Imagine. Create. Dream.

I strongly believe in dreaming. Not the crazy-movie-inside-head dreams when we're asleep, so much as the dreams that spur us on to creating something. That "something" might be an interesting sandwich filling, a collage in shades of lemon and lavender, a cubby house behind the sofa, or a better life for ourselves. We all need dreams, kids especially. That's why I love children's literature so much - it truly helps kids to dream.

What do your children dream about? Have you asked them? Do you discuss your own dreams with your kids? You know that I think it's important for our kids to "catch" us reading and writing. It's also vital that we share imagining, creating and dreaming with our kids too. Encouraging them to share their dreams and imaginings with us is the other side of the coin. Of course, sometimes kids will want to keep their dreams to themselves, and naturally we'll respect that.

Encouraging kids to dream, imagine and create can start anywhere and anytime. Maybe you're walking in the rainforest when you see a big old tree with a split trunk. Play "what if?" with your kids. What if that were somebody's home? Who might live there? What would that creature look like/do/eat etc? By making creative thinking and musing part of our everyday lives, by being playful and creative ourselves, I believe we're helping our children develop their own creativity. And our world needs creative people.

Is creativity important in your home? What do you do to encourage imagination, creativity and dreams in your kids?

If you're interested in creativity, click the Creating button in my right sidebar for more posts about this theme. You might also like my Creative Prompt series - you can link to all the posts in the series at New Series - Creative Prompts from the Book Chook.

Children's Book Review, The Scariest Thing of All

Children's Book Review by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com

I adore children's literature, as you know. Today, I'm not just appreciating that great children's books can start a lifelong love of reading in kids, though they certainly can. I really like the way a children's picture book can help children learn to cope. In the case of The Scariest Thing of All, by Debi Gliori and published by Bloomsbury (2011), the theme is coping with fears.

A little rabbit has a seemingly endless list of things to be afraid of. Even his family aren’t sure how to help him overcome his anxieties!

One day, everything gets just about as bad as it can and the little rabbit finally has to face his fears. In so doing, of course, he realises that nothing is as big, bad or as terrifying as it first appears.

Don't you love that positive message! Kids will enjoy the humour, and the imaginative writing in this book. Little Pip the rabbit likens rainfall to "...the sound a vast hisster makes as it weaves its web." We read of a "...gobbler blowing bubbles at the bottom of the lily pond." And we rejoice as the Scariest Thing of All roars its loudest roar and goes inside for supper.

Gliori's illustrations are quirky, fanciful, entertaining. There are holes to look inside, tree rooms to investigate and scary creatures to tame. Kids will enjoy The Scariest Thing of All as a bedtime or anytime story, and caring adults will appreciate the opportunity for children to understand that fears, even irrational ones, can be put into perspective.

TOP TIP: There's a lovely activity pack to download on Gliori's website that includes a wordsearch, colouring in sheets, make your own Pip mask, a wild wood nature collage and more. Love it when writers and publishers add such value to children's books!

Find more Children's Book Reviews on The Book Chook by clicking Reviews in the right sidebar.

Why I Love Children's Literature - Guest Post

Sue Stirling started working in a Child Care Centre in her late teens. She was privileged to have an amazing mentor who made it her mission to teach her about children, their development, and play, and how to engage children in authentic experiences. At her insistence, (which Sue will always be grateful for), Sue trained as a Child Care Worker. This led her to work in Princess Margaret Hospital for Children (Perth) as a Play Assistant. She enjoyed providing fun and engaging experiences for children during their stay in hospital. What continues to amaze her is children’s resilience and ability to overcome difficulties. From there Sue went to work in a variety of day care centres caring for children from 0-5 years old. Sue had the opportunity, when her boys were young, to write articles for the publication, Infant Times. She trained as a Teacher’s Assistant and worked with Kindergarten and Preprimary children. After being some years in this role, she enrolled in a K-3 Teaching Degree and finished in July 2011.


Why I Love Children's Literature
by Sue Stirling

For as long as I can remember, I have loved children's books and being with children! This quote by Roald Dahl embodies how I feel:

So please, oh PLEASE, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install,
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.

