Hello Book Bums families!
This edition of our newsletter marks two years of offering book recommendations, teaching tools, poetry, word roots, music and podcast ideas, gift suggestions, family activities, and word fun to you, our readers. Thanks for being with us as we head into year three!
Read on for a sweet book idea, Dr. Christy's reflections on the holidays, and suggestions to get your kiddos writing this season.
Word of the Week
complement (com-pleh-ment) 1. noun/person, place, or thing - something that fills up, completes, or makes better or perfect 2. verb/action word - to enhance by adding something additional
The perfect complement to apple pie is a scoop of vanilla ice cream beside it on the plate.
*Don't confuse complement with it's homophone compliment which means an admiring remark.
Literary Calendar
- November 29 is the birthday of author Madeleine L'Engle.
- She is best known for writing A Wrinkle in Time.
- You can learn much more about her life and other books at her website.
"You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children."
-Madeleine L'Engle
From our Bookshelves
We know it’s important for children to read across genres, but sometimes kids need a nudge toward new kinds of books. We’re recommending an oldie but goodie. It’s Chocolate by Hershey: A Story about Milton S. Hershey, by Betty Buford, and it’s a great option for promoting nonfiction with elementary-age kids. Whether your child is doing a nonfiction book report or you’re capitalizing on your child’s love for chocolate to encourage a different kind of book reading, this one’s a great choice.
Today, many kids are expressing interest in becoming entrepreneurs, and they’re not just talking about when they grow up! If any kids you love are interested in starting businesses of their own, you’ll definitely want to try this story of Milton Hershey. Milton was not an overnight success—far from it! As kids read Chocolate by Hershey, they learn that owning a business requires big dreams, hard work, perseverance, and generosity. They’ll certainly think a bit more about the name on the wrapper as they devour their next Hershey bar.
Gift Idea- You can complement the reading of this book by including a Hershey bar or some Kisses with the gift, or you could even plan a mini-vacation to Hershey, Pennsylvania to visit the Hershey theme park.
Hershey, PA is about 7 ½ hours from Cincinnati. Remember to make reservations to take advantage of the Create Your Own Candy Bar experience if your kids read the book. Did you know that Hershey’s makes 70 million Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Kisses each day?
Tips for Raising Readers and Writers
Remember that Christmastime is a great time to encourage writing with your younger kids. Whether you’re planning your family calendar, making wish lists, deciding what you’d like to eat for holiday meals, writing letters to Santa, scheduling favorite holiday movies, or making shopping lists, this is a great time to invite your kids to write.
If you want your kids’ writing to improve as they’re recording their ideas, sit alongside them. Don’t ask them to write something and then critique it when they’re finished. Coach them as they are doing the writing. Whether you’re saying, “Remember that friendly letters usually begin with Dear ___ and then there’s a comma following the name,” or “Santa is a name, so you need an uppercase s there,” your kids can improve their writing skills with their non-judgmental writing assistants by their sides.
Another tradition I was just reminded of is the “basement gift” idea. If you have grown children, you can gift your kids meaningful trinkets from their childhoods. It could be a plaster handprint, a sketch book, or a little league football jersey—anything that brings back great memories. A dear friend shared that these gifts are her kids’ favorites!
Wordology Workshop
- The Greek root pan means all.
- You can find it in words like panacea (which means a cure-all solution), panorama (which means a view in all directions), and pantheon (which refers to all the gods).
- Can you think of one more pan word from recent history?
Practical Grammar
Is it discrete or discreet?
Discrete means separate or unconnected.
Memory Tip: Note that the two e’s are separated.
Discreet is used to mean inconspicuous, cautious, or discerning. It's used, usually, to describe people.
Please be discreet, for I don’t want anyone else to know that I made three discrete piles for my gifts: keep, return, and regift.
Just for Fun
Before you spend lots of time and money preparing holiday meals,
remember that the kids are going to eat this:
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