Kids Home Library Volume I

Lee Littlewood is a nationally syndicated columnist for Creators Syndicate. This is a collection of the very best of Kids’ Home Library from 2014.

Although William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language, he traditionally receives little notice in studies of children's literature. However, there is a fascinating relationship between Shakespeare and children's interests, and the Bard's works have been successfully adapted for children's use over several centuries. This book continues and parallels the author's previous study, Chaucer as Children's Literature, as part of a greater endeavor to evaluate the significance of traditional literature retold as children's literature in modern English studies. It examines the ways in which William Shakespeare's stories have been adapted for children, particularly in Mary and Charles Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare, which was almost immediately recognized as a classic of children's literature when it was first published in 1807. The author describes the significance of the Lamb's Tales as the pre-eminent children's adaptation of Shakespeare's literature, focusing particularly on the lavishly illustrated Edwardian editions which used pictures to convey Shakespeare's stories for children. Other topics include Victorian alternatives to the Lambs' stories, including anthologies from David Murray Smith, Abby Sage Richardson, and Mary Seymour; the lavish illustrations of Shakespeare's stories found in antique English textbooks; Shakespeare in nursery books, including sophisticated collections from Mary Macleod, Thomas Carter, Alice S. Hoffman, and other noted authors; and Shakespeare in multi-volume American collections, including The Children's Hour, Journeys through Bookland, and The Junior Classics.

Knights and ladies, giants and dragons, tournaments, battles, quests and crusades are commonplace in stories for children. This book examines how late Victorians and Edwardians retold medieval narratives of chivalry--epics, romances, sagas, legends and ballads. Stories of Beowulf, Arthur, Gawain, St. George, Roland, Robin Hood and many more thrilled and instructed children, and encouraged adult reading. Lavish volumes and schoolbooks of the era featured illustrated texts, many by major artists. Children's books, an essential part of Edwardian publishing, were disseminated throughout the English-speaking world. Many are being reprinted today. This book examines related contexts of Medievalism expressed in painting, architecture, music and public celebrations, and the works of major authors, including Sir Walter Scott, Tennyson, Longfellow and William Morris. The book explores national identity expressed through literature, ideals of honor and valor in the years before World War I, and how childhood reading influenced 20th-century writers as diverse as C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Siegfried Sassoon, David Jones, Graham Greene, Ian Fleming and John Le Carre.

The first three years of life are the most important for nurturing a childs full potential: thats when they start forming attachments, developing a sense of self, and learning to trust. During this time, there are critical windows of opportunity that parents can take advantage of-if they know how. In a dozen succinct yet information-packed chapters, award-winning columnist and professional therapist Dr. Jenn Berman gives parents the knowledge they need. Her enlightening sidebars, bulleted lists, and concrete, easy-to-use strategies will help parents raise happy, healthy babies…who grow to be flourishing toddlers and successful adults.

Integrating Literacy Naturally is a guide for nurturing a love of literacy in both teachers and young children. More than a hundred children’s book titles and other resources serve as springboards for cultivating that love and meeting individual literacy needs in developmentally appropriate ways. And, educator spotlight stories show how theories move to practice. Pinkerton and Hewitt draw on their love of literacy and over four decades of combined experience to help readers navigate individualized instruction, purposeful play, literacy integration, classroom libraries, and a reimagined workshop approach. Examples for how to do all of this with children’s texts are presented throughout the book. Eight guiding principles provide an easy path to becoming an intentional, authentic teacher who focuses on the individual needs of children and avoids one-sized literacy instruction. The principles grew from heart to heart conversations the authors had about joyful reading and writing experiences being reduced to worksheets and rote memorization in many classrooms. This book moves teachers far away from drill the skill literacy. Use it as a guide on your path to making literacy learning both playful and intentional in the early childhood classroom.

This informative new volume provides a hand-picked selection of useful techniques, ideas, competencies, and skills for working with children in school settings. The book comprises both research (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-design) and conceptual pieces about the most effective, current professional practices for professionals who work with P-12 children in schools. The practices described here will be useful for a wide assortment of professionals within education, including practicing teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, speech language pathologists, administrators, and education students.

The no-stress, ferociously fun way to raise a kid who loves to read—complete with reading recommendations and activities to inspire! Teaching your child to read is monstrously important, and there’s no better way to do it than with everyday opportunities for laughter and play. Bringing Up Bookmonsters is full of fun ways to build literacy at home—no flashcards or timers required! Feed your budding bookmonster’s brain as you: Turn storytime into playtime to build comprehension. Get giggling with games and jokes that reinforce spelling. Converse at family meals with varied vocabulary. Satisfy your bookmonster’s cravings with books they are sure to devour! These tips and many more make it easy to help your child develop an insatiable appetite for reading—and have a tremendously good time doing it!