2013 Column Kendal Rautzhan Archive Stories

Long ago, when my twin daughters were babies and we went grocery shopping, I would talk to them throughout the store explaining what items we were looking for, what recipes we would make and so on. One day, a woman looked at me completely bewildered and asked if I always talked with my children that way and that much. Then it was my turn

At a recent presentation to university education majors, one of my primary points was to describe what I look for in children's literature that will in some way plant the seed of an idea in the reader's mind that, after a steady diet of similar books, will take root and become part of their own mindfulness. Today's reviewed books are goo

There is so much we need to teach our children, and the time allotted to execute this task is brief. Of all the tools we hope to instill in our children, those that are most important are often the most difficult: being honest in understanding who we are; having the courage to step outside of ourselves and evaluate if we've really done our best

When I was a little girl, I used to ride my bicycle to the library. I loved walking down the long, narrow stacks of books, knowing that something special could be found in any one of the titles. I particularly liked the smell of books, especially old books. I also liked my librarian, the lone sentinel in our little house of wisdom &mdash

We've all seen it: the one shoe on the side of the road. Bizarrely, that sighting has taken place more times than we could count. I can't fathom the reason for this "one shoe" phenomenon, so I'll chalk it up to one of life's (probably unsolvable) mysteries. So there's the rub — the mysteries of life. Some we'll never have answers f

I've been extolling the importance of reading fiction stories to kids for more than 26 years for various reasons. Finally (although a wee bit late in the timeline), I can report some compelling information in actual studies that supports what I've been saying all along — that reading fiction helps readers/listeners of all ages develop comp

We cannot help but be affected by our life experiences — the actions of people we know or observe, the words we hear (and don't hear), the books we read, the friendships we forge and so on. Each leaves an impression on us and often we imitate what we've been exposed to. As with so many things, compassion and kindness are cu

Reading a baby or toddler book requires a little imagination on your part to get your child to really look at the book and begin to experience the joys that reading can bring. The typical baby or toddler book has few words and lots of colorful illustrations. The absence of a lengthy, complicated story is intentional — children this

Fostering a child's imagination has always been important, for an active imagination is intelligence. Our imagination and intellect allow us to see possibilities and solutions, and allow us to question rather than simply accept what we are told. When we fail to use our intellect and imagination, we become victims to those who will use us as pawn

One of the most influential forces in a child's life is his or her teacher. Teachers have one of the hardest jobs. Far more than teaching "subjects" to children, teachers help their students to stretch their minds, challenge them to reach farther, settle disputes, assist those that need extra help and provide greater challenges for those who are

Vii Putnam wrote, "The entire sum of existence is the magic of being needed by just one person." Such is the case with true friendship. There is a kind of ecstasy when two people can truly connect with another, really understand one another without criticism or demands and are always ready to help one another. Today's books refle

Navigating through the sea of children's books that hit the shelves every year, I'm always on the lookout for books that provide children with something that makes them think and will take them just a bit beyond where they were before the book was opened. That pursuit includes all kinds of material, from laughter to facts, introspective

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: "The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him." Today's reviewed books focus on friendship and what it is to be a true fri