Posts Tagged children’s bookstores

Educators! Make the Most of Your Bookstore Visit

Walk through the door of any bookstore, inhale deeply, and you’ll smell it. It’s the unmistakable scent of paper and ink, inspiration and action, humor and heart. Bookstores are one of my favorite

This display is from Storyline Bookshop in Upper Arlington, OH. Photo used with permission.

places on the planet. Anytime I travel, I look up a local book store to explore and support with a purchase, and I encourage you to do the same.

Everyone can benefit from the soul-filling experience of holding a brand-new book in their hands; however, if you are an educator, there are many other ways you can make the most of a local bookstore visit.

As an educator myself, I have a couple of ideas to get you started thinking beyond just buying a book.

  • Ask for Recommendations – You are a teacher. The fact that you are out of your mind busy during the school year is a given. You can’t possibly keep up with all of the new books coming out every month. It is part of my job to keep track, and I still struggle! Book store owners are typically dialed in to new books, best-selling books, and books that aren’t as well-known but are oh so amazing (my favorite). So while you are absolutely welcome to browse to your heart’s content, if you have a tighter schedule, don’t be afraid to ask for a recommendation.

 

  • Ask About Educator Discounts – As teachers we have to make our pennies stretch as far as they possibly can, and a great way to do that is to ask about discounts. Some stores might provide discounts to educators who can show a work badge or other proof of employment. Others might offer teacher deals at certain times of the year. If no educator discount is available, ask about a rewards program – because you know you’re going to be a frequent customer. It’s OK. I have the same addiction.

 

  • Communicate Curriculum Topics – You know what you and the bookstore owner have in common? A love of books and a desire to share that love with young readers. By communicating to your local bookstore that next month you will be investigating natural selection, you enable the bookstore owner to have titles on hand to support your students, to display them in a prominent area, and to recommend them to parents. Maybe you can work together to set up a special display that rotates monthly and features books that support school curriculum topics. Be sure to communicate this partnership to parents and the wider school community! The bookstore owner will benefit from new and repeating customers, you will benefit from students extending their learning outside of class, and families will benefit from engaged, eager readers.

  • Request a Classroom Visit – Here’s an outside-of-the-box idea: ask the bookstore owner to visit your classroom to do a read aloud and make book recommendations. Not only does it introduce your students to new titles, it connects your classroom to the community, and it provides a point of contact so young students feel comfortable browsing in the local bookstore. Though most students won’t be able to buy books on their own, they can start dreaming about the personal libraries they would like to build in the future. (And maybe a few of those books will make it onto gift lists they share with adults in their lives.)

I wish I had a local bookstore near me. I live in a small, Iowa town, and my closest indie is an hour and a half drive from my home. So, if you have a local bookstore, please support it with your patronage, and while you are there, use some of the above suggestions to make an even closer connection.

STEM Tuesday– Fossils– Book List

Ancient Stories Cast in Stone

Every fossil tells a tale. It could be a story about an adventurous life in the ocean, before becoming buried beneath layers of sediment. Or it could just raise lots of questions, starting with: how did that get here?

Mary Anning and Paleontology for Kids: Her Life and Discoveries, with 21 Activities by Stephanie Bearce

Readers get to know Mary Anning as a child and, later, as she discovers her first skeleton. Mary did more than dig up bones, though. She cleaned them, figured out how to put them together in a complete skeleton, and drew detailed scientific illustrations about her finds. Scattered throughout the book are sidebars that dive into details about aspects of life in the 1800s as well as the hands-on activities.

Gutsy Girls Go for Science: Paleontologists: With Stem Projects for Kids by Karen Bush Gibson, illustrated by Hui Li

Paleontologists are the scientists who study fossils, from ferns to trilobites, dinosaurs to ancient humans. In this book, we meet five women in paleontology, beginning with twelve-year-old Mary Anning who, in 1811, found a dinosaur in the cliffs near her home. We meet Mignon Talbot who studied crinoids and is the first American woman to discover and name a dinosaur. There’s a field kit checklist, lots of hands on “field assignments” and plenty of text-boxes, along with short bios of other paleontologists not featured.

The Monster’s Bones : The Discovery of T. Rex and How It Shook Our World (young reader’s edition) by David K Randall

The life of a paleontologist is filled with grit and heat, stone and hammers, and the occasional train robbery. After a nod to 19th century paleontologists, this book takes us into the fossil beds of Wyoming and Montana with Barnum Brown and the American Museum of Natural History. Wealthy capitalists fund fossil-hunters hoping to feature the largest, fiercest monsters in their museum halls.

