Column Kendal Rautzhan
- Talk to your baby – it's important
- Study shows developmental advantages come from conversation
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- 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... Full story
- Things are not always as they seem
- Books share important lessons about misperceptions
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- 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... Full story
- Read wonderful books about animals
- Share real-world lessons in today's reviewed titles
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- The more children know about the world around them, the more empowered they are to make decisions, have better control of their emerging world and are better equipped to become compassionate people.
One solid avenue to help children learn is through... Full story
- Fun books teach adaptability
- Positive themes inspire confidence
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- An unknown sage once wrote: "Change is often desirable, frequently necessary and always inevitable." That's a powerful statement of truth.
An inability or unwillingness to adapt to change is based primarily in fear. While familiarity brings comfort,... Full story
- Take a break, read a book for fun
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- School is a full-time job. The better part of the day, five days a week, is spent in class. Then there's homework to do at night and often on the weekends. And many kids are involved in extracurricular activities: sports, lessons of one kind or anoth... Full story
- Great books share important messages
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- 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... Full story
- Great books feed curious minds
- Nurture love of learning with today's titles
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- The dictionary defines "curious" as "having a desire to investigate and learn." I think that pretty much describes all of us. In early childhood, for example, children are curious about everything, eager to harness information about the world around ... Full story
- The public library is a house of wisdom
- Thank a librarian today
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- 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... Full story
- Books impart 'living lessons'
- Knowledge works to solve life's mysteries
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- 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) mys... Full story
- Fathers – read aloud to your kids
- Wonderbar series penned by former Colusa resident
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Mem Fox is the author of many popular books for children and adults. She is also a former professor of literacy education. Harcourt has recently published her updated and revised edition of "Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Chang... Full story
- Good news about fiction
- Study: Stories develop empathy in readers
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- 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 be... Full story
- Share books about kindness
- Teach your child lasting values
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- 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 ... Full story
- The importance of baby books
- Teach your child about the joys of reading
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- 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 illus... Full story
- Reading fosters imagination, intellect
- Critical thinking skills lead to problem-solving
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- 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... Full story
- Great teachers are essential
- Today's titles present information in exciting ways
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- 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, se... Full story
- Read awesome books about friendship
- Gentle stories share importance of connections
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- 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 ... Full story
- Start the new year off with reading
- Seek out great books to share with your child
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- 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 op... Full story
- Read wonderful books about friendship
- Begin 2013 focused on being a true friend
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- 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 ... Full story
- Share these titles during the holidays
- Make time to read with your family
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Check out the children's books reviewed below for holiday gift-giving or holiday sharing. Each is a real gem.
Books to Borrow
The following book is available at many public libraries.
"The Paper Bag Christmas" by Kevin Alan Milne, Center Street, 1... Full story
- Spend time reading this holiday season
- Stories share meaningful messages
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- No commentary again this week to make room for an additional book review for holiday gift-giving. Happy holidays!
Books to Borrow
The following book is available in many public libraries.
"Elijah's Angel: A Story for Chanukah and Christmas" by Mic... Full story
- More great books for gift-giving
- Today's titles appeal to readers of all ages
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Remember to include a book or two as a gift to the special child in your life, such as those reviewed below. For additional suggestions, visit this column's companion website: greatestbooksforkids.com.
Books to Borrow
The following book is availabl... Full story
- Cuddle up with seasonal books
- Spend your holidays reading with family
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- I'm stepping away from my commentary for the next several weeks to make room for an additional book review to provide you with more choices to find the right books for the child in your life. Happy holidays!
Books to Borrow
The following book is av... Full story
- Find wisdom in children's books
- Share great messages in today's titles
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Children's books often contain great wisdom about life — how to navigate through good times and bad and how to keep your compass pointing in the right direction.
In the best books, these lessons about life gently steer and guide but are never ... Full story
- Libraries are essential
- Borrowed or bought, share books with your child
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- One of the greatest assets we have as Americans is access to our public libraries. Libraries are houses of wisdom, adventure, imagination, learning and great fun. And unlike some places in the world, borrowing books doesn't cost you anything.
Creati... Full story
- Encourage beginning readers
- The right books build confidence
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Learning to read is one of the most exciting accomplishments for a child. It's important to remember, however, that not all children master this skill at the same time as their peers. Some children will catch on to reading more quickly than others.
... Full story
- Kids will love fascinating nonfiction
- Open doors to learning with today's titles
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Nonfiction books don't have to be dull and uninviting, although many fit this bill. There are countless nonfiction books that are fascinating and provide readers with loads of information presented in a fast-paced, lively fashion — and that's t... Full story
- Read about the power of kindness
- We all need more of this positive trait
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Kindness comes in many different forms. Making room in your heart and your life for a new friend. Doing something nice for someone without being asked. Making room in your home for a pet. Taking the time to listen to someone. Acknowledging another's ... Full story
- Books explore a grandparent's love
- Relatable connections presented in today's titles
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- There is something especially important in the loving relationship between a grandparent and grandchild. Perhaps it's that the grandparent has once again the opportunity to experience life through a child's eyes — to see the world as new and fr... Full story
- Powerful books inspire readers
- Non-fiction stories make positive impact
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- It's important to expose children of all ages to stories that will inspire them. True stories, such as those reviewed below, carry great impact. Works of fiction can also be equally inspiring, providing readers with thought-provoking prose that expan... Full story
- Fascinating books kids will devour
- Convey wisdom in a positive manner
- By Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat
- There is a Chinese proverb that is powerfully true. It states: "A child's life is like a piece of paper on which everyone who passes leaves an impression."
Children are eager to learn about everything, and as the proverb says, the people they come i... Full story
