RESOURCE CENTER

Welcome to the Pumpkin House Resource Center. Here you will find articles and book reviews specifically related to Children's Books. The articles cover everything from tips on how to get your children to read more and enjoy what they are reading to how to develop critical thinking skills in young minds.

Children's stories revolving around fairy tales and folklore have been around for as long as anyone can remember and are still as popular today as when they were first handed down. Children's books can now be found all over the Internet, and children's stories online have become as popular as children's books in hard copy form.

We hope you enjoy reading the educational and entertaining articles and reviews found here!


ARTICLES

Christmas in Dairyland by LeAnn R. Ralph
Christmas in Dairyland is a collection of short, true stories about a little girl growing up on a small dairy farm in Wisconsin in the early 1960s. The book tells of life for a young girl and her family—her father, who did the farming; her mother who, despite being disabled by polio, took care of the house and cooking; and a much older brother and sister, both of whom worked and contributed their incomes to the family.

Frequently Asked Questions About Reading To Your Child by Gary Hendricks
Are you worried about your child's reading habits? Perhaps you feel he or she should be starting to read, but they have no interest in books whatsoever? I had the same problem with my son. Gosh, he would rather chew on 'The Big Book of Nursery Rhymes' than read a word from it! Here's a short list of questions which I find very relevant if you're concerned about your kids' reading habits.

To Do or Not To Do: Behavioral Books for Kids by Jennifer LB Leese
If you deal with children on a regular basis, then you know that a great kid with a not-so-great behavior can disrupt activities. As a mother of three children, I understand. However, I didnt always. The Ugly Discipline Mommy Monster had to show up more than she wanted to, and usually during the most inconvenient times. Needing a new approach to dealing with my children, I had to find childrens books to help my children and me with their not-so-great behavioral problems.

Develop Your Child's Critical Thinking Skills by Marie Magdala Roker
Don't Criticize. Criticism invites low self-esteem. Children feel that they have failed or disappointed their parents when they are criticized. Find alternate ways of correcting the problem. A child will likely shut down communication if they feel that their parents are not supportive.

If You'd Like to Know Why Reading Matters by Barbara Freedman-DeVito
We're always telling children that books and reading are good for them, but have we ever really thought about why that's true? Exactly what do older children get out of reading novels? What do younger kids get from being read to? Does reading matter?

Variety...even children need it by Jennifer LB Leese
Books and children should go hand in hand. There are just about as many different books as there are different children. Variety is what everyone needs, even children! Here are a few fabulously written electronic children's books from authors who are sure to become favorites in your household.

Reading Tools: The Dictionary by Heather Goldsmith
As adults it's easy to overlook our ease in using the dictionary. For many the dictionary has become an indispensible tool for every day reading, yet we often neglect to enforce its value to our children. A good dictionary holds the answers to many of their questions and solutions to the endless word puzzles kids face every day. Understanding the English language is not a simple or easy thing to do. A dictionary is one tool that goes a long way towards demystify the tangle of words and phrases used in common speech and written language. Yet, learning to use a dictionary can be a skill in itself. A skill sadly lacking in many children.

Starting a Teen Book Study Group by Rachel Paxton
If you're looking for a way to connect with your teenage daughter this summer, consider starting a girl's book study group with your daughter and her friends. You may think that teens would not respond well to this idea, but think again...you just might be surprised.

Teach Me: Fun Books for Kids with the Purpose of Learning by Jennifer LB Leese
Learning is a wonderful thing. My mother always told me that children are like sponges, you can teach them just about anything, and they usually remember it. Here are a few books your children can absorb.

Never Pay Full Price for a Book by Cyndi Roberts
Are you an avid reader? Are you trying to instill a love of reading in your children? My whole family loves to read! Right before bedtime every night, every one of us can be found with our nose in a book! It would be very easy for us to spend a fortune every month on books. But, since we don't have a fortune to spend every month, over the years I've found several ways to get good books and never pay full price!

