Aunt Clara Brown: Official Pioneer

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Aunt Clara Brown: Official Pioneer

Written by Linda Lowery

First line: Clara Brown made her way past barrels of dried fish.

Why you should read this book: A former slave who bought her own freedom with her own money, Clara Brown never forgot the daughter who she saw sold away from her when the little girl was only ten, and in 1959, Brown goes all the way to Colorado to search for her child. Overcoming racism and the rigors of the frontier, she becomes a wealthy woman who spends most of her fortune helping former slaves build new lives after the Civil War. Shortly before her death, she is reunited with her adult daughter, for a satisfying conclusion to this easy-to-read biography for children.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You give up easily.

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Studies show that children who regularly hear books read and see adults reading books have an easier time learning to read. If your children do not realize that books are fun and contain interesting ideas, they will be less motivated to learn how to read and write. Children who do not learn to read and write have difficulty succeeding in school and at life.

Even infants can enjoy books. You can check baby board books out of the library. Your baby will enjoy sitting on your lap as you read the words and point to the brightly colored pictures. If your baby wants to chew on the book, that's OK too.

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You can learn more about children's books at the American Library Association website. Your public library is a great place to introduce your children to books. They will have special programs and incentives for kids of all ages to love reading. In most systems children are entitled to their own library cards from the time they are old enough to write their own names. It's a great way to teach responsibility as well as foster a lifelong love of learning and books.

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Dragon's Library

Thursday, April 7, 2011