Don't Knock It Til You've Read It

2011

I don't necessarily want this site to be about everything creepy, but we just can't help but love these spooky stories. "The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall" by Mary Downing Hahn tells the story of a young girl who is an orphan. Growing up in a girl's home, she is surprised to learn she has a wealthy uncle that has requested she be sent to his rambling mansion to live. There are shocking secrets and creepy mysteries within this book and you never quite know how it will end. Today's topic is all about giving kids what they love and if the answer is mystery, horror or thriller, some times you just have to let them have it for the sake of reading a book at all. The greatest mistake that can be made in the quest to get your child to read, would be to "force" the types of books on them you would have them read. If a great ghost story is not your idea of entertainment, don't knock it if you haven't read it. Test the waters and give that book a try. You just might end up understanding the allure it has for your children.

"Old" is In...

1902

1906

1956

In today's age of Facebook, Twitter and modern technology, one would think that children and teens would only be interested in everything new and 21st century. If only the adults in these young people's lives would take time out of their own use of such vehicles, they would learn that today's youth don't always want to read about today's time. Part of the fun of reading is to step out  of one's environment and get lost in some other place and time, thus the phrase, "Old" is In, becomes true to life. There are so many parents out there practically screaming, "How do I get my child to read and love it?" The answer is quite simple. Allow your children to read about things that interest them. Be it mystery, adventure, horror or supernatural romance. My 14 yr old sister loves any story that involves orphans and if that is what gets her reading, so be it! Thus bringing me back to today's topic. For many children and teens "old" or in this case, Classics are In. "Anne of Green Gables", "The Boxcar Children" and any story by Beverly Cleary will do. Think back to what you read when you were a kid and what your parents read when they were children. You'd be surprised how much your kids will fall in love with those stories. I'm suggesting three books. One for the younger readers would be "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter published in (1902). For middle school aged kids try,  "The Racketty-Packetty House" by Frances Hodgson Burnett published (1906). For teens give "Fifteen" by Beverly Cleary a go! It was published in (1956).