On Day 4 of The 30 Day Challenge, we were introduced to one way to make money online - affiliate marketing.

Step One - Finding Stuff To Sell And Test Video

It’s a tad sleazy, but the idea is to earn a commission by driving readers to a product website.   And, if they buy something, you’ll get a larger piece of the pie.

To get our feet wet, and to assess the sales potential of items related to the niche we selected previously, we were asked to find related products within one of two affiliate programs, ClickBank or Amazon.

Well, I’ll tell you right now, I’m not encouraging anyone to buy ClickBank products.  I wouldn’t buy any of that ***, and I’d hate for anyone to waste their money there.

Now, Amazon, on the other hand, that’s a marketplace I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.  I love it so much that I had to take the Amazon Button off my toolbar, because it’s just too tempting to hit 1-Click ordering when I spy another book that I MUST have.

Step Two - How To Write Your First Piece Of Slippery Copy Video

Anyway, getting on with The 30 Day Challenge program, our next assignment was to write copy that would compel a reader to buy the chosen product.

In this video, Dan Raine, of The Immediate Edge, walks you through writing gripping copy.  Basically, he recommends writing a short piece that follows this general format:

Discover the real value of _____.  If you’re a _____, this is the essential guide that will literally save you thousands of dollars.  Get your copy today!

As I watched this video, I thought of all the times that I’ve mentioned books on this blog, and I wondered to what extent did I entice the reader to purchase those items.

Looking At My Copy

I went way back into the archives, to one of my first articles, when I asked, Are You Living By Learning?

In that post, I provided a list of some of the books in my homeschooling library.  A list. Titles and authors.  No more.  No copy.  Nada.

In my defense, that’s all I ever need to find more books to buy.  I can tell from the title if it’s worth investigating, or not.

Is It a Book Review or Is It Affiliate Marketing?

So, to practice my new skills, I thought I would try to write copy for some of my most worthwhile homeschooling books.  However, there is a reason that I didn’t go into Advertising.  I suck.  Big Time.

Succinct hyperbole just isn’t my thing.

The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide To Classical Education At Home - by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise.

I picked up this classic when my first child was in 3rd Grade, just to see what I could do to supplement some of the holes in her education.

Beware, this is a dangerous book.  It has propelled me on an odyssey that culminated in switching schools for one child, and homeschooling for another.

This book provides comprehensive coverage of a classical education, with book lists within each subject that are sorted by age-level.

It’s well worth the purchase just to get the chronological resource list for ancient to modern history, but you’ll also find that this connects to the resource material in literature, science, art, and more.

It’s only drawback is that it is exceedingly comprehensive.  It would be unbearably exhausting to try to to cover all the material.  Even the authors discourage you from trying this insane notion.

As a reference resource; however, The Well-Trained Mind is unparalleled.

Okay, that’s my best shot.  What do you think?  Would you buy this book?

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Rarely, a children’s book fires the imagination, tugs at your heart, and resonates long after you have children of your own.

In our family, that book is My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George.

My children, much like I did when I was little, have hatched elaborate plans to run away.  And, like my mother before me, I waved them on, encouraging them, knowing that they would be back in minutes.

As children, we wondered what would happen if we kept on going.   And so, we can relate to Sam, the young boy at the center of My Side of the Mountain, who does just that when he runs away from his New York City home to survive on his own in the Catskill Mountains.

A Family Love Affair

Dave couldn’t wait to share his all-time favorite book with our son, and started reading it aloud when Alex was barely seven years old.  Alex fell in love with the story, and eager to read more than the nightly chapter, started reading it on his own. 

Suddenly, this first grader, who was struggling to finish a Magic Treehouse easy chapter book, was powering through a 4th-6th Grade Level book.

In reading My Side of the Mountain, and its sequels, Alex became an able, confident reader, who also found a love for the wilderness and falcons.

A desire to capitalize on this enduring interest has inspired some of our recent family adventures.

 

Exploring The Catskills

Thinking that we were in the Catskill Park area, we stopped in New Palz, NY to explore the setting of My Side of the Mountain.  It turned out that we were actually in Minnewaska State Park, near but not in Catskill Park.  No matter.  We could still easily imagine that we were following Sam’s path from New York City to the Catskills.

