How My Parents Learned to Eat

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this fun title with your child! 

How My Parents Learned to Eat is appropriate for children age 4 and up.

Summary:
How My Parents Learned to Eat tells the story of John and Aiko, an American sailor and a Japanese school girl. They meet while John is stationed in Japan and they spend every evening together walking and talking. John would like to ask Aiko to dinner but he is nervous because he does not know how to use chopsticks. Aiko thinks maybe John is not asking her to dinner because she does not know how to use a knife and fork. They each secretly learn how to use the other's utensils and finally have dinner together.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Sequencing:
How My Parents Learned to Eat is a great story to practice sequencing, putting events in the order which they happened. Have your child tell you what happens first, what comes next, and what happens last. Use words like before, then, after and next to transition between events in the story. By recalling events and characters your child is deepening their engagement with the story.

Do this with your child:
After reading How My Parents Learned to Eat enjoy a meal using a utensil you don't typically use. Try eating different foods with chopsticks versus a fork and knife. Talk about which foods are easier to use with which utensils and decide if you have a favorite to  use.

If you're interested in sharing How My Parents Learned to Eat with your child you can find it from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. 

Kite Flying

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this fun title with your child! 

Kite Flying is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
It is a windy day, perfect for flying a kite. Join this family as they cut, paint, glue and create their own kite in Kite Flying by Grace Lin.The bright pictures and simple text will delight readers of all ages.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
After you read Kite Flying, talk with your child about how they can relate to the story. Have you ever flown a kite as a family? Have you watched kites being flown? If so, do you remember where or when or even what the kites looked like? Have you read any other stories that have kites in them? Your child will be using their own experiences to further engage with the story, creating a stronger understanding of the text.

Do this with your child:
The family in Kite Flying works together to create and fly their own kite. Each member of the family has a different job to do in order to make the kite as perfect as possible. You can do something similar with your own family, be it making your own kite, or a different fun project like baking cookies, or making a box car or building a fort. Let each person have a part in the process and then enjoy the end result together!

If you're interested in sharing Kite Flying with your child you can find it from Dragonfly Books here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

For more from author Grace Lin visit her blog.

My Brother Charlie

CELEBRATE FAMILY LITERACY MONTH! FOR THE WEEKEND, share this fun title with your child! 

My Brother Charlie is appropriate for children ages 4-8.

Summary:

Every family is different, including the family in My Brother Charlie written by Holly Robinson Peete and her daughter Ryan Elizabeth Peete. Explore this story from Callie's perspective as she talks about her relationship with her twin brother Charlie. Charlie has autism, this means he thinks differently than lots of people. Callie tells about the things he enjoys and the things he doesn't. And even though Charlie doesn't always say I love you, Callie tells all the ways he shows it.   

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Compare and Contrast:

After you read My Brother Charlie, make a list with your child of all the things they remember that Charlie and Callie are good at, as well as all of the things that they find hard. Then also do this for you and your child. It will help them to realize that every person is good at some things but not others. In this way they can relate to both Charlie and Callie. They will be able to see the similarities and differences in Charlie and Callie and relate that to their own life.

Do this with your child:

This beautiful book describes what it can be like to have a sibling, a friend, a child with autism. It is important to know that just because someone has a hard time sharing their feelings, that doesn't mean they don't have feelings at all. Talk with your child about some of the ways to be kind and inclusive, even if someone seems shy or different. 

If you're interested in sharing My Brother Charlie with your child you can find it from Scholastic Press New York here. 

To learn more about Holly Robinson Peete's foundation for Autism Awareness click HollyRod.

Last Day to enter our
NATIONAL FAMILY LITERACY MONTH CONTEST
for your chance to win!!

Raising A Reader is celebrating National Family Literacy Month! Join us by liking us on Facebook and posting your favorite book to share with your family, tagging @RARnational and #RaisingAReader.

Contest will run Nov. 16-22

2 winners per week will receive:

-RAR tote bag with 5 age appropriate books