Kendal Rautzhan: The importance of reading to kids
Louis L’Amour wrote, “Once you have read a book you care about, some part of it is always with you.” That’s why children gravitate again and again to their favorite books. Reading books to children helps them establish a solid interest in reading, which also translates into a life of learning, both through factual books and fiction. Books transport readers/listeners to faraway places, to different cultures, to the great minds of long ago. In the words of author M.J. Rose, “It’s called reading. It’s how people install new software into their brains.”
Next to unconditional love, reading to children is the best gift you can give. It is magic. It is powerful. It is as essential to the mind as food and water are to the body.
Books to Borrow
The following book is available at many public libraries.
“The Cricket in Times Square,” by George Selden, illustrated by Garth Williams, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 134 pages
Read aloud: age 6 and older.
Read yourself: age 9 and older.
Chester Cricket didn’t plan on leaving his Connecticut meadow, but the smell of liverwurst in the picnic basket was too enticing to dismiss. Not long thereafter, Chester was lying on a pile of dirt in the Times Square subway system.
Tucker, a streetwise city mouse, had never met a cricket before. When Chester started to chirp, Tucker was amazed at this new, beautiful sound. Mario, the boy from the news stand, heard the chirping, too. Following the sound, Mario discovered Chester and rescued him. Later that night, with Mario and his parents gone, Tucker and his friend, Harry the Cat, befriend Chester. Soon the three have some wild and wonderful adventures together, ultimately leading them to hatch a successful plan to help save Mario and his parents’ business from failing.
An absolutely delightful, enchanting story for the whole family, "The Cricket in Times Square" brims with adventure, love, loyalty and friendship.
Librarian’s Choice
Library: Stark County District Library, Plain Community Branch, 1803 Schneider St. NE, Canton
Executive Director: Mary Ellen Icaza
Senior Director of Public Services: Jen Welsh
Branch Manager: Kathy Clay
Choices this week: “If You Give a Cat a Cupcake,” by Laura Numeroff; “The Lonely Doll,” by Dare Wright; “Pictures of Hollis Woods,” by Patricia Reilly Giff
Books to Buy
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.
“Wonder Women of Science: Twelve Geniuses Who Are Currently Rocking Science, Technology and the World,” by Tiera Fletcher and Ginger Rue, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport, Candlewick, 2021, 204 pages, $19.99 hardcover
Read aloud: age 9-12.
Read yourself: age 9/10-12.
Meet author/aerospace engineer Tiera Fletcher and 12 other brilliant female scientists and engineers who are currently tackling groundbreaking work in STEM and learn about their personal stories of who they are, when they developed an interest in their career, and what it took to achieve their dreams.
Spanning a wide range of fascinating careers, such as fighting modern-day slavery through math, using science for world peace, creating a cutting-edge high-tech space suit, and more, readers are bound to be fascinated by these women, their accomplishments, and what the future holds for these scientists and potentially for readers’ future careers.
Get ready to be inspired. "Wonder Women of Science: Twelve Geniuses Who Are Currently Rocking Science, Technology and the World" may very well be a game-changer in more ways than one.
“Letters to Live By: An Alphabet Book with Intention,” by Lisa Frenkel Riddiough, illustrated by Asa Gilland, Running Press Kids, 2022, 32 pages, $17.99 hardcover
Read aloud: age 4-8.
Read yourself: age 6/7-8.
This thoughtful, upbeat book is philosophical and yet very accessible for younger kids. The aim is to get children into the habit of having good intentions, demonstrating a way to practice the intention though colorful illustrations, and all the while incorporating the alphabet.
From “Choose Compassion,” “Discuss Differences,” “Notice Neglect,” “Resist Rumors” and more, "Letters to Live By: An Alphabet Book with Intention" is a mindful, lovely addition to every child’s home library.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Kendal Rautzhan: The importance of reading to kids