Just like our hero, we were embarking on a wilderness expedition with meager provisions:  a couple of water bottles, a Sponge Bob Squarepants first-aid kit, and a camera.  Okay, we were only going for an hour, not far from our car, but still we felt adventurous.

Since this was a spur of the moment decision, we hadn’t planned where we were going to go, or what we were going to do.  We chose the Peter’s Kill Parking Lot because we weren’t required to pay the exorbitant day use fees that are required elsewhere in this park.  And, once there, we decided to explore the area.

By chance, we found a fantastical rock climbing and bouldering area appropriately nicknamed “The Rock Garden.”  It was gorgeous, and oh so tempting.

Doesn’t this look like a magnificent place to spy falcons?

Alas, there was just one drawback to this spur-of-the-moment, unplanned expedition.  Wrong footwear.  Sparkly pink flip flops might be de rigueur in Tween circles, but not climbing rocks.

Next time we explore the wilderness, we’ll think of bringing the same items Sam carried: a penknife, a ball of cord, an axe, $40, a flint and steel set, and hiking boots.

More Book Extension Ideas:

Book Babes: A Mother Daughter Book Club

Reading On The Road

Winter Wonder: Through A Child’s Eyes

Shakespeare For Children 

Resources:

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Today’s Friday Find will take you offline and into the kitchen with Kids Cooking Activities. 

I’m not much of a cook, but this web site is an incredible resource for any cooking project - from cooking with your kids at home to exploring international cuisine with youth groups.

You can find cooking lessons sorted by age group, from toddlers in the kitchen to the 16-18 year old Senior Chefs.  Yeah, even I can handle learning how to cook this way, especially with the photo and video illustrations.

And, I know my Girl Scout troop will enjoy the Junior Chef (12-15) Cookie Baking Lesson that includes a video demonstrating how to bake Oatmeal Cookies and a recipe for Snickerdoodles.

Just the cooking lessons alone make the Kids Cooking Activities site a worthwhile resource; however, there is so much more.  From Theme Dinner, Kids Cooking Party, and Kids Crafts ideas to an incredible array of recipes, this is one website that I’ve bookmarked for frequent use.

I love the wide variety of recipe ideas.  Kids Cooking Activities includes:  Easy Kids Meal (suggestions with 6 or less ingredients that are tied into the age-leveled Cooking Lessons); World Studies (international recipes with country background information); and Seasonal Cooking suggestions.

However, my absolute favorite part of this website, and the section that I want to point out to anyone who loves children’s books is the Cooks with Books section.  You’ll find recipes tied to popular illustrated books such as Blueberries For Sal or The Carrot Seed.  Be sure to check out the Mice Cookies recipe that goes with If You Give A Mouse A Cookie.  They’re adorable!

Do you have a favorite children’s book cooking suggestion?  Post a comment - I’d love to hear about it!  Perhaps we could turn it into an Instructable (see below.)

For more wired world ideas that you can share with your family, be sure to visit previous Friday Finds:

Wordle - Turn your words into a work of art

Animoto - Create a music video with your photos.

Instructables - Discover instructions for all kinds of projects - from recipes to robots - or post your own.

Mr. Picassohead - Unleash your inner abstract artist.

Hulu - Watch a movie or catch up on your favorite TV shows on your computer.

Book Resources:

Don’t miss the best of the web on Friday Finds.  Sign up to receive free articles from On Living By Learning by Email.  (Click this link.  Fill out the form.  Don’t forget to click on your verification Email.  Look for this in your mailbox.)  You can also click here to receive updates on a RSS Feed Reader.

It was 10 o’clock at night, after a full day of touring New York City, and I worried  that my youngest child would fall asleep during the production of Dream, an adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Instead, he was on the edge of his seat guffawing with laughter.

Actually, we were all laughing at that point.  The young cast of this Downtown Art production, under the direction of Ryan Gilliam, had put on a delightful performance.

This comedic tale of romance and parental disobedience has been “infused with Celtic tales of mischief and magic.”  Irish fairies snatch babies and use magic potions to redirect love and turn a man into a donkey.  The talented teens drew us right into the story, and kept us completely engaged throughout.

