Grand Readers

Hey, thanks for coming by-pull up your
keyboard and stay awhile. Because you
are here, I know you are a grand reader
and I want your ideas.


One idea is to simply remember the
other grand readers out there.
I wrote about storytime this week
and the wonderful work librarians 
do there for our kids with special 
needs.  But some of the best readers are 
right in the family circle.


Sometimes I fail to take full advantage
of one of the best resources my boy 
has, and that's his grandmother.


Our visits are always chaotic, an
attempt to make the unfamiliar 
acceptable to a preschooler and a boy
who gets upset by anything unanticipated.


But this last visit my mother doesn't 
remember getting to read to the boys at 
all and that is simply a shame. 


So when I asked her for her advice recently,
she had to think a little farther back, to
when my boy was about eight. Here's
her quote:
"My fondest memory of reading with 
[him] has to do with that book that is 
meant to be read by adult and child. 
I was really pleased to hear him use 
expression in the answers-expression 
that seemed to me to indicate he 
understood what we were reading. 
I definitely think you should recommend 
this book."

There are a few series along those lines 
that I've mentioned, but I'm pretty sure 
Mother means the one featured 
above. These books remain among
his favorites, though he now wants
to read them to himself.


Another great reader with 
suggestions for toddlers
found me recently (with Leisa 
Hammett's help) and she has a
wonderful blog with  
insights about reading &
autism for that age group: 
www.samandboo.blogspot.com
-Spectum Mom

We Both Read

Way back when (an eyeblink ago)
when my nine year old
was four I looked for good books
to read with him and found the
We Both Read series.

The psychologist had said
he'd be reading at age three.
That didn't happen, but
he was a bit ahead
of the curve.

The We Both Read
series starts at a K level
and goes up. Titles include
simple stories and non-fiction
about bugs and and stars.



My boy liked the
You Read to Me, I'll Read to You

series more later, in

1st grade and still reads those

books to himself sometimes. 

They have more words

per page and sidebar pictures 

instead of full page illustrations.

I didn't think about that

at the time, but looking

back I think that's part

of the reason my kid

liked the We Both Read

series more initially.

I wish I could make

the world more easily

understandable for all

our kids. But finding the 

right books is a start.

-Spectum Mom