Help independent readers succeed

There is something extraordinarily beautiful when children first learn to read - the look in their eyes, the smile, the sense of accomplishment and pride. While I strongly advocate reading aloud to children long after they are able to read on their own, once a child is able to read there should be plenty of access to books and magazines that the child can pick up and read privately. In making those reading materials available, be sure that they are easy to read. If the material is too difficult for their ability, their interest will quickly fade away. On the other hand, if the experience is pleasurable, the translation to the child will be that reading is fun, and once you open that door, you have moved mountains.

Today's reviewed books focus on independent readers, but these represent a mere fraction of what is available. Many publishers have series of books written specifically for newly independent readers and categorize those books by reading ability. Ask someone to point you in the right direction at your library and bookstore. A child is waiting for you to make that happen.

Books to Borrow

The following book is available at many public libraries.

"Minnie and Moo: The Night of the Living Bed" written and illustrated by Denys Cazet, HarperTrophy, 48 pages

Read aloud: age 4 and older.

Read yourself: age 7 and older.

Another in HarperCollins' "An I Can Read Book" series, this hilarious and crazy story of Minnie and Moo is bound to keep kids in stitches.

Minnie and Moo are cows, best friends, and Minnie loves chocolate more than anything. One night the two friends are fast asleep in their bed under a tree on a hill when Minnie has a bad dream Ð a giant mouse eats the last piece bit of chocolate in the whole world. Minnie is so terrified, she wakes up yelling, shaking Moo, and they both tumble out of bed. Their tumbling causes the bed to roll down the hill, and the two cows dash after it in hot pursuit.

Catching up to the runaway bed, Minnie and Moo hop on as the bed zooms through a barn and scoops up more animals and proceeds straight into town. One bizarre event leads to another, coupled with the fact that it's Halloween and trick-or-treaters are all over the place. Maybe they could join the fun and get some chocolate after all...

Get ready for a wild ride in more ways than one Ð this adventure of Minnie and Moo is pure delight!

Librarian's Choice

Library: Douglas County Public Library, 1625 Library Lane, Minden

Library Director: Linda Deacy

Youth Services Librarian: Kathy Echavarria

Choices this week: "Ramona Quimby, Age 8" by Beverly Cleary; "Where the Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein; "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by Judith Viorst

Books to Buy

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.

"Ms. Turtle the Babysitter" written and illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev, HarperTrophy, 2006, 64 pages, $3.99 paperback

Read aloud: age 3-4 and older.

Read yourself: age 7 and older.

Mother and Father Frog are going to a party, so Ms. Turtle has come to baby-sit. The little frogs and Ms. Turtle have a wonderful time, but the next time Ms. Turtle comes to baby-sit, the little frogs are sad - they don't want their parents to leave. No matter what Ms. Turtle does to try and make the little frogs happy, it doesn't seem to work and this makes Ms. Turtle sad. Will the three little frogs be able to make Ms. Turtle happy again? Of course!

Through simple sentences, fun illustrations, and a scenario young children can easily identify with, this selection is simply great.

"Wanda Witch and the Stray Dragon" by Rose Impey, illustrated by Katharine McEwen, Scholastic, 2006, 32 pages, $3.99 paperback

Read aloud: age 4 and older.

Read yourself: age 7Ð8.

Young Wanda Witch really wanted a pet, but her parents and their bossy cat, Cat-a-bogus, all said no. One morning Wanda found a baby dragon outside her front door, and it was love at first sight. Her parents finally agreed she could keep the dragon until he grew too big, and when that day came, Cat-a-bogus surprised Wanda by coming to the dragon's rescue.

Full of humor and fun, this Level 3 independent reader is terrific.

• Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.