Our kids loved the show, even 8-year-old Alex. 

This was his first time seeing a full production of a Shakespearean play and I was concerned that he wouldn’t understand or enjoy the show.  A couple of times, Alex had to ask for the definition of words like “woo.” And the language was difficult to follow: a Shakespearean English delivered with an Irish accent.  Mostly, I was mistakenly thinking that Shakespeare is only for older children and adults.

In truth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is perhaps the most accessible Shakespearean play for children.  This particular production was an excellent introduction to theatre and the Bard’s work.

I’m glad Alex had a chance to just enjoy the magic and wonder of Shakespeare, long before it is a sometimes dreaded required topic in high school.

Of course, this successful introduction is just part of an ongoing learning campaign. 

Introduction

Alex’s first introduction to Shakespeare was in Preschool as one of a group of Elizabethan dancers.  For the past six years, Sean Fagan has put on an annual extravaganza that brings the entire Robert C. Parker school community into an amazing performance of Shakespearean theatrics.  This year, Alex returned to Parker as a member of the audience watching his sister in an excerpt from The Taming of the Shrew.

The Globe

Another exposure was on our European vacation in 2005, when we took a guided tour of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.  We weren’t able to get show tickets, and didn’t really want to tackle a crowded, standing-room only, performance with a 5-year-old.  However, the tour provided fascinating insight into Shakespeare’s world.  Also, the shop had a wonderfully comprehensive collection of books on everything and anything to do with Shakespeare.

My kids picked up a book on Shakespearean insults that has remained a treasured source of their wit.

Our Books on Shakespeare Collection

Shakespeare: The Basics by Sean McEvoy is a good way to quickly pick up an overview and essential information on any of the Shakespearean plays.  I keep it as a reference to jumpstart my faulty memory.

Shakespeare: The Bard’s Guide to Abuses and Affronts - This is my kids’ treasured resource on Shakespearean insults.

Ten Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb. - These short story versions of the plays are a good way to share the story before seeing one of these plays.  It includes: The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice, King Lear, Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Othello.

Welcome to the Globe!: The Story of Shakespeare’s Theater (DK Readers: Level 4) is a a colorful, well-illustrated introduction to Shakespeare’s world.

Shakespeare’s Globe: The Guidebook contains all the details on this historic theatre.

William Shakespeare & The Globe by Aliki - The story of the Globe is told as if it were a play that is illustrated as if it were a beautiful comic book.

Mr. William Shakespeare’s Plays presented by Marcia Williams is a cartoon retelling of the following plays: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, The Winter’s Tale, Julius Caesar, and The Tempest.

Other Resources

Shakespeare Movies For The Family - A guide to movie versions of Shakespeare’s plays that are appropriate for children.

The Globe’s Online Learning includes a virtual tour of The Globe and the opportunity to follow an actor through a season.

Folger Shakespeare Library - Online games, challenges, and educational resources.

Shakespeare Are Kids - Do Your Own Shakespeare allows kids to virtually participate in a play and a teacher’s section with tips for K-8 educators.

Surfing the Net with Kids: William Shakespeare - Lots of kid-friendly fun and educational links.

Future Exposure

We plan to continue finding opportunities to enjoy Shakespeare’s plays, and perhaps pick up a few pointers on creating stories that can stand the test of time.

I can’t wait for the Shakespeare in the Park Series!

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Most computer users are comfortable using email.  They have found it is an efficient way to communicate with one or more persons.  Can you even imagine going back to snail mail, or having to call multiple people when you want to plan a group event?

A more recent technology, RSS feeds, will likely be as ubiquitous as email - but is now only a tool of the web savvy.

That’s a shame as it is a major breakthrough in helping anyone be well-informed. 

Soon, any student or professional who doesn’t learn to use RSS Feed Readers will be at a disadvantage.

What Is RSS?

RSS (Real Simple Syndication) is a means to publish feeds: the frequently updated material of online sites that includes blog posts, news bulletins, videos, or audio podcasts.  A RSS Feed Reader is a tool for receiving this information.  You can receive updates from any online source that has set up a feed.  It is the best way to scan and synthesize all the information available online.  RSS is truly “the cure for information overload.” (Bloglines)

RSS Feed Readers are nothing less than the TIVOs, or digital video recorders,  of the Internet.

