Then, after emptying out his backpack that night, he sat down with me with a book “The Berenstain Bears: New Kitten.” I was thrilled! And, before the evening had ended we had read four more books!

With my oldest daughter, she was the only child in the house, and my husband and I read to her constantly. By the time Kaci came along, we squeezed in a book here and there and made sure to meet school reading requirements.

With Cade, reading only happens when he wants to read. Sometimes he will sit by his bookcase and read on his own, and, sometimes, I’m actually sitting on the couch, he’s on the couch, and voila! a book is there, too. Yea, reading time!

We have many children’s books in our home, and sometimes I cycle them in and out from boxes in the garage since we don’t have a lot of bookshelves. And, though, we have a lot of books, there’s always an excitement when we bring a new book into the house.

I recently was sent a few new books that might find their way to your home.

All are colorful and somewhat whimsical, filled with lovely illustrations. They might be children’s books, but I enjoy them as an adult, too.

 ”The Word Collector” by Sonja Wimmer is somewhat unconventional with the words winding around the page and through the book. As the little girl in the book collects words, there is the sense of a journey and realization of the magic of language.

 ”Witches Handbook” by Monica Carretero is what all little witches need to know about being a carrier of the broom. A fun book with delightful characters and that spurs the imagination.

 ”Drops of Life” by Esko-Pekka Tiitinen and illustrated by Nikolai Tiitinen inspires environmental responsibility. The story explores the world in which endangered species must come together to save the Earth. You will enjoy the artistry as you read.

 ”Zaira and the Dolphins” by Mar Pavon and illustrated by Cha Coco is a tale of a little girl and … dolphins, but not in the usual setting. Her imagination plays a big part in this book.

 ”Story of a Cockroach” by Carmen Gil and Sonja Wimmer and Anastasia. I’m not usually a fan of cockroaches, but this character is more heartwarming than the usual bug. She dreams of being famous but discovers she is very important just being who she is.

Send me an email with your name and mailing address, and you will have a chance to enjoy one of these beautiful books! The deadline to enter is April 30.

–Linda Lynn

LLynn@opubco.com

Follow me on Twitter: @OKNewsResearch

Check out this website, too: The Children’s Book Review http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/

• Just for signing up, you get 30% off the list price on any one kids’ book or toy.
• For every $100 you spend on kids’ stuff online and in stores, you get a $5 reward.
• Get a free cupcake (yum!) from the B&N cafe AND a free Tikatok create-a-book project for your children’s birthdays.
• Receive a monthly newsletter featuring even more savings.

To join, just visit any Barnes & Noble or go to bn.com/kidsclub.

Happy reading!

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

As some of you may already know, Barnes & Noble stores host free children’s storytimes on weekend mornings.  (Click here to see a schedule for Oklahoma City stores.)

But did you know that they also offer the storytime experience online?

With Online Storytime, children can hear their favorite books read aloud by authors and even celebrities.  This month, author Judith Viorst reads her story “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.”

Just go to http://www.barnesandnoble.com/storytime/index.asp to have storytime in the comfort of your own home. 

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

The Metropolitan Library System has just the reward – the 2010 summer reading program called “Make a Splash – Read!”

Children from birth through sixth grade can win prizes in June and July at any Metropolitan Library branch.  Kids can be read to or read on their own.  For every reading goal completed (8 books, 800 pages or listening to 8 hours of reading), a child can enter drawings for big prizes like a Nintendo Wii or digital camera. Kids also get smaller rewards along the way for the first two goals achieved.

There also will be shows at several library branches throughout the program. Go to metrolibrary.org or contact your local branch to find out when performances are.

On Monday, more information about the summer reading program will be available on the website as well.

Also, the Metro Library System is seeking volunteers to take their books out into the community to read to children at elementary schools, after-school programs and summer programs. This is a great opportunity to create lifelong readers out of children who may not get enough exposure to books or reading for enjoyment.

The library system released a video explaining the “Come Read with Me” volunteer program. Click here to watch the video.

Happy reading!

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Just for completing Goal 2, we received a ticket to Frontier City/White Water Bay, 2 tickets to an Oklahoma City RedHawks game and a ticket to Oklahoma Children’s Theatre. 

Sign up today, get reading and get rewards!

-Erica Smith, Copy Editor

esmith@opubco.com

“Be Creative @ Your Library” is a free program for children and teens. Just to get you and your child started, you’ll get a packet with all kinds of free goodies: stickers, a coupon for free tots at Sonic, a couple of bookmarks, a reading log, free admission to local attractions and a chance to win tuition from Oklahoma College Savings Plan.

Then all you need to do is read 8 books to your child to reach your first goal.   Do that, and your child gets a really nice award ribbon, and coupons for free food at area restaurants.

