The Fortune-Tellers

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

The Fortune-Tellers

Author: Lloyd Alexander

First line: A young carpenter was unhappy in his trade.

Why you should read this book: When a Newbery-winning writer (Alexander) teams up with a Caldecott-winning illustrator (Trina Schart Hyman), you know it’s going to be good, and it is. This fanciful original story, in the style of a traditional African folktale, celebrates the power of positive thinking, as vague predictions and silly coincidences inspire the unhappy carpenter to create a new life for himself, while the luscious drawings pay homage to the landscape and people of Cameroon. Sharp children will enjoy dissecting the fortune-teller’s trickery and may even grasp the concept of self-fulfilling prophecy to their own advantage.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: A fortune-teller owes you a lot of back rent.

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Studies show that children who regularly hear books read and see adults reading books have an easier time learning to read. If your children do not realize that books are fun and contain interesting ideas, they will be less motivated to learn how to read and write. Children who do not learn to read and write have difficulty succeeding in school and at life.

Even infants can enjoy books. You can check baby board books out of the library. Your baby will enjoy sitting on your lap as you read the words and point to the brightly colored pictures. If your baby wants to chew on the book, that's OK too.

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You can learn more about children's books at the American Library Association website. Your public library is a great place to introduce your children to books. They will have special programs and incentives for kids of all ages to love reading. In most systems children are entitled to their own library cards from the time they are old enough to write their own names. It's a great way to teach responsibility as well as foster a lifelong love of learning and books.

If you can't get to the library, but you have an Internet connection, you can find many full-text books on-line. For adults, Project Gutenberg offers thousands of full-text books you can download for free.

Dragon's Library

Tuesday, March 23, 2010