Book Bits (Friday, May 6, 2016)
Read on for interesting book-related news from around the web…. Adult Coloring Books? Adult coloring books are all the rage, but some Christians have concerns over coloring mandalas (Eastern religious symbols); not to fear! There are also Christian coloring books with texts and symbols drawn from Scripture, hymns, and Christian tradition. Tolkien fans, this is…
Read More5 Ways to Connect Legos and Literature
What do you do when spring is shining and the kids are squirming? If you have a child who is enthusiastic about Legos, enrich their time with a little literary creativity! Here are five suggestions: L.E.G.O.S. 1. Listen to audiobooks while they create. Suggestions: Audiobook reviews on RR, Jim Weiss, Librivox (select “children’s literature” under “genre”) 2.…
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Help! My Kid is Developing Brain Cavities!
Maybe your kids, like mine, have recently read classic novels. Maybe your family, like mine, has been reading a biography of a famous scientist together. And maybe you have to say reluctantly, “It’s time to stop reading and fulfill other obligations.” But maybe your children, like mine, also lug home from the library encyclopedic StarWars…
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3 Irresistible Picture Books for Boys
Pop quiz: What’s the funniest word in the English language? What competition is the fiercest? Do machines that are massive and gloriously noisy EVER have to quiet down for the night? Answers: 1. One Big Pair of Underwear by Laura GehlEvery boy who is four years old (or nine, six, two, or forty-eight, for that…
Read MoreBook Bits: Beverly Cleary, banned books, National Cereal Day, and more (March 7, 2016)
Book Bits: a random collection of interesting, book-related news from around the web. Enjoy! Easter is just around the corner! Check out this Easter devotional that we reviewed last year. Oops! We missed it: World Read Aloud Day was February 24. It’s not too late, though–you can read aloud with your children every day! Beverly Cleary,…
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The 6 Risks of Reading Old Books
I am a book list professional. I read, save, research, create, and share book lists. I own books of book lists. And I’m concerned with what I’m seeing amongst my fellow Christians: a heavy leaning on old books for so many school-related booklists. The fact is, if we submerge ourselves in old books, we run some serious risks.…
Read MoreRecent World Magazine Book Reviews
Our regular readers have no doubt noticed a dearth of book reviews recently covering new releases. We’re still offering up great lists, commentary, reviews of older titles, and other content here, but our staff has begun reviewing new releases for World magazine on a regular basis. Here are links to our four most recent review charts…
Read MoreReading Aloud to Teens, Part Two
Last week I set forth some reasons why older children (ages 12-18) have not outgrown the benefits of reading aloud. If you’re convinced about the why’s, you may be wondering about the how’s. Here are a few ideas along that line: Start early. If you’ve read to your kids as preschoolers, and after, they’ll be…
Read MoreBook Bits is Back! (2/5/16)
It’s high time we revived Book Bits: a random collection of interesting book-related links and information found around the web. Enjoy! Beatrix Potter has a new book coming out! Now you can ask the advice of a “book concierge” like you might a hotel concierge. Rumor has it that a new Little House movie is in…
Read MoreReading Aloud to Teens, Part One
The last time I talked to my daughter on the phone, she said, “Guess what Adriel is doing now.” That’s my nine-year-old granddaughter, and of course I always want to know what she’s doing now. Since they live 800 miles away, I don’t get to see them very much, but it so happened that the…
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