be stone statues, but that doesn't work for long. They pretend other things to keep them still, doing nothing at all, but that doesn't work either. Suddenly they figure it out ...
A hilarious book that will have kids laughing on every page, Let's Do Nothing! is guaranteed to ignite the imagination of children everywhere.
Please click on a flag
The Travel Game
by John Grandits, illustrated by R.W. Alley
Clarion
Read aloud: age 6 – 8.
Read yourself: age 8 – 9.
Tad loves playing the travel game with his aunt Hattie. Aunt Hattie spins the globe, Tad closes his eyes and puts his finger down on the globe. Where he puts his finger is where Tad and Aunt Hattie travel to. With the help of their imaginations and an illustrated atlas, and the wild yarns Aunt Hattie can spin, Tad and Aunt Hattie are off on adventures galore!
A tribute to the excitement imagination can bring (and a great game to play in your home), The Travel Game has just the right elements to make it a terrific read.
Please click on a flag
Marcia White
June 9th, 2009
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/today/index.ssf/2009/06/let_books_take_boredom_out_of.html
* All the books mentioned in this article are available in our Amazon bookstore