Setting Up Your RSS Feed Reader

You can find a list of feed readers by clicking on the bright orange RSS button that is prominently displayed on this, and other online sites.  After you select a feed reader, you can sign up to create a feed reader account or sign in if you already have one.

I’m using Bloglines to aggregate my feeds because: it’s easy; and I can access it anywhere.  For other excellent RSS feed reader options, look at this Top 10 List. 

It’s super-easy to set up the Bloglines feed reader.  Just click on the sign up now link and follow the instructions.  Be sure to verify your confirmation email, and you’re ready to add feeds.

Adding Feeds

There are several ways to add feeds to your Bloglines feed reader:

1. Click on the RSS button (found on on this and many other online sites) and sign in to your feed reader account.  Select one of the available feeds.  Pick a folder to put it into.  If you haven’t set up folders, create one by selecting the “New Folder” option.  It’s important that you use folders to organize your feeds, otherwise this collection can become unmanageable.  Review, or ignore, other preference options.  Complete by clicking the “Subscribe” button at the bottom.

2. Select your favorite feeds from the Top 1000 list.  When you sign in, Bloglines places you into your feeds page.  Under the Feeds tab, there is an Additional Features section that includes a Top 1000 link.  Here you can preview and subscribe to the most popular feeds.  You can choose to subscribe with Bloglines or use the orange RSS button to subscribe directly within your browser.  If you choose the Bloglines icon, you will be directed to the brand-new Bloglines Beta platform.  Again, you should place your feed in a folder, but you’ll have to use the new folder icon.  This is located in the “My Library” header that replaces the tabbed header in the original Bloglines.

3. In either Bloglines platform, you can use the “Add” link (at the top of the left-hand column) to subscribe to a feed.  Just copy and paste the URL web address into the “Find feeds”  or “Blog or Feed URL - Subscribe” box at top.  Then, select a feed and folder.

4. Install a subscribe button on your browser, and click it when you find a worthy site.  Look for the Easy Subscribe Bookmarklet on the left-hand column or the Easy Subscribe Button on the Add page.

By the way, you can also get updates from sites that don’t publish a feed.  Visit Page2RSS.

Reading RSS Feeds

This is where installing a RSS Feed Reader really pays off.  You can keep up with 20, 50, or more online information sources by using the reading panes (Full View, Quick View, and 3-Pane View in Bloglines Beta) to quickly scan the headlines.  Over time, you’ll develop the ability to quickly pick out the information you need. 

Scanning or synthesizing reading skills are essential to success in the digital world.  More and more, achievement in any field will depend on your ability to keep up with, and use, available information.

Get Started Now

Just click on the RSS Button - Subscribe in a reader link and choose the +Bloglines option.  That’s it. It’s easy.

Resources:

Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms by Will Richardson (Visit his Weblogg-ed Blog to find many ideas for transforming education.)

A Quick Start Guide to RSS for Educators

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Most days, these sibling get along well.  However, like many brothers and sisters, they excel at pushing each other’s buttons.

Family time is often a roller coaster ride of emotions with the ups and downs of their relationship.

On the ski slopes, I get to see the best of their sibling love as they team up to brave the risky slopes.

They stick together, cooperatively plan their routes, follow each other’s lead, and generally look out for each other.

I just wish I could bottle this good will and sprinkle it on when they’re nudging and poking each other!

For advice on how to avoid sibling rivalry, I’ve turned to Sibling Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish.  The authors recommend that parents:

• Don’t insist on good feelings between siblings.  Allow them to disagree, and to work through those disagreements. Base your response according to the level of the situation.  You can ignore normal bickering, but you may have to separate children who are about to hurt each other.
• Resist the urge to compare siblings.
• Children don’t need to be treated equally.  They need to be treated uniquely.
• Don’t lock a child into a role.  Help your child develop tools and abilities so that they are given the freedom to change.

