The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader

~ Readers are not born, they are made.

I love that quote because it sounds so hopeful to me. I love to read and I want everyone to feel the same way about books that I do! The idea that readers are made means that almost every person has an equal opportunity to be an avid reader.

This book, by Donalyn Miller, a sixth grade teacher in Texas, reaffirmed everything I believe about teaching and about the love of reading. My love of reading was a gift that my mother gave me. I believe it to be, quite possibly, the most wonderful gift, aside from life, that she has ever given me. I have escaped into books since I was a child, found friends there and experienced whole new worlds. Book for me are quite literally just like magic!

Ms. Miller espouses the idea that to make readers, our children have to - wait for it.... Read more. Since most are not reading at home, as teachers, we need to find the time for these children to read in school. Hopefully by modeling and teaching the love of reading, our students will be so excited by this whole new world that soon they will also be reading at home.

It has been my honor to see this very technique put into practice in several fourth grade classrooms this year. I have witnessed two very different but both wonderful teachers uses similar techniques to inspire the love of reading. I have seen the results, first hand. I have watched students BLOSSOM in just a few short months from being reluctant readers to avid ones.

There is so much in this book that is chalk full of wonderful advice, whether you are a teacher or a parent. I think my favorite piece of advice in the book is to read more children's books. I read a lot of young adult works because it helps me connect with my daughters and my students. I like to know what they are reading and I enjoy being able to make recommendations for them. I used to be ashamed to read so many young adult titles - crazy, I know. But Ms. Miller really helped me see the importance of this connection that I am creating with my children and my students. If you have children in your life, reluctant or avid reader, this book really does change perspectives on so many things. If you are a person working on becoming a teacher, or a classroom teacher right now, I can't recommend this book highly enough!

In the seventh book of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series, Lasky steps away from our cast of favorites at the great Ga'Hoole tree to introduce some new characters.

This is the story of Nyroc, hatching of that despised Kludd and his evil mate, Nyra. Born under the auspicious sign of the eclipse, Nyroc is portended to have a great capacity for good, or a terrible capacity for evil. As Nyroc grows, he experiences all the typical Owl ceremonies and awaits his Pure Ones "special" ceremony - or Tupsi - with great anticipation. But what does it all have to do with his best friend, Phillip? And what are the strange images he sees in the fires of his father's burial ceremony blaze? What is the truth? His visions, or the stories his mother has told him?

This is a great book about love, the power of friendship and what it means to have free will.

Witch and Wizard by James Patterson

This is the story of a brother and sister, Whit and Wisty Allgood, who are taken from their beds in the dead of night by the New World Order. They stand accused, of all things, of being a Witch and a Wizard. Oddly enough, they actually are

The best part of the story is references to "the one who is the One". Considering the time frame in which the story was written, the references to a man who has the power over the masses with his words is both timely and scary. I am looking forward to the second book in the series to see if Whit and Witsy can save the children of the future and take down the New World order. Witsy is a red-head, so I have no doubt that she is going to kick some ass and take names.

Nose Down, Eyes Up by Merrill Markoe

This is a hysterical story about a somewhat loser - ish guy with a Peter Pan complex and his relationships with women and his four talking dogs. The primary character in the book, Jimmy, is a dog. His owner discovers him giving seminars on how to understand and manipulate humans to the other dogs on his block. Jimmy's insight into humans in laugh out loud funny! Jimmy goes through an identity crisis when he realizes that he is, in fact, a dog.

Gale, his human owner, doesn't have many character traits to recommend him. He is a loser that never achieved much with his life and who treats women horribly - to say the least. He even goes so far as to exploit his dogs, especially Jimmy. In the end though, he does realize what impact his actions have on others and the importance of his relationship with his dogs.

Even though the main human character isn't very appealing, this book is well worth the read for the canine conversations alone!