TresSugar

Reading With Kids: Tips For Getting the Most Out of Storytime

LilSugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:32:48 PDT

"Sharing a book with your child is the greatest gift a parent or caregiver can give to their little one," says children's librarian Maggie Maloney of Long Island, New York's Smithtown Library. We couldn't agree more! When Maggie offered to share her advice for getting the most out of reading with your lil ones (at any age), we jumped at the opportunity. Check out her words of wisdom (and favorite kids' books), and get reading!

It's Seusstastical! Test Your Dr. Seuss Knowledge

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:33:48 PST

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You." Theodor Seuss Geisel's 48 tongue-twisting, rhyming tales have transported tots on journeys to magical locales and inspired generations to pick up a book and read. In honor of what would have been Dr. Seuss's 108th birthday on Friday and the release of The Lorax, we've pulled some of our favorite quotes. See if you can guess which book they are from.

Source: Flickr User kristin_a (Meringue Bake Shop)

Take the Quiz

7 Jobs Bookworms Will Love

Emily Co — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:05:20 PST

There are plenty of people who enjoy reading, but few get to incorporate it in their daily grind. Read on for seven awesome careers bookworms will appreciate and even a couple of job listings for those who are actively hunting for such positions.

Add These Award-Winning Books to Your Tot's Bookshelf Today!

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:06:22 PST

Go ahead and add some silver to your bookshelf! This morning the American Library Association announced the winners of the most prestigious children's book honors, naming the 2012 John Newbery Medal and the Randolph Caldecott Medal award winners, as well as the recipients of several other distinguished awards. The honorees represent the best books - both written and illustrated - for tots. Go ahead and check out the winners and then add them to your nightly reading rotation. Your kids will thank you with a lifetime of reading ahead of them!

Cultivate a Love of Books in Your Preschooler With the Help of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

LilSugar — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 05:15:16 PDT

Dolly Parton is mostly known for her big hair and her big hits, but the country music star also has a big heart! In 1996, she founded a non-profit organization in her home county in east Tennessee to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families. She also wanted to ensure that every child would have books, regardless of their family’s income.

Fifteen years later, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library - with the help and support of individual communities - is providing books to hundreds of thousands of children in hundreds of communities in the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom. A brand-new, age appropriate book is mailed to every registered child each month until their 5th birthday! Registering for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is free and it helps tots get excited about the magic that books can create!

Put the Fun in Fundamental: 10 Tips to Help Foster a Lifelong Love of Reading

LilSugar — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:06:56 PDT

Some children seem to be born with an innate love of the written word; others need a gentle push toward the library. Trying to force kids to read - or do anything they're heartily resisting - is a frustrating experience for everyone. As important as parents know reading is, associating it with a negative, tension-filled exchange will only further tots' feeling that sitting down with a good book is some sort of punishment. Like doing chores and eating vegetables, settling in for solo story time needs to be enjoyable before it becomes habitual.

Encourage kids to crack the books without cracking the whip with these 10 tips.

Schedule regular checkups with the eye doctor. Kids can't read what they can't see!
Create a comfortable, cozy reading sanctuary free from distractions like TV and video games.
Get involved with your local library. They often have book groups and reading lists that can add a fun group dynamic to the otherwise solo activity.
Tots learn by example. Make sure your kids see you reading instead of vegging out in front of the TV.
Set aside a regular time every day for reading - even if it's just 10 minutes. Kids thrive on routine and will learn to look forward to the special quiet time.

Keep reading for the rest of our tips for creating a lil bookworm!

10 Classic Books For Every Newborn

babysugar — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:50:47 PDT

Studies show that babies who are read to and sung to at an early age will demonstrate higher reading skills than other children. While many parents don't think a newborn is paying attention to the texts in their early days, getting them into a routine of reading will be worth the time spent in their infancy. These are 10 books every newborn nursery should have on the shelves.

Do You Read More Books For Leisure When Working or Schooling?

Emily Co — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 00:15:33 PDT

I notice that I read a lot more when I'm working compared to when I was at school. It might be because I was assigned such a large amount of reading materials that it took a little joy out of reading for fun.

I find myself going through about one book a week now, and usually start and finish the book over the weekend (I'm a fast reader!). What about you - when did you have more time for reading?

Back to Books: Ways to Prep Your Child For Reading

LilSugar — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:27:50 PDT

What's the easiest and most inexpensive way to take your kid on an adventure? Read. Children don't just pick up books and know how to read them. A lot of preparation goes into the process. Here are five fun and simple ways from an elementary school teacher to prep your youngster for the lifelong relationship they will have with texts.

Read to your child: Reading to your tot teaches them book organization. They learn to read from front cover to back and from left to right across the page.

Rhyming Games: Encourage rhyming with simple silly word games to pass time in the check out line or in the car. Start with fat, cat and rat and have your child chime in with others.

Books of Their Choice: It doesn't matter what type of text your child reads as long as they read. Connect book choices to your youngster's interests to hold their attention. Take weekly trips to the library so they can explore all the options and make their own selections.

Environmental Print: Kids absorb their surroundings. Use post-its to tag items around the house like "door," "table" and "chair" to help your child with word recognition.

Draw on Vocabulary: Have your child name and explain the pictures in a book and then point out those words on the page. For example, if she explains the princess illustration, match it to the word "princess" in the text.

Fun Prints For Your Lil Book Lover

Leta Shy — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 03:05:22 PDT

From newly established must haves to classics that have been in the family for years, books can provide endless hours of entertainment, not to mention help in your lil one's brain development. Is your babe a bookworm? A love of books should be celebrated with cute ways to decorate a library, kid's room, or nursery. Get on board with these adorable prints that encourage your entire family's reading habit!