Back to School Book Club for Parents and Care-Givers

If the younger children in your life need to have more schooling at home this fall, you may need a little extra help keeping them (and you) on track (especially if they’re just learning to read). Here’s a few suggestions from Carole Barrowman's daughter Clare, a third grade teacher in Minneapolis. Talk to teachers, focus on math and reading and create a schedule. Here are some book recommendations: Bob Books Collection (set 1 & 2) by Bobby Lynn Maslen Whether you have a pre-reader or a more advanced reader, these collections are engaging and designed to give your child confidence in their reading abilities (which is everything at the beginning levels). Plus they have stories that are interesting. This isn’t “Dick & Jane.” Usborne’s Very First Reading Set (https://usbornebooks.com/books-to-help-your-child-learn-to-read/usborne-my-first-reading-library/) Lots of research shows the importance of reading with our children… and not just at bedtime. The books in this set are designed to encourage shared reading. There are paragraphs written for the adult to read and then ones written for the reading level of the child. ITCH! Everything You Didn’t Know About What Makes You Scratch by Anita Sanchez and Gilbert Ford (6+) Kids are fascinated with true stories and facts, and, for some kids, the weirder and grosser the better. Cool mix of science and history in this one. Plus some pretty funny illustrations. Let’s Make Comics! By Jess Smart Smiley (5+) Some of the most popular books for young readers right now are graphic novels and comics. Reading comics and graphic novels can foster verbal and visual literacy. This book is a lot of fun for kids of all ages. It has step by step activities for writing and drawing comics.