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PrintSlr: What are good books to buy children to encourage reading -- are there any series out there to help?
Karen MacPherson: Yes, there are some great series out there to encourage reading. One is "The Time Warp Trio" by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith. Another is the "Magic Tree House" series by Mary Pope Osborne. Don't forget non-fiction, however. Some kids -- like their parents -- really prefer non-fiction. Depending on the age you're looking for, a few good choices would be "So You Want to Be An Explorer?" by Judith St. George, illustrated by David Small, "The Journey That Saved Curious George" by Louise Borden, and "ER Vets" by Donna Jackson. Finally, don't forget audio books -- they're great for reluctant readers. Kids can either just listen, or follow along in the books. Tops are the "Harry Potter" books read by Jim Dale, the "Narnia" books also are on audio, as are "The Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony Snicket. If you pin down the age further, I'm happy to provide other suggestions.
Slr: What age group are Harry Potter books suitable for?
Karen MacPherson: The first 2-3 "Harry Potter" books would be fine for kids age 6 and up, although they probably won't get some of the nuances. But, as author J.K. Rowling has promised, the books get darker as they go along. Some parents I know read the fourth, fifth and sixth books out loud to their kids ages 6-8 and talk with them about some of the scary parts. Others have decided to wait a bit until their kids get older. Once you get past that age and stage, I'd say the books are for any age. My teenage daughter (age 15) loves them, as does my 88-year-old mother-in-law!
Slr: My mom is an avid reader -- mainly Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson books. Do you have any suggestions for books I could give her for Christmas?
Bob Hoover: Both Cornwell with "Predator" and Patterson with "Mary, Mary" have new series books available right now. For a change of pace, try "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova, a long and well-written version of the vampire legend.
Slr: I have a niece who is 7 years old but hasn't shown much interest in reading. I'd like to get her a few books for Christmas that she might enjoy. What would your suggestion be?
Karen MacPherson: A good choice would be the "Ramona" books by Beverly Cleary. When the series starts, Ramona is a preschooler, with a sister in grade school. Ramona grows about a year older in each book. The books deal with timeless issues -- sibling rivalry, etc. -- in a realistic but humorous way. The audio versions, with narration by actress Stockard Channing, are especially good. Also, for a total change of pace: Even girls love the "Captain Underpants" books. They are gross, but author Dav Pilkey (that's how he spells his first name) really is much more clever than many adults think. There's a new edition of the first book that comes with a CD loaded with extra stuff. If she's just a beginning reader, she might really love the "Henry and Mudge" books by Cynthia Rylant, or the "Gus and Grandpa" books by Claudia Mills.
Sbennett: I grew up with the Narnia chronicles and the Oz books (which my mom also grew up with!). Aside from Harry Potter, are there any other good series for children/youth?
Karen MacPherson: There are lots of great fantasy series out there. There are the "Artemis Fowl" books focused on a character who's been called a "bad boy" Harry Potter. There also are Philip Pullman books -- a series called "His Dark Materials" which begins with "The Golden Compass" and are a direct answer to the "Narnia" books (which Pullman loathes). Another series I love is one that begins with "So You Want to be a Wizard?" -- I can't think of the author right now, though. For younger readers, there are a whole slew of new fantasy series out there -- just check in the "series" section of your local bookstore. Authors to look for include Diana Wynne-Jones, Lloyd Alexander and Susan Cooper.
Slr: Have any new "chick lit" books been released that are must reads?
Bob Hoover: Jennifer Weiner tries to raise the level of chick-lit discourse with "Goodnight, Nobody," although it's aimed at the mommy-track set. Kathryn Harrison pushes the boundaries a bit in "Envy." The basic chick-lit genre itself has become stale and derivative.
Slr: So the Ramona books are still popular! Do you think promoting audio books at an early age will hurt children's reading skills down the road?
Karen MacPherson: No, I don't think so. I recently did a story on audio books for kids (it ran in the PG in November) and talked to reading experts about this. The general consensus seemed to be that making reading fun for kids was the best way to get them to read. One way to ensure this is to have kids look at a physical copy of the book as they follow along the audio. Remember, however, kids do lots of reading in school, and if they just want to sit and listen to an audio book, that's OK. It's great that they are reading, instead of watching TV or playing on the computer! Finally, don't forget that there are all kinds of reading, including magazines, newspapers and even comics. My kids particularly love these collections of variouis comic strips, such as "Zits" and "Foxtrot," and while these aren't great classics, it is a form of reading -- and it's not "screen" time!
Bookworm: How do you get any kids away from their video games long enough to convince them to try a book?
Karen MacPherson: As I've said, I really think you need to make reading fun. One of the big pluses of audio books is that this can be a "cool" thing, especially if they have an mp3 player. It's amazing, but you can now download audio books directly into this player, and kids can relax and listen. Many libraries now have this service -- ask your local librarian. Also, in their spare time -- doing non-school reading -- let kids read pretty much what they want. If they like comics, let them read a collection of "Calvin and Hobbes" or "Baby Blues" (many libraries have these -- don't buy them until you check first in the library). If they love cars, buy them a car magazine or check out a library book about cars. Too often, parents (and I include myself) think of reading as "reading a novel" -- many kids prefer other things, just like their parents.
