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We had a great speaker for our General Meeting in March - Valerie Lewis, co-founder of Hicklebees Bookstore. She read from a wide selection of childrens books that she likes and talked about why reading to your kids is so important. While reading excerpts, she had lots to say about how and what you read to your kids. She offered some tips such as:

• Read books that you like - your child can tell if you have lost your enthusiasm or are reading something that you don’t like.
• Don’t worry about “dumbing” down the books or words - even if they don’t understand all the words, they will still understand the story. You can always go back and talk about new words and concepts.
• Trust your children if they want to hear a “scary” story. They often focus on different elements than adults, and may not see a scary story in the same way.
• Try to read to your kids for 20 minutes each day - but that is just a goal.

One of the topics she felt strongly about was not worrying about teaching your kids to read so early. Valerie talked about just reading to your kids for the fun of it - and to offer books without any expectations. Without the pressure, your kids will learn to love books; and they will learn to read.

Valerie also talked about a couple of books that she thought should be a part of every child’s library:

• When We Were Young - AA Milne - exposes your kids to rhyming and rhythms
• Mother Goose collection - any version - just pick one that you like
• Where’s Spot? - Eric Hill - fun first flap book
• Anything from Harper Collins Treasury of Picture Book Classics (a compilation she helped put together) including Goodnight Moon, Harold and the Purple Crayon, George Shrinks, Caps for Sale, and more.

She read from a large selection of newer and older books - too many to list here. But if you go into Hicklebees Bookstore, they can always give you lots of suggestions. Valerie was such an engaging speaker - you just wish you could have her come over every night and read to your whole family! I would definitely recommend that you hear her speak if you get the opportunity.

Posted by Nora K. (March 21, 2008)