They also suggest that all parents:

1. Make sure that each child gets some time alone with you several times a week.
2. When spending time with one child, don’t talk about the other.
3. Don’t withhold your affection or attention from your “favorite child” in order to make it up to a less favored child.
4. Don’t lock the children into their position in the family constellation (oldest, youngest, middle).  Allow each child the opportunity to experience some of the privileges and responsibilities of the other.
5. Don’t get trapped by “togetherness.”
6. Let each child know what it is about him that his siblings like or admire.
7. Schedule family meetings.

I can’t say that we have followed all of these suggestions, although I can see their value. 

In our family, my husband and I do try to have unique relationships and plenty of one-on-one time with each child. 

Alex and Daddy share Cub Scouts, while Kayla and I share Girl Scouts.  In addition, there is a whole list of shared interests and activities:

• Risk Takers: Kayla and Daddy are fearless risk takers.  They’re the first to try the most thrilling amusement park rides or outdoor sports like rock climbing or mountain biking.  Alex and I follow along at our own pace or comfort level. 
• Sedentary Pleasures:  Although Kayla & Daddy like to read, they find it difficult to stay in one place for long.  Alex and I are just the opposite, and we love nothing better than snuggling in for a long reading session.  Sometimes we share our Book Kids Book Club selection, but we are just as likely to read our own books.  Alex and Daddy also share evening buddy-reading time, and Kayla and I love being a part of a Mother/Daughter Book Club.
• One-on-one Time: Alex and Daddy share daily project time where they conduct scientific experiments; play chess or checkers; watch cartoons; or battle on the Wii.  Alex and I homeschool together, so we have lots of time to learn and explore together.   It’s more difficult to find one-on-one time with our busy, tween daughter.  With her, we look for pockets of opportunity.  Sometimes, it’s just a Daddy/Daughter trip to Target or a Mother/Daughter TV movie time.  It’s challenging, but incredibly worthwhile, to set aside time for these one-on-one activities.

How do you find ways to develop a unique relationship with your child?  Do you have any recommendations for spending one-on-one time with your children?  Please share your suggestions for avoiding sibling rivalry.

Find more ideas for one-on-one time on 10 Ways To Bond With Your Children.

If you would like to receive free articles from On Living By Learning by email, click this link.

Yesterday, my yard was so achingly beautiful that strangers stopped to shoot photos.  Even the gas man couldn’t resist taking a photo with his cell phone to show his wife.

The previous night a fierce storm blanketed our area with snow and ice.  In the daylight, our land looked like a magical realm of glistening snow and ice.

It was an ideal subject for the next Pen on Fire writing assignment: through a child’s eyes and ears. 

The task is to write a story that evokes a child’s point of view.  The writer is encouraged to turn to a child for coaching.

So, heck, I’ve got a kid, why not ask my son for guidance?

I’ll tell you why not. 

This kid doesn’t want to talk about magical realms.  He wants to say that the reason that the icicles sparkle like diamonds is that they are composed of ice atoms that are shaped like crystals. (Don’t ask me what that means!)

I asked him again to consider the fairy tale world around us, and to imagine fantastical creatures.

Pushed a bit, he was willing to concede that the snow drenched evergreens looked like space aliens.  And, yes, the snow on the ground looks like a cloud and maybe the falling snowflakes did remind him of magic falling from the clouds.  Then, he told me that this was confidential information, way too embarrassing to share.

I’m back to finding the child within. 

You see, I look around and I can’t help but imagine a fairly tale ball in a magical ice kingdom.  Dripping, sparkling icicles suggest a window into another realm where ladies adorned with silver lace, crystal beads, and glass slippers spin in ever widening circles.  I hear the tinkling bells, and tittering laughter, as bright red petticoats peak out from below the billowing white organza skirts.

It’s a world where the creatures of the earth come out to play, and snow tracks lead to hidden lairs where the mouse and the hare sit down to bask in the warmth of a pot of tea in front of a roaring fire.

Okay, before I get too carried away, here are a few of my favorite illustrated snowy tales:

Owl Moon.  By Jane Yolen, Illustrated by John Schoenherr.

Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy. By Carl R. Sams and Jean Stoick.