For each goal met (8 books, 8 hours or 800 pages read) , your child is entered in drawings for really cool prizes.   There isn’t a list of books, and you don’t have to just read books checked out of the library (although kids do love getting new books to read). 

So sign up today at your local Metro Library branch or go to www.metrolibrary.org  for more information.

~Erica Smith, copy editor

esmith@opubco.com

This week, Katie, my 14-year-old, asked if she and a friend could be dropped at the mall on a Friday evening to see a movie. This is not the first time this discussion has occurred at our house. And, once before, my husband did let her see a movie with friends without supervision, but it was during the day.

The first time I let Katie even walk the mall alone with friends was at her 14th birthday party. But I stayed and pushed her little brother around in a stroller while they “did their own thing.”

Lenore Skenazy has received support and flack for letting her young son ride a subway by himself. She is the author of “Free-Range Kids.”  

Skenazy encourages parents to let their children roam and experience new things by themselves, empowering them to be individuals and not live in fear.

I admit this is just the opposite of how I continue to raise my children. I know I’m “too” protective by some standards. Yes. I used to roam all over our 200-acre farm when I was younger. I would go fishing and exploring by myself. And, although it wasn’t my choice, at 14 years old I walked the streets of Washington, D.C., when I was separated from my Close Up tour group. The next day, about five of us (without adults) rode the subway and toured our nation’s well-known monuments and museums.

I loved the experience. 

So, why do I try so hard to shelter my children from their own adventures?

I live in fear of ”what if.” I read the newspaper. I watch the news shows. And I’m appalled and scared by what might could happen.

Is there maybe a happy medium? But what would that be?

Share with me your stories of letting your children experience independence. Do you let them walk alone to school, the grocery store or snowcone shack? What are your limits on your children’s independence?

– Linda Lynn

llynn@opubco.com

And, when “Breaking Dawn,” the fourth book, was due out in bookstores she could hardly wait.

Another friend bought her a T-shirt with a verse something like: “The forbidden fruit is always the sweetest.” … I made her exchange it for a different shirt. I couldn’t help think that the T-shirt was just a bit inappropriate for a young teen. And, when I walked into Hot Topic, the hip store with body piercing studs, tons of scary images on T-shirts and lots of black – It was like the anti-Claire’s of the mall – I couldn’t help feeling just a little conspicuous and a lot uncomfortable.  But I wanted her to at least get something toned down.

For her birthday, she received more Twilight stuff – a really cute zip-up hoodie, but, still, I teetered on the edge of whether this was a good thing.

Then comes the movie. My 28-year-old niece and her mother suggests we all go together. Me? me? Maybe I can get out of this. But it sounded fun just because I would be with my two sisters and their daughters and my daughter. OK. I’ll try it.

When the previews began, the movies were gruesome, scary films. Oh, no! What have I done?! I’ve just brought my teenaged daughter to a slasher, blood-sucking vampire movie! My older niece who is in college even covered her eyes.

Then, the movie started ….. And I loved it! I plan to read the books.

Now, I’ve seen it twice. Some friends have seen it three, four and five times! These are women my age!

Although my husband is tired of me raving about the movie, my friends aren’t. He made the comment that I was acting just like a “14-year-old.”

Well, my daughter might disagree. But there’s worth in finding an interest in something your daughter likes. She doesn’t seem to want to talk about it with me. She’d rather talk about it with her friends and cousins.

So, I’ll just talk about it with the rest of my “14-year-old-going-on-45″ friends.

– Linda Lynn

I’m always saying I’ll do things different but there is no better time to set goals than the first day of the year.  

Here are my Top 5 parenting resolutions for 2009:

1. Make my toddler eat vegetables.  My friend bought me the cookbook “Deceptively Delicious” by Jessica Seinfeld (Jerry’s wife).  I resolve to get broccoli or squash into every dish my child eats, even dessert.

2. Try to overlook the grosser things my boy does … such as drinking the bathwater.  Or sticking his dirty fingers in his mouth. Or dropping food on the floor then eating it before I can pry it from his hand. (This is going to be that resolution that I end up NOT keeping.)

3. Try to limit how many times he watches Cars or WALL-E.  We’ve both become addicted to those movies.

4. Try the “not-using-the-word-no-all-the-time” method.  For example: Instead of saying “No, you can’t have another cookie,” say “Yes, you can have another cookie … tomorrow.”  We’ll see how good that one works.

5. Get him potty trained.  I would literally pay someone to do this for me.  Or my son can use the “not-say-no” method just this once … “Yes, Mommy, I’ll sit on the potty … next year.”

What are your parenting resolutions?  Did you make any last year? Let me know by commenting below or emailing me at esmith@opubco.com.

Have a happy, safe and healthy New Year!

~Erica Smith