Background: Wormburner (aka son#2) has been reading Artemis Fowl. Setting: Last night at dinner . . . Wormburner: “Dad, did you know fairies have jet packs?” Dad: “Um, no?” Wormburner: “And they vibrate!” Wormburner starts vibrating in his seat. Mom explains: “Fairies vibrate at a speed that renders them invisible to the human eye. Don’t ask me how I know… Read More
The recent discussion about how to Keep Boys Reading, spurred a thought in my mind about how to lure lapsed or reluctant readers back into reading. Lapsing out of reading can happen to any child, even advanced readers. Just because they can read ahead of their grade, doesn’t mean they will. I’m convinced that finding the perfect book, maybe even… Read More
I think it is important to never talk down to kids. Their brains are small, but mighty. Even an eight years old’s brain has as much raw computing power as an adult, and is probably better at learning than the ossified brains of their parents. They simply haven’t been on the planet as long. Seriously, that is your only advantage, parents, so… Read More
I have always given books for birthdays and Christmas. I could mostly get away with it with the kids – even if they looked askance at it, at least the parents appreciated the effort. And it was much easier when the kids were little – who doesn’t need another book, when you can read through Dora the Explorer in less than 10 minutes, or… Read More
Ah, as the Books Reviewed list grows, I find myself in need of more room! So, this page will be the placeholder for Books Reviewed by Ink Spells (with the occasional guest blog by Dark Omen). Also see a list of Books to Keep Boys Reading, which are not reviewed books. If you’d like to suggest a book for review, please… Read More
Natalie Whipple, writer and blogger-friend, wrote an awesome post that ran very close to my heart. It was about the (mis)conceptions that boys don’t like to read, or stop reading when they reach puberty (if not before). I agree with her very well made argument that keeping boys reading means making sure writers write and parents find books that boys want… Read More