The Ice Dragon, or Do as You Are Told from The Book of Dragons by E. Nesbit, Illustrations by H. R. Millar.

Stopping by Woods on a Snow Evening a poem by Robert Frost, Illustrated by Susan Jeffers.

Each is these books is a shining example of artists who see through a child’s eyes, ears, and heart.  What’s your favorite snowy tale?

More Pen On Fire Writing Assignments:

Resolve To Write

A Writing Late Bloomer?

Stealing Time

Travel Learning: The Art of Observation

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I’ve been tagged by a meme game again.  This time, Amy L from Earnest Parenting is asking for a list of seven interesting things about me.

Oh, the pressure!  My natural impulse is to downplay my greatness.  Aw, shucks.  You want me to tell you something interesting about little old me?  Meanwhile, what I’m really thinking is how will I limit it to just seven things?  I could probably come up with seven interesting things about me from just today!

After much thought, or at least seven minutes of deep thinking, I’m going to list 7 Interesting Things About Me that help explain On Living By Learning:

1. Creativity is a gift and a curse.  It’s impossible for me to look at anything without thinking about ways to improve it.  This is not a quality that is universally appreciated.  For example, my husband doesn’t seem to mind that today I gave him 5-10 suggestions regarding his new office and his Cub Scout Den.  The other leaders in my Girl Scout Service Unit have learned to reign me in when my ideas are too ambitious or just plain wild.  On the other hand, few of my kids’ teachers have been able to put up with me. 

2. Travelling with me is not for the faint of heart.  My in-laws have described our travel excursions as “death marches.”  Apparently, some people like to relax when they are on vacation.  Not me.  The only time that I like to relax while travelling is when I’m miserably ill or about to collapse from exhaustion.  Otherwise, I like to soak in the destination to the full extent possible.  My husband still jokes about the time I dragged him up a Nepalese mountain trail, despite severe gastric distress, to view a temple that the Lonely Planets guide described as a site “that no lover of art and architecture should miss.”

3.  A book addiction isn’t pretty.  I firmly believe that books are an essential element of any home decor, but my collection is out of control.  My bookshelves are overflowing, and the floor stacks are tipping over.  The nearest book store is a twenty minute car drive away, but the Amazon button is always at eye level.  My annual book allowance far exceeds any other item on my budget, and I won’t reduce it any further.  I’m an unrepentant bookaholic.

4. Everything in my life is a work in progress.  I love to check things off my “to do” list, but infrequently experience this satisfaction.  Many of my projects are ongoing and never-ending.  There is always a new element to add, or a tangent to explore.  Fortunately, this fits in well with my philosophy of life in which I treasure the journey over the destination.

5.  Giving is not a choice.  I’m always shocked by suggestions that I curtail volunteer work to make more time for me.  It’s shocking because I can’t imagine not helping others.  I often wish that I was doing more.  Even when I eliminate a volunteer job, a replacement soon appears.  That’s the way I like it.  When I’m on my deathbed, I want to be able to look back on a life worth living.

6. Change is a constant element of my life.  Until now, I never lived anywhere very long.  I tell everyone that I grew up in St. Thomas, USVI because I lived in that home for seven years.  Before that, I moved every 1-2 years.  After that, I switched homes even more frequently.  Over ten years in Manhattan, I lost count of my “homes.”  Now that I’m happily ensconced in my current abode, whether I like it or not, change is more elusive.  And yet, change seems inevitable as we try new ventures (homeschooling, career moves, etc.)

7. I get by with a little help from my friends.   These days I’m more of a hermit than a social butterfly.  I read, research, and write my way through all kinds of issues.  But, I rarely make an important decision without at least one phone call (or email) to a close friend.   They’re the panel of experts who help me form the opinions expressed on this site.

Okay, but enough about me.  I’m tagging: Tasha on Follow The Muse; Tammy on Just Enough, and Nothing More; Karen on Leaping From The Box; Diane on Popcorn and Sushi; Rational Jenn; Kayla on Elferkid; and Not Freddy on Once a fool, always a fool.  You’re it!

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Road trips are a great opportunity to have open-ended discussions with your children.  If you have the time, and a super-long road trip, consider listening to an audio-book and then talking about your selection.