Jhw: Are there any libraries that have audio downloads available for iPods or mp3 players?
Karen MacPherson: Yes, I believe the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh has this service. Other local libraries likely do as well. Librarians really have to stay up to date with technology and are often the first to have things like this.
Bob Hoover: The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh can download books on its own mp3 player which you can borrow. There might be a problem allowing borrowers to download on their own players, though. Give them a call at 412-622-3114.
Jhw: This isn't exactly a holiday question, but how long can we expect the Harry Potter series to last? Will Harry go to wizard grad school, or settle down and have little wizards of his own?
Karen MacPherson: Actually, the next "Harry Potter" book -- book seven -- is supposed to be the last. Author J.K. Rowling has always said that she planned a seven-book series, partly because of her admiration for the seven-book "Narnia" series by C.S. Lewis. Rowling also has said that, when the idea for the "Potter" series first came to her, she could visualize exactly what would be on the last page of the last book. So, she has always written with that ending in mind. In recent years, however, Rowling has left herself a bit of room to come back to "Harry" if she wanted after Book 7. But she also says she plans to try something totally different after she finishes Book 7.
Jhw: Bob: What writers would you recommend in the style of Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen?
Bob Hoover: You mean cool guys with lots of humor, I think. Lawrence Block occasionally is funny, especially with his Rodenbarr series. Parker's Spenser has lost some of his snap. Lee Child's Jack Reacher series contains bursts of sardonic commentary despite its cartoon violence.
Oldscribe: What kinds of books do you recommend for my 4-year-old nephew and my eight-year-old nephew?
Karen MacPherson: Sorry to be slow answering your question. I didn't see that you had a question about children's books! For your four-year-old nephew, a great choice would be a picture book. Some great new ones include "Zen Shorts" by Jon Muth (a likely Caldecott Medal contender); "Traction Man Is Here!" by Mini Grey and "Encyclopedia Prehistoria: Dinosaurs" by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart. (This is a pricey pop-up, but totally cool. The 8-year-old would also enjoy it). If your 8-year-old nephew likes novels, a fun one is "Whales on Stilts" by M.T. Anderson. A great classic that's just been reissued is "Snow Treasure" by Marie McSwiggart, which tells the true story of some Norwegian kids who used their sleds to smuggle millions of dollars of gold out of their country under the eyes of the Nazis early in WW2. For non-fiction, "Egypt in Spectacular Cross Section" by Stephen Biesty (or any of his "cross section") books.
Slr: Any suggestions on books to help a child learn a foreign language? What about adults?
Bob Hoover: You can get some classic children's literature in the various languages, including "Madeline" and even "Goodnight, Moon," in Spanish. Adults should go to language school first.
Karen MacPherson: That's a tough one. My best suggestion would be to check with your local library to see what materials they have there. In our local library, there are various audio cassette and CD sets that offer help with learning a language. Some libraries also offer access to online language sites (I know my library in Montgomery County, Md. does this). Of course, there are also Web sites you can check out. But I'd start with a librarian, who should be able to steer you in the best direction.
Bookworm: Bob -- What can you recommend for Pittsburgh history, going back to the Whiskey Rebellion period?
Bob Hoover: Funny you should ask, since there's a new account of the Whiskey Rebellion coming in the spring by William Hogeland. It's due in April from Scribner. The city could use an updated professionally written history, though. Maybe a job for the History Center.
Slr: I'm not sure what type of books my uncle reads -- should I just go for a gift card, or is there a new release out that's pretty popular with most older adults?
Bob Hoover: Why not get him "1776" by David McCullough? Well-written and fast-paced history -- and short.
Karen MacPherson: I thought I'd post a few other gift suggestions for those interested. Some great new novels for kids include "The Penderwicks" by Jeanne Birdsall (this just won the National Book Award for young people); "Al Capone Does My Shirts" (a Newbery finalist this past year); "Project Mulberry" by Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park and "Replay" by Newbery Medalist Sharon Creech. Also very popular with older kids (ages 10 up) are the Alex Rider books by Anthony Horowitz. For nonfiction, "Our Eleanor," a "scrapbook biography" of Eleanor Roosevelt, by Candace Fleming is great, as is "10,000 Days of Thunder," a book about Vietnam by Philip Caputo, and "Hidden Child," author Issac Millman's riveting story about his life as a Jewish child in WW2. Finally, for picture books, look for the "Alfie" books by Shirley Hughes -- perhaps my favorite picture books of all time.
PAM: Our secretary at work has been reading some African-American women's lit that is of not very good quality (in writing or content). What can you recommend as the next step up that would engage her? She didn't like Susan Lori-Parks' recording of "Finding Mother's Body" (which I thought was great).
Bob Hoover: I would suggest books by Pittsburgher Jewell Parker Rhodes, Bebe Moore Campbell (a Pitt grad), Gloria Naylor or Connie Porter.
