Picking the Right Children's Books and Other Reading Tips

Have you ever wondered if a children’s book is right for your child? Or wished you just knew how to pick the best, age appropriate books for your kids? Do you wish you could ‘check out’ children’s books before you actually bought them?

The following video may have some answers.  

Lara Ivey is a reading consultant with Grow up With Books. Lara was a teacher for 17 years before she decided to stay home with her kids. All those years of reading to kids ensured that she was never too far from children’s books. So, now, as a Reading Consultant, she continues to enjoy her favorite activity- finding, reading and reviewing children’s books and offering reading tips!

I spoke to her last week about some of her best reading tips and favorite children’s books for various ages.

In this video,
* You will learn what watching a Youtube video of the 20,000 Dollar Pyramid has to do with reading children’s books.
* You will hear some terrific tips on reading to kids and picking age appropriate books, among other things. If you follow Lara’s tips, you probably won’t have to wonder if a book is right for your child. You will know.
*You’ll also see some of her book recommendations for various age groups – classics and new books. If you haven’t read these with your child already, you may want to. (And remember you don’t have to buy them if you don’t want to! ) 
*You’ll see how reading is related to planting a tree and nurturing it. Lara has an interesting analogy. If you’ve ever wondered if there’s such a thing as too many books or too much reading…you may find the answer.
* You’ll discover a book that actually appeals to kids ages 0-9 years!
* As a special treat, you’ll see Lara reading from some of her favorite children’s books.

I’ll let Lara tell you the rest!  

Some of the books featured:  
The Truly Terribly Horrible Sweater… that Grandma Knit by Debbie Macomber, Marie Lou Carner;
Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo;
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker, 
You Read to Me I’ll Read to You by Mary Ann Hoberman,
When you Reach Me  by Rebecca Stead,
Manners Can be Fun by Monroe Leaf. (Don’t miss the personal anecdote Lara shares about the author towards the end. ) 

Disclaimer: This is my first experience doing a long distance video interview, while figuring out how to work the recording software, all the time wondering if it was recording at all. (I’m trying to make it sound like Rocket Science. Is it working?) So, I hope you’ll excuse my funny voice( which I attribute to a cold and nervousness) and my inexperience. I hope that won’t stop you from enjoying the information in this video!