A Wreath for Emmett Till

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

A Wreath for Emmett Till

Author: Marilyn Nelson

First line: Rosemary for remembrance, Shakespear wrote:/a speech for poor Ophelia, who went mad/when her love killed her father.

Why you should read this book: The author, like many of her generation, found the story of Emmett Till, a black teenager brutally lynched in 1955, following her through life until she let it catch up and take root in the present. In a heroic crown of sonnets, she offers up remembrance for a life unlived, expresses the wish for a less tragic series of events, and uses the language of flowers to honor Till's memory. From pain and terror, she creates sparks of hope in the darkness.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Terrible, naked pain; descriptions of the worst that humanity has to offer; real life monsters and waking nightmares.

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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

Wednesday, January 14, 2009