I got a press release recently about a new DVD of Beverly Cleary's The Mouse and the Motorcycle, coming out from Scholastic this month. It reminded me of all the time I spent during summers with Beverly Cleary books as a young reader, eating up the antics of Ramona the Pest.

Now lots of classic tales are being presented as DVDs, and I'm wondering what effect that might have. On one hand, if kids are going to watch "TV," it might as well be a great, educational story with themes to help them grow. On the other, does this make them gravitate to the DVD at the expense of the book? Or could an argument be made that it might it get them interested in reading the book, too, when they might not have otherwise?

I'd love to know how your kids have reacted to classics on DVD, and how it has affected their interest in reading the stories.

(Photo courtesy of Scholastic)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

It's summer reading time at local libraries. Many are kicking off their annual programs to get kids to read with activities this weekend and in the coming week.

The statewide theme is "Catching the Reading Bug." Some libraries have separate programs for teens, featuring Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis.

Some highlights, with links to the full schedule of events:

--Kickoff parties are scheduled tomorrow at most branches of Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library, with games, activities and the like.

--Baltimore County's program starts Monday, with events throughout the summer. Its web site has companion crafts you can do at home. Wacky Paper Plate Bugs, anyone? There is also a preschool program, with links to web sites for learning letters, numbers and beginning sounds.

--Anne Arundel County's kickoff events start the week of June 16, though you can sign up starting Monday.There will be several concerts by the group Milkshake at branch libraries during the summer, and students entering sixth grade and up can participate in a program on the history of hip-hop at the West County, Severna Park and Annapolis libraries.

--Howard County's celebration is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow at the East Columbia branch, featuring an "edible insects cooking show" and performances by Barry Louis Polisar and Flumpa and Friends.

Got favorite bug books to recommend?

 (Photo taken at the East Columbia branch of the Howard County Library by Saul Stoogenke)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

This little book arrived on my desk a few weeks ago, and I thought it might be fun to excerpt some of the "secrets" for discussion. The authors, Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile, say they came upon the idea while interviewing moms for their first book, I Was A Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids.

"In some cases, moms mailed us their typewritten dirty little secrets to ensure their privacy -- they wouldn't risk being identified by their handwriting or sharing their e-mail address," the authors write.

We wouldn't do that on Charm City Moms, would we?

Anyway, on to some secrets. ...

(Click below to keep reading.)

Continue reading "Mothers' "dirty little secrets"" »

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 9:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Here are six books for Edamommy to choose from for making our 300th comment. Have you read any of them? Which one would you choose, and why?

Here are the titles, from bottom to top:

1. "Making Up With Mom," by Julie Halpert and Deborah Carr;

2. "Mama Rock's Rules," by Rose Rock (mother of comedian Chris Rock);

3. "The Future of Your Only Child," by Carl E. Pickhardt;

4. "Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too," by Susan Callahan, Anne Nolen, and Katrin Schumann;

5. "To Catch A Predator: Protecting Your Kids from Online Enemies Already in Your Home," by Chris Hansen (the Dateline NBC reporter who specializes in catching Internet predators on the creepy show of the same name);

6. "Questions to Bring You Closer to Mom," a book of conversation starters for mothers and kids by Stuart Gustafson and Robyn Freedman Spizman.

As for you, Edamommy, after we've had time to hear some suggestions, comment below or send me an e-mail with your selection and I'll mail it off to you.

(Photo by me)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

I've been meaning to get a chance to read the new book Parenting Inc. and tell you what I think about it. So I was glad to see this excerpt on NPR's website, which will probably be all I -- and you -- will have time to read this week. Judging from the beginning, the book looks promising, though just reading about the financial binds facing parents today is enough to make my head ache. And that's even knowing these problems quite well from my own experience.

I'm sure we'll talk more about the book in general, but there was one thing at the very beginning of the excerpt that interested me. The author, Pamela Paul, talks about anguishing over whether she should enroll her baby girl in baby sign language classes to help her communicate before she learned to talk. You'll probably remember that baby signing was all the rage a few years ago, but Paul reports that after doing lots of research, she concluded that having her daughter learn sign language wouldn't be worth the effort; some research told her it could even do more harm than good.

I've been wanting to ask about your experience with baby sign language classes. (Neither of my children took them, and fortunately both learned to speak on a normal schedule.) Did your children learn to sign, or are you considering signing up a baby? What went into your decision? Did you see benefits?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
                    

Web-surfing Sunday is taking a break this week so that I can bring you some old-media ways to learn about Ireland with your children.

My all-time favorite movie about Ireland -- and pretty much my favorite children's movie in general -- is The Secret of Roan Inish, a 1995 John Sayles film. The lead character is a strong-willed, whip-smart girl named Fiona, who's all about reuniting her family with a lost baby brother. (Warning: the scene when baby brother is "lost," while not violent, may be upsetting to some children, and even generate a tear in soft-hearted parents. But it's worth it in the end.)

The soundtrack is also wonderful, and never fails to get my daughter dancing.

The Parents' Choice Foundation, a national resource in Timonium that reviews a range of children's toys and media, has compiled a short list of classic Irish books appropriate for children.

I'd like to know about your family's favorite books and movies for learning about Ireland and celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Please tell us about them below.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

If you can't get your teenager off the Web, maybe you can at least get her to visit a cool site about books. With a name like Favorite Teenage Angstbooks, this one has a chance to hook your high-schooler.

It's written by a woman in her late 30s, but it has fun graphics and reviews of lots of good books about the teenage experience.

The site owner tells me she's taking a break from posting new content while she pursues some other projects, but there's enough there in the meantime to pique some -- gasp! -- offline interest in a book.

What's your opinion of this site? And what are other favorite sites for teenagers?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)