Tales of the Prehistoric World: Adventures from the Land of the Dinosaurs by Kallie Moore, illustrated by Becky Thorns

How do stromatolites in Australia connect to Mars? Starting with the answer provided by these oldest known fossils (3.5 billion years old), we are led on an engaging journey forward through time. Detailed discussions of the life found in each period are sandwiched between captivating accounts of the intrigues, adventures, and conflicts of scientists, kids, farmers, and miners who discovered some unique and surprising fossils.

Kid Paleontologist: Explore the Remarkable Dinosaurs, Fossils Finds, and Discoveries of the Prehistoric Era by Thomas Nelson, illustrated by Julius Csotonyi

A great discussion of the field of paleontology is followed by an introduction to “10 Famous Paleontologists,” a list of “10 Famous Fossil Sites” in the world, and an engaging dinosaur classification chart. Stunning “true-life” illustrations and a conversational narrative first explore ten dinosaurs which defy classification (including one that was a burrower) and then examine many other familiar and lesser-known dinosaurs from the perspective of what their fossils, imprints, CT scans, and stomach contents have taught paleontologists about each species and what is still unknown. Highlighting where initial guesses or information has been corrected by subsequent fossil discoveries. A great book to inspire future fossil hunters.

Rhinos in Nebraska : the Amazing Discovery of the Ashfall Fossil Beds by Alison Pearce Stevens

Twelve million years ago rhinos lived in Nebraska – alongside horses and other grassland creatures. It was peaceful until… a supervolcano exploded, spewing tons of ash into the air and burying the rhinos. This book takes readers to the Ashfall Fossil Beds where they’ll look over the shoulders of scientists digging up the bones of more than 50 rhinos and uncover a few mysteries along the way.

The Illustrated Guide to Fossils & Fossil Collecting by Steve Kelly

Amazing photographs of fossils combine with reconstruction illustrations to give the reader a sense of what each animal or plant might have looked like. Following a discussion of fossils, geologic timeline, and reconstruction challenges, the detailed directory of 375 plant and animals fossils includes an additional fact file, and the relationship of the fossil to its current relatives and their role in the environment.

Fossils for Kids: An Introduction to Paleontology by Dan R Lynch

This photo-illustrated book dives into rocks, minerals, and fossilization. A vertical color-coded geologic timeline accompanies a lively, question and answer discussion of seventeen kinds of animal fossils, six plant and amber fossils, and an examination of microfossils, trace fossils, and pseudofossils. Advice on safely collecting fossils and avoiding fakes is followed by a list of fossil sites around the U.S.

Fossils for Kids: a Junior Scientist’s Guide to Dinosaur Bones, Ancient Animals, and Prehistoric Life on Earth by Ashley Hall

Written by a paleontologist with the goal of exciting future scientists, the book employs a conversational and lightly tongue-in-cheek narrative and great illustrations to explore fossil formation, classification, and identification and then dives into an examination of the fossils, stats, and discovery locations of dinosaurs, vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. Wonderful side bars expand upon the science, explore famous scientists, and offer a “make your own fossil” activity.

My Book of Fossils: A Fact-filled Guide to Prehistoric Life by Dr. Dean Lomax

This photo-illustrated, browsable hi-low book explores the creation and collection, excavation and discoveries of fossils. Interspersed with fascinating features and scientific discoveries about bacteria, plants, and animals, are gemstone fossils, famous paleontologists, reconstructing the past, and an awesome visual glossary/index.

cover image of "Outdoor School: rock, Fossil, and Shell Hunting"

Outdoor School: Rock, Fossil, and Shell Hunting: The Definitive Interactive Nature Guide by Jennifer Swanson

Divided into sections on fossils, rocks, and shells this book is designed to be used, not just as a guide, but as a detailed scientific log. Informative sections begin with very visual and easily accessible scientific descriptions, history, and classifications. They invite interactivity with graphs, charts, and “badge-like” places to record fun hands-on exercises, experiments, and discoveries. It also includes guides for storing and displaying collections and a check list of 101 possible achievements.

You can find more books about fossils over at the Geology book list: (https://fromthemixedupfiles.com/stem-tuesday-geology-book-list/).


This month’s STEM Tuesday book list was prepared by:

Sue Heavenrich is an award-winning author, blogger, and bug-watcher. A long line of ants marching across the kitchen counter inspired her first article for kids. When not writing, she’s either in the garden or tromping through the woods. Her books for middle-grade readers include Funky Fungi: 30 Activities for Exploring Molds, Mushrooms, Lichens, and More and Diet for a Changing Climate. Visit her at www.sueheavenrich.com

Maria is a children’s author, blogger, and poet who is passionate about making nature and reading fun for children. She was a round 2 judge for the Cybils Awards (2017 – present), and a judge for the #50PreciousWords competition since its inception. Two of her poems are published in The Best of Today’s Little Ditty 2016 and 2014-2015 anthologies. When not writing, critiquing, or reading, she bird watches, travels the world, bakes, and hikes. Visit her at www.mariacmarshall.com.

