Books to Borrow, Books to Buy

Grab a child's attention with great books: Turn off the TV and spend time reading together each day; Story and photos by Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat; Comments | Recommend; There are a lot of things vying for a child's attention, and the electronic age that we're mired down in competes with reading as a form of entertainment. The most certain way to keep reading in the forefront is to establish a pattern of reading... Full story

Grandparents can help their grandchildren love reading: Story and photos by Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat; Comments | Recommend; Within the last week, two grandfathers from opposite ends of the country e-mailed to say that they regularly buy books for their grandchildren based on my reviews. Of course, I'm very flattered. But more than that, their selfless acts of generosity... Full story

Sensational books for tiny readers: It's never too early to introduce children to the joy of reading; Story and photos by Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat; Comments | Recommend; The most important avenue to get babies and toddlers interested in books and reading are to read to them every day, even multiple times throughout the day. The second most important avenue is to choose books that are loaded with baby and toddler... Full story

Check your library for all featured books: Don't let the tight economy stop your child from reading; Story and photos by Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat; Comments | Recommend; It's no surprise that public libraries are as strapped for cash as everyone else. That doesn't mean, however, that your local library isn't purchasing new children's books. Many of the books you'll find in this column listed as "Books to Buy" may... Full story

Stretch your dollar: Borrow, buy, share books: Build your child’s home library without breaking the bank; Story and photos by Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat; Comments | Recommend; Building a home library for a child is important. Carefully selected books will become treasured by the child, frequently read and remembered for a lifetime. But the fact is, no one can afford to buy all the books a child should be exposed to. Below... Full story

Share not-too-scary books for Halloween: Celebrate the season with stories that impart shivers and giggles; Story and photos by Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat; Comments | Recommend; Few children (or adults) know that the roots of Halloween began more than 2,000 years ago as a Celtic festival of the dead at the onset of winter. The originators of Halloween offered gifts of wine and food to the souls of their ancestors to ease... Full story

Fantastic books for older readers: Engage kids with riveting stories they won’t want to put down; Story and photos by Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat; Comments | Recommend; The older kids get, it seems there are a greater number of distractions to occupy them, and too often, spending time reading gets shoved to the wayside. A helpful remedy to this situation is to find riveting books that kids will have a hard time... Full story

Books on friendship teach important lessons: Model examples of healthy relationships for your children; Story and photos by Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat; Comments | Recommend; Children learn a great deal by example — the example set by their parents and other caregivers, extended family they frequently come in contact with and through interaction with their peers. Children also learn a great deal by the books that... Full story

Lots of mileage and learning with baby books: Titles for little ones offer more knowledge than meets the eye; Story and photos by Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat; Comments | Recommend; There are countless opportunities to get high mileage from baby and toddler books, and in today's rough economy, that's especially good news. At first glance, it may seem to an adult that there isn't much going on in a baby book. Not true. The... Full story

Books explore emotional issues of immigration: Today’s titles share real-world experiences; Story and photos by Kendal A. Rautzhan/For the Appeal-Democrat; Comments | Recommend; Some people choose to immigrate. Some, under duress of war or persecution, have no choice. Especially for children, immigration can be intimidating and difficult. Exploring such issues with children who've never experienced those traumas helps to... Full story