Dragon's Library

Friday, October 31, 2008

The Lump of Coal

Author: Lemony Snicket

First line: The holiday season is a time for storytelling, and whether you are hearing the story of a candelabra staying lit for more than a week, or a baby born in a barn without proper medical supervision, these stories often feature miracles.

Why you should read this book: The author best known for his thirteen part chronicle on the most miserable perils that could possibly befall to a trio of hapless orphans turns in an uplifting miracle story comprising equal parts sarcasm and wide-eyed wonder. The eponymous lump of coal who, "like many people who dress in black...was interested in becoming an artist," sets out to seek his fortune in a world of facade and artifice. A treatise on creating joy and small miracles in a harsh, uncaring universe.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You've ever received a lump of coal in your Christmas stocking.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Alien Sex

Edited by: Ellen Datlow

First line: This far into the twentieth century, writing science fiction or horror about sex is a tricky proposition.

Why you should read this book: A wide-ranging anthology by a wide range of authors, comprising stories whose themes are sexual, although not necessarily sensual or explicit in nature. Bestiality, xenophilia, and supernatural creatures are represented among the stories. Of note are Larry Niven's cult favorite, "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex," a non-fiction style essay about the difficulties inherent in Superman procreating, and Harlan Ellison's tongue-in-cheek, "How's the Night Life on Cissalda," about interdimensional sex, but all the stories in this collection achieve their own level of unique and creative success.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You believe sex should only occur between one man and one women under the auspices of the church.

Monday, October 13, 2008

No Dessert Forever!

Author: George Ella Lyon

First line: Boo!

Why you should read this book: When a little girl is unfairly chastised for her brother's misbehavior, she exacts her vengeance on a rag doll. Imagining herself in her mother's place, she lays upon dolly all the unfair punishments in the world until her adopted power trip culminates in justice and forgiveness. A nice look at perspective and redemption from a position of powerlessness.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You would never punish your child unfairly.

Keeping up with Grandma

Author: John Winch

First line: My grandma and grandpa were always busy with their hobbies.

Why you should read this book: Here's a story whose ridiculousness will appeal to children while its reality will speak to adults. Grandma, tired of baking cakes, decides to drag Grandpa, kicking and screaming into a life of extreme adventure. Grandpa, however, has difficulty with mountain climbing, bronco busting, and bobsledding.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Your spouse is starting to bore you. Or scare you.

FAQs

What's in Dragon's Library?

The intention was to create a record of every book that I read. I wish I'd had the idea about twenty-five years ago, but better late than never.

What's the deal with all those Amazon links?

Dragon's Library is a real, live Amazon affiliate site. Go ahead! Click those links. You can buy any book on this site (heck, you can buy any book in the world) directly from a trusted source. [Disclosure: I get 4% of the sales. Please buy a book and help support a struggling artist.]

How do you choose books?

Years of reading to elementary kids has given me a good sense of what kids respond to. I only review children's books if both my students and I enjoyed them. Otherwise, I favor speculative fiction, classic literature, and non-fiction books about science. However, I have been known to read just about anything.

Will you review my book (or a book I like, or a book I am publicizing)?

Yes. Yes, I will. I will review pretty much anything you send me, provided it does not suck. I do not review books I don't enjoy. If I like it well enough to finish it, it will appear on this site. Email me for further details.

Read to Your Dragonet

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.

Toddlers and pre-schoolers should understand how to hold a book (right side up) and how to turn the pages (left to right in English). Even if they're not ready to read, you can help your child prepare for school by teaching them how to talk about the stories they've heard. Pre-schoolers should be able to tell you something about character, setting, conflict, and resolution. After reading a story, prompt your child to tell you who the story was about, where it happened, what the problem was, and how it was solved.

If your grade-school child has difficulty learning to read, you can advocate for them. Your public school district is required to provide special help to kids with learning disabilities. If you suspect your child has dyslexia or some other difficulty in recognizing words, you may have to fight for your child's rights. Your child has the right to be tested by the district to determine the level of his or her disability, and your child has the right to a qualified specialist who can understand the best way for your child to learn. Some districts may be reluctant to pay for the extra help your child needs. Don't give up! Make sure your child gets the help he or she deserves. In America, every child has a right to an education.

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.

If you can't get to the library, but you have an Internet connection, you can find many full-text books on-line. For adults, Project Gutenberg offers thousands of full-text books you can download for free.