I would have to say that I believe almost everything can be cured by a warm lap and a good book! I can remember sitting on a cold winter evening on my mother’s lap, beside a warm crackling open fire, being absorbed in tales of Narnia by C.S.Lewis and the adventures of four children who were able to travel to other lands through wardrobes and train stations. I remember laughing until my stomach ached as my mother read Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. I loved the fact that Pippi lived in a house on her own with her own horse, and really did anything she liked. She even had to tell herself when it was time to go to bed!

Over the years, there have been many days where I sat with my boys as we read about knights in amour, held our breath as the story reached its climax and sighed with relief as the hero once again was victorious. I remember days where we would read books that made us laugh until we cried. As the years unfolded I have had the opportunity to read to hundreds of children. Sometimes I pause and look at their faces, their bodies so still, their faces filled with wonder. I think to myself, where are they? What can they see? What are they imagining? All the troubles of their day are swept aside as they enter a world of wonder - the world of children's literature.

Catch up with Sue on her new blog, Teachers Quiver Full, where you'll find out more about her passion for children's literature, and learn great tips for literacy, learning and literature activities.

Hand-selling Books to Kids

Hand-selling is what I call it when I believe I know the perfect book for a child. I couldn't resist doing this with my students, my son and my friends' kids.

Yes, I truly believe children are more likely to love reading when they make their own choice of reading material. But there are times when kids might have a prejudice about a certain genre, or be blinkered to anything other than books about tractors or unicorns. Hand-selling is when I do my best to tell a child what will appeal to him about a book. And then he gets to choose for himself. With me trying hard not to look disappointed if he doesn't choose the book I love!

How NOT to hand-sell: Don't give a rambling recollection of the book. This is the verbal equivalent of a slide night. "There's this boy, see, and he has a dog, well, he has a cat too and the cat is so funny, makes all these jokes but the dog is good too, you'll love him. His name's Snap, not the boy but the dog. The boy is Jake. The cat's name is Tiddles. Or is it Puddles? Oh, never mind. Now where was I?"

Tips for hand-selling:

* Use your knowledge of the child to explain why you believe he will enjoy this book. Has he read a book with a similar theme? Does he like the subject matter? Did he express a love for humour in books? Is he a reluctant reader looking for lots of white space, large print and quirky illustrations.

* Show her the book in question. Let her hold it and leaf through it. This helps her make a visual and physical connection with the book.

* Keep your description short and to-the-point. Think back cover book blurb, not Gone with the Wind. Hone right in on the features that will appeal to this particular child rather then re-telling the plot.

Do you hand-sell books to your kids? Any tips for the rest of us? What works for you?

Find similar articles at The Book Chook by clicking Reading in the right sidebar.

Children's Book Review, Waiting for Later

Children's Book Review by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com

Do you love what imaginative play can do for kids? I certainly do. Here's a children's picture book that celebrates imaginative play. Waiting for Later was written and illustrated by Tina Matthews, and published by Walker Books.

Later never seems to come soon enough! But sometimes waiting for later can be full of surprises.

Even though Nancy is big, one day she feels small. She asks her mum, brother, cousin, aunt and grandfather to play with her. They’re all busy and inevitably reply, “Later.” So Nancy climbs a tree in her backyard to wait for later, and imagines playing the games her family doesn’t have time for. When later arrives, it’s her family who wonder where Nancy’s got to.

Kids will immediately empathize with Nancy. How many times are we told as children, "Not yet." or "In a little while."? Consumed with impatience, we jiggle from foot to foot, or ask our question again, or eventually, like Nancy, give up the pestering and use our imaginations instead. And that feeling of being small, when you know you're a big girl really, can strike us all, I think, when it seems the people in our lives are just too busy to find time for us.

As is usual with excellent children's picture books, I found myself appreciating the illustrations just as much as the text. Matthews has created atmospheric art work using Japanese woodcuts and stencils. I think children will enjoy the silhouettes, too, especially identifying who they represent and what they're doing. Through Nancy's eyes, we see and appreciate the natural world and her family's world, and how they interrelate.

Walker Books have added tremendous value to Waiting for Later with the resources on their website. Teacher, parents and librarians will appreciate that they are free to download Waiting for Later Classroom Ideas as a pdf. There are great suggestions inside to use as discussion starters and learning activities. Waiting for Later was short-listed for the 2011 Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards, Children’s Book - Mary Ryan’s Award.

Find more Children's Book Reviews on The Book Chook by clicking Reviews in the right sidebar.