Staff Picks: Kids

As you might expect, we at Arlington Reads love to see you and your little ones exploring the library shelves and taking home an armful of books to enjoy together. We know that you are your child’s first, most important teacher, and that reading to your child often helps him become an enthusiastic lifelong learner. But we also understand the value of play! According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, “Play is an important vehicle for developing self-regulation as well as for promoting language, cognition, and social competence… Children of all ages love to play, and it gives them opportunities to develop physical competence and enjoyment of the outdoors, understand and make sense of their world, interact with others, express and control emotions, develop their symbolic and problem-solving abilities, and practice emerging skills. Research shows the links between play and foundational capacities such as memory, self-regulation, oral language abilities, social skills, and success in school.”

Maintaining a fresh supply of engaging, age-appropriate toys doesn’t have to be a financial burden; the library can help! You know we have books and DVDs, but did you know that your library also has Read It Again! Kits? Each include a story and one or more props (maybe a puppet or some other related toy), all ready for some fun and meaningful play! Call to see what’s available near you, or next time you’re visiting the library, ask the children’s services staff. 

~Dezra Loving

Arlington Reads AmeriCorps VISTA

The typically boisterous students were unusually quiet and focused as they watched “How to Train Your Dragon” while munching on delicious snacks. On Wednesday, December 7^thand Thursday, December 8^th the afterschool program coordinators, Kim Tran and Himani Reddy, celebrated the last two days of Learning Zone with all of their students and volunteers.

The celebration was hosted to thank 23 enthusiastic volunteers who have dedicated an estimated 4,680 contact hours to assisting children from first through third grade in homework, completing creative writing assignments, reading and playing educational games. Learning Zone student Jorge Acosta, a 3^rdgrade student, has exclaimed he has achieved his first “100” on a reading test.  “I am very proud of how well the kids are doing and how much they have improved!” exclaimed Judy Yang, a volunteer from Sam Houston High School.

A seemingly shy 3^rdgrade student, Anelsy Salgado, was partnered with her tutor Richard Watkins. Richard diligently assisted her in completing her reading homework, and creative writing assignments. Richard and Anelsy brainstormed and wrote their opinions about Halloween, Thanksgiving and what type of superpowers they wish they could acquire. After weeks of one-on-one tutoring, Anelsy has become talkative and is raising her hand to participate in all of the educational activities.

Students received books and prizes during the Fall 2011 celebration. The books were donated from different organizations and were given to the students to encourage reading throughout the winter break. This academic semester 30 tutors have served a total of 28 students at the Hugh Smith Recreation Center. In order to serve more students in Spring 2011, the afterschool program is reaching out towards more students and volunteers who can dedicate their time towards increasing youth literacy in Arlington! To get involved please contact himani.reddy@arlingtontx.govor (817) 460-2727.

There is such an amazing amount of parenting advice books out there, where are parents supposed to begin? Tried and true, or new? I know that I like to read the older books, but I also like to get a current perspective on parenting. With kids ranged from 9 months to 16 years old, I can almost use all the parenting books out there too!

Good Enough Mother is not a how-to book. It's more like a memoir of celebrity news anchor and commentator, René Syler. I like this book because it doesn't make me feel like a lazy mom. We tell our kids no one is perfect, and then we expect ourselves to be. This book gives us advice on what really matters--love, time and support.

Rene is continuing the message on her Good Enough Mother website where she writes an advice blog and let's other mothers speak their minds.

Other books you might enjoy

4 Stars - Great. Definitely Worth It.

FYI: This review is written from the point of a PA student, a healthcare professional.

This morning I finished this book. It is a less popular/main stream book than I normally am drawn to. However, the book was very interesting/applicable to me.

The book is a nonfiction investigation into the life for a family of Hmong refugees living in Southern california who have a daughter with Epilepsy and the doctors that are trying to cure this little girl of her disease. The book is about cultural miscommunication/ Eastern medicine vs. Western medicine.

Being in the medical field sometimes I feel pressure to be God. I don't think I am alone in this feeling, as evidence by Lia's Doctors in the book. We feel it is our job to cure, to heal, to know all the answers. But medicine like anything else is often times not black and white. Solutions to problems can be problems themselves. Lives are precious, but sometimes in an effort to save medical intervention can make things worse.

The book is a beautiful complete look into the lives of the doctors, nurses, social workers, and family involved. As a healthcare provider it was wonderful to read. Medical Education in this country teaches us to treat diseases, teaching us pathopysiology to explain to our patients how diseases affect our bodies and how the medicines we will use will restore new order. However, how does this translate to a culture where Epilepsy, a condition that called in Hmong is "The spirit catches you and you fall down," is caused by lossing your soul to an evil spirit.

Medicine focuses on life, preservation of life, sometimes at the expense of dignity. Not once was I ever taught about any treatments that heal a soul. Western medicine preserves life, there are many cases where without it people: life, soul and all would expire. However, I think most of us would agree there is more to life than just an EEG or EKG reading. This book is a beautiful, mind bending, heart wrenching look into these struggles. For health care professionals who deal with this everyday. It is an invitation to look over these tough things again. For people next in line to read the book, hopefully it is a glimpse into what I struggle with during my 9-5 life.. or more like 5:30-6 life. Things that sometimes you shut out as you come home because the burden is too great.

Thank you to Cynthia F. for such a heart felt review. Keep reading!