Revitalizing the Culture of Reading

Picture a 12-year-old. It’s 8 p.m. on a school night. Homework is finished, responsibilities have been fulfilled, and it’s wind-down time. What will they choose to do with this time? According to current surveys and sales records, it’s unlikely that this young person will be picking up a book to read.

Boy reading a book

“Is There a Reading Recession?”  This is the title of a recent article shared on the Scholastic Blog. It echoes the concerns expressed in a previous Mixed-Up Files post about “The Middle Grade Slump.” A documented decrease in middle grade book sales is a symptom. The real issue is the sharp decline in the amount of reading that kids up to the age of 18 engage in for pleasure.

 

Maybe reading for pleasure is a thing of the past. It’s a hobby. There are other hobbies. Reading is just a skill-set learned in school, right? Wrong. The benefits of reading for pleasure are broad and well-documented. Reading for pleasure builds empathy, social adjustment, and self-esteem. Research has shown that reading for pleasure boosts academic achievement and is associated with overall success in life.

 

However, according to a National Literacy Trust survey, children’s engagement and enjoyment in reading are the lowest they’ve been in two decades. What can be done to reverse this trend? We need to revitalize the culture of reading, and it’s up to adults to lead the way. 

 

Parents

Parent reading to baby

Parents are the most important stakeholders in creating a culture of reading. From the earliest ages, before children have even developed language, books should be shared. Sharing a book between parent and child enriches children in multiple ways. It builds vocabulary, introduces children to concepts of print, and creates a positive emotional climate around reading. As children age, even if they can’t remember these shared experiences, they are stronger readers who maintain the positive feelings developed in that early emotional context. 

 

Even when children begin to read independently, it’s important to continue to read TO the big kids. When adults read aloud, they model prosody, which is the rhythm and intonation we use to be expressive with language. They model respect for the act of reading and appreciation for books. Children’s vocabulary and comprehension skills are built through listening, and the positive emotional climate around the act of reading is nurtured and sustained.

 

Visiting libraries and bookstores sends an unspoken message that books have value and that reading is part of your family culture. Parents are the most crucial influences in creating a culture of reading, and by reading to, reading with, and reading alongside children, parents demonstrate a dedication to and appreciation for reading.

 

Teachers and Schools

Teacher reading to class

As a veteran teacher, I can personally attest to the importance of classroom libraries, shared read-alouds, and a dedicated time for daily individual reading. However, increased demands on instructional time creates overburdened schedules, and current concerns over book challenges have created a culture of fear in many schools.

 

Most educators understand that teaching reading skills must go hand-in-hand with fostering reading engagement. Literacy-rich environments are necessary in order for students to develop as readers. But teachers can’t do this alone. Parents and administrators must support immersive literary atmospheres in classrooms. 

 

Classroom libraries should be well-stocked with a diverse selection of genres and reading levels so that students can identify their own preferences as readers. Virtual and in-person author visits generate great hype around books and should be scheduled throughout the year. Grants, partnerships with independent bookstores, and relationships with businesses and community organizations can help fund author events. 

 

Finally, teachers who develop a positive climate around books are those who model a love of reading. They read aloud to students daily and build connection and community through literature. They talk about reading, discuss books they love, and provide recommendations based on students’ individual interests and preferences.

 

Librarians and Booksellers

shelves with books, red seats, people reading

Let’s create some hype around books! The July 8, 2024 issue of Publisher’s Weekly showcased the activities of some forward-thinking booksellers who have been successful at revitalizing reading among young patrons. Subscription boxes, themed dinners, and author visits have all proven effective in engaging young readers in the pleasure of reading.

 

Big box stores are now selling kids’ books, and the accessibility of literature at the same place where families might be shopping for clothing, school supplies, hardware, or groceries deserves attention. These stores should be encouraged to provide a wide variety of books for every age and type of reader. 

 

Libraries can (and usually do) engage in programming designed to inspire a love of reading. Book clubs, community reads, and thematic events can draw young readers in and help them connect with literature. Reading aloud to the youngest readers while also providing a safe space for teen readers is a true balancing act. As showcased at the recent ALA conference, librarians are heroes, whether or not they wear capes.

 

It’s Time for Action

Let’s return to that 12-year-old. Maybe it’s laughable to assume that there’s any downtime. Between extracurricular activities, often-excessive amounts of homework, and the lure of ever-present electronics, even if there is downtime, why would a kid choose to read? Our culture has changed…but it’s not the kids who changed it.

 

The benefits of reading for pleasure are well-documented, and the trend away from reading for pleasure is not shifting toward the positive. It’s time to reverse the trend. A cultural revitalization that includes an appreciation for books and a habit of reading for pleasure is needed, and it’s up to the adults to make it happen.