Dragon's Library

Thursday, September 22, 2011

The Magic of Spider Woman

Written by: Lois Duncan

First line: This is the story of Wandering Girl, who came to be known as Weaving Woman, and of the terrible thing that happened when she disobeyed Spider Woman.

Why you should read this book: In Navajo tradition, Spider Woman is a world maker whose knowledge of spinning and weaving is given to the People so that they can make blankets and stay warm in the winter. In this story, a single girl who has lived outside of society is given the knowledge, but told never to practice her craft for too long. When the girl forgets this warning and devotes herself to a wonderful weaving to honor the Spirit Being, her own spirit is woven into the pattern until Spider Woman comes to save her.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You’re OCD.

Behold…the Dragons!

Written by: Gail Gibbons

First line: A long time ago, people began telling stories about happening in their world that they couldn’t understand.

Why you should read this book: Illustrated with accessible and wonderful pen and watercolor examples, this is a nonfiction book for the youngest readers, explaining what dragons are, and what they are not. The author begins with the primitive mind and its desire to explain the complexities of the natural world with a details mythology that helps to order that world. An overview of world mythology as it pertains to dragon stories helps children understand the dragon’s place in the human psyche, while a small appendix at the end mentions dragons a little more firmly rooted in reality, such as flying dragon fossils and Komodo dragons.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: Who doesn't want to read a book about dragons?

Hansel and Gretel

Written by: Will Moses

First line: Long ago there lives a woodcutter, his wife and his children, Hansel and Gretel.

Why you should read this book: It’s a faithful retelling of the Grimms’ creepy original, with the themes of poverty, parental abandonment, and cannibalism intact. The illustrations are lush paintings in a vibrant folk art style, replete with small details like patterns in woven cloth, moonlight on tree leaves, and cobwebs in corners. A warm and happy ending, followed my the admonishment that children should not be afraid of the story’s contents, since their parents love and protect them.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You are a wicked stepmother or possible an evil witch.

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.