Grandchildren from toddlers to teenagers and beyond love to read books. Even before they learn to talk, young children thrill at the chance to climb on your lap and flip the pages of a picture book. And what a perfect time to make that grandparent to grandchild connection! By encouraging readership with your younger ones, you are giving the gift of enormous potential...the very keys to the collective history and wisdom of the world. On this page, you'll find award-winning books that come with top ratings from educational experts. Shop by age-category, or look for a special book eollectionas the perfect gift for your young reader.
Late Fall 1978. Peddling through a breezy chill, I made my way down the street from home. A full backpack and the sheer weight of my old red bike slowed my progress along with the occassional gust of headwind. Raindrops were sporadic and echoed inside the hood of my plastic rain slicker. I was a child on a mission, and about to be blessed with one of my parents' greatest gifts ever...
How are you feeling about your legacy creation?
I am about to let you in on a secret that can help define a legacy. And, if you're already honing in on some legacy concepts, this secret can be used to supercharge your efforts to unbelievable potential.
Books are magic.
Inspiring your grandchildren to connect with books & learn this secret is one of the greatest gifts you can possibly give.
My parents made a decision in 1971 to buy a house down the street from the local library. A few years later I got my own library card, and I'll never forget sense of pride and responsibility it granted me. (It also gave me something to put in my first wallet!)
From then on, I would frequently make that 1/2 mile bike trip. To me, entering the library felt like walking into Fort Knox and taking any of the gold I wanted. I was rich beyond belief!
Not only did my parents give me the gift in the location of our home, and the responsibility of a library card...they had instilled in me the magic that books provide. Frequently, they would read to my brother, sister, and I, even making it a nightly routine. I watched them pick up books on their own, and undoubtedly, the model impressed upon me. Throughout my life, I have always loved to read as a result.
Of course, as a child we've all whined "I'm bored!" My grandmother, with ever the snappy comeback, would say "You must be boring...go read a book!" Today, as an adult who loves to read, I can't imagine ever being bored. (Thanks mom, dad, and grandma.)
In my blackberry, I keep a running list of books I'd like to read, so that I never wander the bookstores by chance. Whenever I faced a difficult challenge or time in my life, books have provided enormous insight. I've lived adventures and fantasies that can only be entered through the secret portal of a book. I've challenged myself to grow and develop by reading advice from the experts in dozens of fields.
By reading books, you are truly empowered by the wisdom of the ages.
Imagine the lifelong treasure you would give you grandchildren to help them tap into this magic of books?
Here on this page, you'll find many recommendations of great books by age category. A great many are award-winning and all are highly supported by today's leading childcare professionals.
Further down, you'll also find some wonderful book collections that might make a great gift idea.
Can't find something here? Below you'll find a link to buy an Amazon giftcard. Turn your shopping frustration into an even great gift...empower your little ones by letting them decide!
Also, if your interest is peaked to incorporate books into your legacy creation...I have also included books for YOU to help identify methods of coaching literacy & book appreciation in your grandchildren.
Infants & Toddlers
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be -
I had a mother who read to me.
~Strickland Gillilan
Preschoolers (ages 2 - 6)
A blessed companion is a book, - a book that, fitly chosen, is a lifelong friend,... a book that, at a touch, pours its heart into our own.
~Douglas Jerrold
Young Readers (ages 4 - 8)
Books are the compasses and telescopes and sextants and charts which other men have prepared to help us navigate the dangerous seas of human life.
~Jesse Lee Bennett
Older Children (ages 8 - 14)
Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.
~Mark Twain
Collections / Gift Sets
Looking for a special & unique book-related gift idea?
Here's one you might not have heard of before...have a book custom created for your grandchild. Integrate his/her name along with other family & friends names into the storyline. Kids love them!
Audio Books
To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.
~W. Somerset Maugham
Learning to Read
Following your positive role-modeling of the magic of books, undoubtedly, your grandchild will also take to books. Long before they can read, children are captivated by stories. And, once they transition in their first school years towards becoming full-fledged readers on their own...great worlds will open up.
Children gain an enormouse sense of pride and accomplishment in learning to read.
Why not make it a step in your legacy to bless them with the gift of literacy?
Or check here for some more resources on literacy development...
Trouble finding a book? Always a sure-fire way to help keep your gifts on target is to let them choose.
Pick up an Amazon gift card today!
Other Resources
Want some more ideas on how you can spark your grandchild's interest in reading? Check out the tips and activity ideas at Reading is Fundamental (RIF). This is America's largest non-profit children's and family literacy organization. www.rif.org
Or check out Read, Write, Think. This organization is sponsored by the International Reading Association (IRA) and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). NCTE and IRA are working together to provide educators and students with access to the highest quality practices and resources in reading and language arts instruction through free, Internet-based content. www.readwritethink.org
Another great resource we found through my son's kindergarten teacher is www.starfall.com. Check it out for a wonderful selection of core reading skills lessons in a fun & interactive game format. My son loves it!
These are many of the reasons most of us today still prefer paper in hand.
Though change takes time, there are some incredible new technologies coming out that might just be on to something...
Have you heard of Amazon's Kindle?
Well, it's taken the market by storm, and loved by avid readers everywhere. You likely first saw it on the Oprah show.
And now Amazon has launched it's latest improvements in the Kindle 2!
This revolutionary device provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper!
Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing.
Wireless connectivity enables you to download a book in less than one minute.
More than 230,000 choices.
And, each book is only
$9.99, unless marked otherwise.
Even Top U.S. & International newspapers & popular magazines are included.
Kids value connectivity today, and boy does this product connect them in a way that supercharges their ability to read!
Light and thin, the Kindle 2 weighs 10.2 ounces and is the thickness of a typical magazine...yet it can hold over 1500 titles.
Long battery life. You can literally read for days on one battery charge, and fully recharges in 2 hours.
No monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments—Amazon takes care of the wireless delivery so you can simply click, buy, and read.
In addition, the Kindle 2 has a unique Read-to-Me feature to allow your little one to have a personal story reader wherever they go.
Follow the link below to learn a lot more on Amazon's site and pre-order yours today. Demand has been hot, so if your grandchild's birthday is coming up, plan to order in advance just in case. You may even want one for yourself! I know I do...