Interactive Electronic Children's Books by Cyndi Roberts
Did you know there are numerous authors that have published children's books in electronic format? What is electronic format? Well, that is when a book is available from the computer as a download or on CD or on diskette.

6 Tried & True Ways to Educate and Entertain Your Preschooler by Myranda Morgan
Introduce your preschooler to a new word each morning at breakfast and define it for him. Keep it simple by using synonyms for words he already knows. Example: vehicle can be another word for car, truck, van, etc. Make a game of using the word as many times as possible each day. This is a fun way to build your child's vocabulary.

Help Your Children to Love Reading by Tracy Catarius
It is so important to create an environment that promotes the love of reading. Not only is reading necessary for survival in today’s world, it is educational, it sparks imagination, it is a stress reliever, provides entertainment and enjoyment, the list goes on.

Preparing Your Child for the Three R's by Susan du Plessis
There is little doubt that reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic are crucial elements in the education of any child. A child's ability to later cope in the adult world, to have a career, to take charge of his financial affairs and to live independently depends to a large extent on his mastery of these skills.

Let's Read! The Benefits of Reading to Your Children by Nicole Niemiec
Parents, when you help your children learn to read, you help them open the door to a big, exciting world. As a parent, you can begin an endless learning chain like this: You read to your children, they develop a love of stories and poems, they want to read on their own, they practice reading, and finally, they read for their own information or pleasure. When children become readers, their world is forever wider and richer.

Stages of Reading: Pre-reading Skills by Heather Goldsmith
It's important to recognize each of the different stages of reading kids go through. You will have a better sense of which stage your child is at right now. This will enable you to see the process they need to undergo before they accomplish all of the relevant reading stages. This particular article will deal with the first stage of reading, one often not associated with the act of reading itself, but vital in teaching reading skills needed in further stages. It might be easier to consider this stage as a pre-reading stage. Certain skills are established that have nothing to do with words or knowing their alphabet.

Stages of Reading: Beginner Readers by Heather Goldsmith
This is the stage or time when children venture out into the world of words. They begin to decipher the letters and words on the printed page. In this stage they make their first stumbling efforts to actually read a book aloud. Many children will quite naturally arrive at this stage on their own, especially if you've been spending time reading together and participating in similar activities as mentioned in the previous article.

From Children's Stories to Study Skills: Help Your Children Succeed in School
by Barbara Freedman-De Vito -
As a parent who wants the best for your children, there are undoubtedly many things that you already do every day to help your children succeed in school. The purpose of this article is to provide some practical ideas for you to try. Some of these suggestions may be new to you, many will be familiar, and some are just plain common sense but, hopefully, they will all serve as reminders of the many simple steps you can take that are too often taken for granted or forgotten about, due to the hectic pace of everyday living.


BOOK REVIEWS

Way Cool Science: Space Trekkers

Reviews for Selected Orchard Books for Children

Reviews for Selected Penguin/Putnams Books for Children

The Legend Of The Christmas Tree

The Illustrated Treasury Of Fairy Tales

The Widow's Broom

Children's Books Reviews - Creepy Halloween Reading

This is the Sea that Feeds Us

In the Blink of an Eye


EDITOR'S NOTES

The Pumpkinhouse Resource Center is a compilation of articles and book reviews related to children's literature, children's books, children's stories, children's stories online, multicultural children's literature, folklore, and fairy tales. All of the articles and reviews are designed to educate, inform, and entertain visitors to the site.

Children's books and children's stories have become increasingly popular online items. Our Resource Center is dedicated to bringing information, education, and book reviews to our visitors so that they may make informed decisions regarding their children. If you have an article or book review relating to children's literature, children's books, children's stories, children's stories online, folklore, fairy tales, or similar topics and would like to have it included here please email myoung@virante.com for consideration.

For additional articles and reviews on children's literature, children's books, children's stories,
children's stories online, multicultural children's literature, folklore, and fairy tales please bookmark our site and check back often.

 

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