“Put your child in your lap and read a book aloud!”

“Put your child in your lap and read a book aloud.” –Rosemary Wells, author, illustrator

I believe in reading to kids any way that is fun! My preference: goofy voices and silly accents. I love engaging them in a story, making them care about the characters.

I, of course, am not the only author who is passionate about reading to children every day.

“Trusting, singing, laughing, and language are the most important things in a young child’s life.” wrote Rosemary Wells in the prelude to her book, Read to your Bunny.

The list of esteemed authors who join me in this cause is so extensive and impressive,
I am reluctant to even add my name to the category – it feels presumptuous!

But nevertheless I want to do my part to help parents find these great books and great authors.

Rosemary Wells and Ammi-Joan Paquette are just two of the great children’s authors whom I recently encountered. Their books are filled with great English words – no ‘dumbing down’ here! The photo above shows how Paquette makes the “big” words she includes in her story Petey and Pru and the Hullabaloo fun, and the definitions readily available.

What an entertaining way to learn new vocabulary! An author after my own heart. Wings UP!

I am so enamored of the entire Rosemary Wells collection and Ammi-Joan Paquette’s book Petey and Pru and the Hullabaloo that I am starting a new thing — the Wings UP! rating for a book review.

Periodically I will highlight some of the great books out there and grant the much coveted WINGS UP! AWARD — when deserved. The books of both Wells and Paquette merit our attention and another award: !