Rautzhan: Book that promote Imagination aids a child's intellect
Fostering a child’s imagination and intellect has always been important because an active imagination is intelligence. Our imagination and intellect allow us to see possibilities and solutions, allow us to question rather than simply accept what we are told. When we fail to use our intellect and imagination, we become victims to those who would use us as pawns.
Consider the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald when he wrote: “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless yet be determined to make them otherwise.”
Today’s reviewed books are charged with imagination. So is the child in your life. Help foster that child’s imagination with plenty of good books, plenty of play, and lots of honest interest in your child’s imaginings. Then step back and watch that child soar.
Books to Borrow
The following book is available at many public libraries.
“Parts” written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold, Dial Books, 32 pages
- Read aloud: Age 7–8 and older.
- Read yourself: Age 8 and older.
Among the endless questions children have about themselves and their world, author/artist Tedd Arnold has pinpointed some of the more delicate (and funny) concerns children have about their own bodies.
“I think it was three days ago
I first became aware-
That in my comb were caught a couple
Pieces of my hair.
I stared at them, amazed, and more
Than just a bit appalled
To think that I was only five
And starting to go bald!”
From loosing hair to peeling skin to teeth falling out, these and other very real concerns that children have are dealt with in the most hilarious manner.
For anyone who likes a good laugh and for all the children who are anxious about their physical well being, this delightful book with its comical illustrations is bound to be a winner in your home.
- Library: Algonac-Clay Library, 2011 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac
- Branch Lead: Scott Nichols
- Children’s Programming: Cindy Hartley
Choices this week: “Are You My Mother?” by P.D. Eastman; “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg; “Because of Winn-Dixie” by Kate DiCamillo
Books to Buy
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.
“Ghostlight” by Sonia Gensler, Knopf, 2015, 247 pages, $16.99 hardcover
- Read aloud: Age 8–12.
- Read yourself: Age 9–12.
Twelve-year-old Avery has loved spending her summers on her grandmother’s large farm in rural Tennessee. Over the years, she and her older brother, Blake, have spent countless hours inventing a game that consumes their imaginations, but this year, Blake has decided he is too old for such nonsense, leaving Avery hurt and alone. Fortunately, Avery meets Julian, the son of a man renting a cottage on her grandmother’s farm for the summer. Julian, having surveyed the farmland, tells Avery he wants to film a ghost story and asks for Avery’s help. The downside of the project is that Julian wants to film at Hilliard House – an abandoned family mansion where Avery’s grandmother has forbidden her to set foot in.
Entranced with the idea of making a film, Avery goes against her grandmother’s wishes, and as Avery, Julian and his younger sister explore Hilliard House, strange and frightening things begin to happen, until it becomes clear that there is an unnatural, threatening presence there. Their investigations mount, and Avery is certain she can right the situation, or can she?
A well crafted ghost story that offers just the right amount of spookiness without being overdone, along with strong threads of family, friendship, and critical thinking skills of an investigative journalist, Ghostlight is a real page-turner.
“Lizard from the Park” written and illustrated by Mark Pett, Simon & Schuster, 2015, 40 pages, $17.99 hardcover
Read aloud: Age 4–8.
Read yourself: Age 7–8.
“Like most days, Leonard walked home by himself.” One spring afternoon Leonard took a shortcut through the park and there, in darkest part, found an egg. Leonard put the egg in his backpack, took it home to his apartment, and the next morning the egg hatched and out popped a lizard.
Leonard named his new pet Buster, and the two spent all of their time together, going to all of Leonard’s favorite places in the city. With each week that passed, Buster grew at a very fast pace, and soon Leonard realized he had to disguise Buster so he wouldn’t stand out among the city crowds. And, as Buster grew and grew and grew, it seemed that Buster was less and less happy and longed for something more. Soon, Buster was too big to fit in Leonard’s room, so Leonard moved him to the roof of his building where an idea formed to remedy Buster’s situation.
A magical story perfectly complemented with endearing illustrations, Lizard from the Park is charged with imagination, compassion, empathy, and friendship.
Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children’s literature. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org