rosen@exit26.DEC (Barry Rosen) (01/14/86)
As I am fairly new to this group, it is possible that this has been discussed before so I ask your indulgence. My son (1st grade) is an avid reader and loves doing it. He will often take a book along to read on any of our long drives to visit relatives. Sometimes, the "back seat" is so quiet we think that he has gone to sleep but a glance into the rear mirror shows that he has taken his book from his backpack and begun reading. I would very much like to encourage his interest in reading. He already attacks the school library and public library whenever he can. He has a told us on a number of occasions that he would like to own some books because he likes to read them a number of times. I like this idea and would like to "help" him acquire some slected books. My wife and I are wondering whether a children's book club would be a good way to do this. When I was a kid, my parents subscribed to something called the "Children's Record Guild" from which I received some outstanding recordings. I wonder if there are any children's book clubs which are just as good today? Does anyone know of any such clubs? What was your experience with it? Do you feel that children's book clubs are good value and provide good reading materials? Do any of these book clubs have a provision where you can tell them the READING LEVEL (rather than grade level) of the child to obtain the proper selection? All help will be greatly appreciated. Barry Posted: Tue 14-Jan-1986 10:35 EST To: RHEA::DECWRL::"net.kids" Cc: ROSEN
marks@yogi.DEC (01/15/86)
>I wonder if there are any children's book clubs which are just as good >today? Does anyone know of any such clubs? What was your experience >with it? Do you feel that children's book clubs are good value and >provide good reading materials? Do any of these book clubs have a >provision where you can tell them the READING LEVEL (rather than grade >level) of the child to obtain the proper selection? My son exhibited the same terrific tendencies from about the same age. (He is now 16 and buys his own books!) My misgivings about book clubs for kids have to do with a couple of things: as you mentioned, it has been my experience that these clubs request age of the child rather than reading level. My son (and I'm sure your son falls into this category as well) always read on a much higher level than his age would have indicated (as a matter of fact, we used to have a running battle with my mother-in-law, who was an elementary school librarian, who insisted on sending books geared to his "grade level" rather than his "reading level," and consistently missed the mark -- this was a very frustrating experience for my son). Also, when you are a book club member you have to abide by someone else's choices. Sometimes this can be okay; at other times, it is highly unsatisfying. My advice to you is to find a good book store and make a few trips a year there with your son. The store we used when my son was younger (and still use now, but not on such a regular basis) was the New England Mobile Bookfair (I don't know whether you are in the Boston metropolitan area, but if so, this place is worth the trip). It is located on Needham Street in Newton (the Highland St. East exit from Rte. 128), and from the outside looks like a real hole in the wall. From the inside, however, you will find the largest selection of books I have seen anywhere in the Boston area. And they are discounted 20% across the board. (There is also a huge remainder room, where the discounts are unbelievable.) We used to go there with a couple of hours to spare, and with some limit (either of number of books or of total amount to be spent). Books are arranged by publisher, and there are copies of Books in Print for customers to use. The kids' books are all in one (huge) section, and kids can browse up and down the aisles to see what catches their interest. There is a children's hardcover section and a children's paperback section. Every trip to what my kids still (at ages 16 and 13) call "The Big Bookstore" turned into a joyous and rewarding expedition, both for the kids and for the parents, who could also get lost in this magnificent book warehouse. The only liability is that we always managed to run up too big a bill (but it was worth it). Happy hunting (and happy reading to your son, who has chosen what to me is the greatest pastime in the world). Perhaps there are some good book clubs now that were not available when my kids were young. At any rate, try Bookfair at least once. I don't think you (or he) will be disappointed! Rickey Marks
essachs@ihuxl.UUCP (Ed Sachs) (01/16/86)
We have, in the past, subscribed to children's book clubs, and have acquired a massive library. You can usually find sample books with tear out order forms in pediatricians' waiting rooms. Parents Magazine Book Club: Our favorite, good read to kids books for pre-schoolers, and also good for kids to read themselves from about 2nd grade (though if your first grader is a good reader, he may be able to handle them). Dr. Seuss Book Club (Grollier): Mostly Dr. Seuss and related titles, once you get some of the better ones, you can cut if off. Varying levels from beginning readers to about 4-5 grade. Value Tales (Grollier): Fictionalized biographies of famous people. Not for beginning readers (maybe grade 4 and up), but younger kids enjoy having them read to them. This is more in the line of a set of books (you get about 20-30 books over a period of 2-3 mos.). Our kids really like these. By the way, we have 3 kids, ages 10, 8, and almost 4. -- Ed Sachs AT&T Bell Laboratories Naperville, IL ihnp4!ihuxl!essachs
tupper@wanginst.UUCP (John Tupper) (01/17/86)
When I was a kid, I always enjoyed a book exchange near school. They tend to have a lots of paperbacks that are wonderfully cheap. And you can take back the books you don't want to keep (I paid 3/4 cover price and recieved 1/2 cover price if/when I brought them back). Many of the books were old enough that the prices were incredibly low to begin with (35 cents, 75 cents, etc). -- John Tupper tupper@wanginst (Csnet) Wang Institute of Graduate Studies wanginst!tupper (UUCP) Tyng Road, Tyngsboro, MA 01879 (617) 649-9731