"CHAPTER ONE"

There is nothing better than cracking open a childhood classic to read aloud with the kiddos.  Summer nights are around the corner, and so are later bedtimes and leisurely tuck-ins, perfect for chapter-a-night reads.

Last night we started Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, for the second time for big sis, and first time for bro.  And with each read it seems to only get better!  The amazing worlds that these childhood classics allow our children to enter can make an imprint forever.

I still remember vividly the world of my childhood favorite, The Last of The Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews (yes, Mary Poppins is an author too!).

A few years ago I discovered an incredible reading resource written by her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, entitled "Raising Bookworms: Getting Kids Reading for Pleasure and Empowerment".

It is a pleasure to read and an indispensable tool to encourage and nurture the reading experience from baby to teenager. Her simple message of "creating - or restoring - the connection between reading and joy" is a lifelong gift.

If you've got a favorite please pass it on!