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 

Aaaarrgghh! Spider!

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

 Aaaarrgghh! Spider! is appropriate for all children.

Summary:
Why doesn't this family seem to want a spider as a pet? Aaaarrgghh! Spider! from author and illustrator Lydia Monks is told from the perspective of a friendly spider who just wants to be a family pet and makes a pretty decent argument for her case. Follow her as she captures the hearts (and flies) of one reluctant family. 

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Compare and Contrast:
While you read Aaaarrgghh! Spider!, find the similarities and differences between the types of pets in the story. This can also be reflected in your child's own life. Does your child have a pet, how is their pet the same or different from a pet spider? If your child does not have a pet, Aaaarrgghh! Spider! can be a window for your child to talk about what kind of qualities in pet they might want.  

Do this with your child:
The timing is perfect for Aaaarrgghh! Spider! since tomorrow is Halloween! Take the opportunity to find and count how many spiders are in the story, and compare that to how many they can find outside (real or decorations.) Just don't get too close!

If you're interested in sharing Aaaarrgghh! Spider! with your child you can find it from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt here.

Follow Lydia Monks on Twitter. 

How Far Do You Love Me

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this fun title with your child and their grandparent or special friend! 

(2013, Lee & Low Books)

How Far Do You Love Me is appropriate for ages 2-8. 

Summary:
How Far Do You Love Me takes you on a journey across the globe to see how far your love can stretch. Explore the globe from Mexico to Antarctica and Switzerland to Vietnam and get a glimpse into the beauty of the bonds of love in different cultures.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy--Compare and Contrast:
How Far Do You Love Me brings the reader on a journey across the globe and gives you a peek into the lives of the people who live their. Have your child find the similarities and differences in terms of how they relate to the families they see in the pages. How do the families in the story differ from each other? Use the pictures to talk about the clothes, the landscapes and the environments on each page.

Do this with your child:
Author Lulu Delacre was inspired to write How Far Do You Love Me based on a game she would play with her daughters. Have your child play How Far Do You Love Me with a grandparent or special friend and explore how far their love can go. 

You can find How Far Do You Love Me from the publisher Lee & Low Books here.

Grandma's Chocolate / El Chocolate de Abuelita

FOR THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND, share this fun title with your child and their grandparent or special friend!

(2010, Pinata Books/Arte Publico Press) 

Grandma's Chocolate/El Chocolate de Abuelita is appropriate for ages 5-8. 

Summary:
In Grandma's Chocolate/El Chocolate de Abuelita, Grandma comes to visit Sabrina all the way from Mexico. She and Sabrina open her suitcase full of surprises and explore the culture found within. They play dress up as a Mayan princess, make music with traditional instruments and most exciting for Sabrina, she learns all about the special chocolate from the Mayan and Aztec cultures. 

Practice this Comprehension Strategy--Compare and Contrast:
Grandma's Chocolate/El Chocolate de Abuelita explores the Mayan and Aztec cultures. Sabrina's Grandma shares stories and traditions of their culture. Compare the similarities and contrast the differences between their culture and your own. Are there princesses, special traditions, foods, instruments or songs that are unique to your culture? How are they similar to Sabrina's? How are they different? 

Do this with your child:
When Sabrina's Grandma visits in Grandma's Chocolate/El Chocolate de Abuelita, she brings a suitcase full of goodies. Ask your child about what their grandparent's have brought for them when they visit. Or, like Sabrina's drawing for Grandma, does your child bring anything to give to their grandparents? For an extra project, have your child draw a picture for their grandparent or special friend and send it in the mail to them as a special surprise of their own.

You can find Grandma's Chocolate/El Chocolate de Abuelita from the publisher Arte Publico/Pinata Books here.

We've teamed up with Hanna Andersson to bring you our Instagram Contest going on from August 31, 2015-September 13, 2015. Enter your post in honor of Grandparent's Day for your chance to win! See full contest rules at http://www.thehannablog.com/

4 Winners will Receive:

• RAR tote bag with 5 Grandparent Themed books (including Grandma's Chocolate/El Chocolate de Abuelita with a special thanks to Arte Publico/Pinata Books) 
• $100 Hanna Andersson gift Card
• 1 pair of Hanna Jammies