Selecting a Book

It can be difficult to choose a book that is interesting and worthy of discussion when there is a variety of age groups in the car.  Try to find a book that is entertaining, and open to interpretation on many levels.

I’ve found some great candidates, and guidance for book discussions, in Deconstructing Penguins: Parents, Kids and the Bond of Reading by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone.  Veterans of library groups for tweens (ages 7-11,) the Goldstones have found that children can participate fully in sophisticated literary analysis, but that what they read does matter.  The authors encourage children to look at every book as a mystery that the reader can solve to discover if the author has successfully conveyed his message through the use of plot, setting, characters, and central conflict.

For more thoughts on finding books to discuss:

What about the classics?

Getting The Book

If you have planned ahead, you can get many books on CD at your local library or by ordering from Amazon.

Since I’m rarely that organized, I’m grateful that I can easily download audio-books to my ipod using the itunes store or my local library’s online services.  Next time, I may even set up an account with Audible.com so that I just pay a small, monthly fee to borrow audio-books.

Find free audio-books and how to ipod your car on Wired On The Road.

Our Book

Although George Orwell’s Animal Farm is rarely recommended for tweens, the Goldstones recommend this book for fourth graders.  Since I was traveling with a 2nd and a 6th grader, I figured that this book could appeal to both.  Also, since we were listening to the audio-book version, both children could handle the difficult vocabulary and sophisticated language.  It was easy to pause the ipod when they encountered unfamiliar words or ideas.

Discussing Animal Farm

We didn’t have a literary guide in the car, so we just talked about the story.  The long, and monotonous, prologue sparked the first questions.  The rest of the discussion just spun off from that beginning:

• How is Animal Farm a fairy story?  In the prologue, C.M. Wodehouse explains that Animal Farm is a fairy story in the sense that it lacks a moral, and that fairy stories exist outside of morality.  Does it seem right that the bad guy is just as likely to win (as the good guy) in this and other fairly tales?
• What is communism?  How is Animal Farm communist?  Suggestions for discussing this complex subject:
  • How to Teach Kids About Communism
  • Communism
• How is Snowball like Mr. Nobody (the culprit who is often blamed for misdeeds in our home.)  Why do people in power like to blame everything on a scapegoat?  How does this unify public opinion and encourage support for the leader?  How do bullies use this tactic in the school setting?
• Somehow, we found ourselves discussing the same questions about Animal Farm that the Goldstones suggest in the chapter titled, Putting It All Together: What Is The Book Really About?  We decided that Orwell was telling us that, regardless of the outcome, it is the individual’s responsibility to speak up for what they know is right - even if, or especially if, there are a bunch of sheep trying to drown your voice with mindless chanting of the oppressor’s message.  This is true in any group, whether it is school, city, state, etc.  The kids were excited about questioning authority and this led to a fruitful discussion about what authorities should be questioned: books; teachers; bullies; Wikipedia; television; newspapers; etc.

More Literary Guides To Fuel Book Discussion

Book Babes: A Mother-Daughter Book Club 

How to Read Literature Like A Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide To Reading Between The Lines

Kidsreads.com

The Kid’s Book Club Book

Carnival of Family Life: The Well-Read Life Edition

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When I was a kid, I used every possible moment to read.  At school, I hid my book behind my desk and read while pretending to pay attention in class.  At night, I read late into the night with a flashlight under the covers.  Nowadays, it’s hard for kids to find the time to read.

Modern seating arrangements and table-style desks leave kids no room to hide their reading addiction.  Some schools offer Sustained Silent Reading time, but even the most generous don’t allow more than thirty minutes.  At night, kids try to read but are often too exhausted by the extracurricular activities and homework, after a long day of school, to get more than a paltry forty-five minutes of reading.  Most kids we know don’t even get that much daily reading time.

So, when Alex begged for more time to read his current favorite books, The Spiderwick Chronicles, how could I deny him the glorious, gluttonous, uninterrupted hours of reading time?

I couldn’t deny him the pleasure of endless time immersed in a fantastical world where everything is possible.  Do you remember what it was like to believe in magic?

In our homeschool world, reading is magic.