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ISBN13: 9781561459100
Ages 4-8 - Hardcover $16.95 |
My thoughts: Oh to my! This book is stunning! The pictures and soft colors are simply enchanting. And the story is so sweet and so very much a reality for so many children. (Hmmm... I've used "so" so very many times that perhaps .... well, you get the idea)
Madeline Finn could be so many children across the world. Children who are shy about reading and children who simply have a difficult time reading - either silent reading or reading aloud. Reading aloud to others can be particularly difficult and troublesome for some. No matter the reason for the difficulty, they simply have a hard time.
And it hurts. It hurts not to get a gold star for good reading. It hurts when the snickers and giggles come from classmates. It just hurts to struggle with words.
In this sweet and breath taking beautiful book, dear Madeline Finn gets taken to the library by Mom after a particularly difficult week of school. Madeline is not happy. Madeline doesn't like to read. Madeline doesn't want to read. And the librarian knows all of that and yet she gets Madeline to go along with her to a special room. In that special room there are lots of children and lots of different dogs and the children are reading to the dogs. Madeline is asked if she would like to read to the large white Library Dog who doesn't have a child assigned. Madeline agrees. The reading begins, slowly, with some mistakes, but the Library Dog just waits patiently and without criticism and Madeline is able to continue.
Purchase the book - click here
Peachtree Publishing has a great article about Library Therapy Dogs - click here
On another note, when I was a child, our family had a dog named Bonnie, too. Madeline's Library Dog's name was "Bonnie."
Fortunately, Madeline Finn meets Bonnie, a library dog. Reading out loud to Bonnie isn't so bad. When Madeline Finn gets stuck, Bonnie doesn't mind. Madeline Finn can pet her until she figures the word out.
As it turns out, it's fun to read when you're not afraid of making mistakes. Bonnie teaches Madeline Finn that it's okay to go slow. And to keep trying. And to get support from a friend.
GIVEAWAY
BEGINS September 18
ENDS October 10 @ 12:01 a.m. ET
Open to USA addresses only.
BEGINS September 18
ENDS October 10 @ 12:01 a.m. ET
Open to USA addresses only.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Peachtree Publishing to facilitate this review. Opinions are just mine, alone. I was not compensated for this review.
No one in our family has had trouble learning to read. We all love reading and books.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
1. As a child, she loved to draw koalas.
ReplyDelete2. One of her books is P Is for Princess.
3. She is fond of frogs now.
Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
That has not been a problem in our family, but I did teach my younger sister to read before she started school.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/EdnaWilliams62/status/777624563807027200 is the URL of my first tweet for entry at 17:46 on 9/18/2016. For some reason, the rafflecopter would not take my entry. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteNo struggle, and there was always help available.
ReplyDelete1. Although she never aspired to be an artist, that is how she now makes her living.
ReplyDelete2. Rudolph Shines Again
3. She adores biographies.
Very fortunately, we are good readers and have not had any problems reading.
ReplyDelete1. She has worked with Grosset & Dunlap, Scholastic, Sleeping Bear Press, and American Girl.
ReplyDelete2. She wrote the book - The Town that Fooled the British, A War of 1812 Story.
3. She loves frogs.
Yes, my son still struggles. We have a program at our local library where you can read to dogs in the summer and I've meant to get him to it but just haven't yet. He's homeschooled now and progressing, and finally enjoying reading some books (Piggie and Elephant ONLY, but that's huge...having him want to read is huge).
ReplyDeleteOne of my step-sons had a problem with his reading. We worked with him and he wanted to overcome it so much, that he picked it up very fast. Some I know are not that lucky.
ReplyDelete1. She once illustrated a sprightly group of Elves putting up Christmas decorations in the Van Heusen store, it was one of her - favorite assignments.
ReplyDelete2. Caroline American Girl book
3. She adores biographies, they can be written or a deeply moving illustrated book.
Nobody in my family....we all love to read!
ReplyDeleteNobody in my family....we all love to read!
ReplyDeleteWe've been blessed so far with children for whom reading is second nature, but I don't take that for granted as I know how hard it can be for some! Thanks for linking up this week at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com! Great to have you!
ReplyDeleteTina
I am just now finding out that a family member in her 30s has trouble. We are looking into finding help for her now.
ReplyDeleteNo one in my family has had problems with reading that I'm aware of, but it's something many people are embarrassed to admit, so I'm not sure I'd know. Also, my local library has a read-to-a-dog program for kids! One Saturday a month, they bring in quiet, snuggly, specially-trained dogs that kids can curl up with and read to. It's adorable.
ReplyDeleteMy granddaughter just started kindergarten & has begun to read on her own. It is an amazing thing to watch & is encouraged by her parents & grandparents!
ReplyDeleteMy son (now a VP in a financial services company) had a lot of challenges in kindergarten and 1st grade...slow to zip his coat, tie his shoelaces, skip, and notice the difference between lower case 'b' and 'd', I think he just needed time to mature. But although he was not a fan of reading as a child, he grew to love books...and now eats them up...and is encouraging his little girl to do the same. I love this book...and very much enjoyed your review.
ReplyDeleteVivian Kirkfield, thank you for sharing how your son has overcome his early difficulties and grown into an accomplished adult. I, too, enjoyed Madeline Finn's story and the library dogs are a fascinating trend that this story introduced me to. Loved the book, too!
DeleteI would like to win this for my son
ReplyDeleteI did not learn to read until 2nd grade.
ReplyDeleteMy wife provides interventions to students that struggle to read. These interventions make a world of difference.
ReplyDeleteNo we have not had this problem in our family
ReplyDelete1)I learned that her artwork has been in picture books, novels, cards, newspapers, posters, but not really on the fridge.
ReplyDelete2) Another book she wrote is The Town that Fooled the British, A War of 1812 Story
3) She loves telling stories.