Baseball-themed books get younger fans in the game

Sports news of any sort sails way over my head. A recent and remarkable exception is the University of South Carolina baseball team's second straight win in the College World Series. Read More

Get into reading, win prizes from library

From now until July 31, read anything (except maybe a cereal box), then hasten to your Charleston County Library or go online (www.ccpl.org), fill out a form and get entered to win prizes. Read More

Take pride in American history, heritage

Independence Day makes me think of John Lennon's song, 'Imagine.'

I understand what Lennon is saying, but I also think that children need to learn their country's history and what makes the United States unique. Read More

Tune children into music stories

When grandchildren started accumulating, I accumulated a stack of CDs featuring nursery rhymes, alphabet songs, Bible songs, and the classic music that I remember from kindergarten. Read More

Variety of choices will appeal to boys

OK, guys. Here's one for you. (Just try to overlook the fact that girls also will devour this book.) "When I Was Joe" by Keren David is a well-written, riveting, totally believable young adult novel that rockets along with nonstop action. Read More

Celebrate Old Glory with books

Flag Day in the United States commemorates the resolution by the Second Continental Congress to adopt our flag on June 14, 1777. An Act of Congress in 1949 officially established June 14 as National Flag Day. The week of June 14 is National Flag Week. Read More

Revamping the reading list

Most summer reading lists make me grit my teeth. I sympathize with the kids who have to choose from some of these lists. Read More

Books help children know about war

Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, is a federal holiday celebrated the last Monday in May to commemorate U.S. soldiers who died in military service. The first Decoration Day-type celebration was held May 1, 1865, by freed slaves in what is now Hampton Park. Read More

Titles for a discriminating 2-year-old

A certain 2-year-old boy, precious and precocious, came to stay with us for almost a week. Read More

Books explore relatively new territory

In a recent column, I was whining about the dearth of truly new material in children's picture books. Here, I'm contradicting myself and celebrating some recently published books that strike out into unexplored (relatively) territory. Read More

Old stories retold with new twists

According to some distinguished opinions, there are no new stories in the world. Our world just keeps recycling the originals. Read More

Reading to children reaps many benefits

One of my favorite days of the week is Thursday, because that's the day I volunteer in Michelle Garner's first-grade class at Whitesides Elementary. I've fallen in love with everyone in that room. Read More

Encourage children's creativity with art

'A spill. A smear. A smudge. A tear. When you think you have made a mistake, think of it as an opportunity to make something beautiful!" Read More

Lots of ways to teach kids how to save the Earth

On a perfect Earth, every day would be Earth Day. As we celebrate on April 22, (no Styrofoam, please) we acknowledge significant progress. Raising awareness is essential to more progress. Read More

Books can gently scare, entertain

True confession: I thoroughly enjoy teasing children. Read More