SHARE:  
Join Our Email List
Quote #20
"It's called READING. It's how people install new software into their brains."
November 7, 2017               Twenty-Eighth Edition
Greetings!

I love reading. REALLY love reading. There are so many good things about reading and books that I could take up several newsletters with the subject. I think it is an important part of life and teaches so many valuable life skills.

Most of my books have been hunted out in used bookstores and sales and are generally unavailable or hard to find, but I've put together a list here for you of the ones that I like for children with RAD and that are available at most bookstores or on Amazon.

If you have found some great books for our kiddos to read I would love to hear about them and add them to a future list!

Enjoy!

With love, Karen
I like to give children with RAD books to read that will teach them life lessons or model healthy behaviours. Our kiddos need good role models, even in the books they read!

Reading helps with:
  • attention span
  • focus
  • spelling
  • vocabulary
  • fine motor skills
  • hand-eye coordination
  • preparation for school/job
  • life lessons (depending on the book)



I also like to have a set of questions about each book to ask the child when they have finished reading it. They will often 'read' a book but not have any idea what happened in it (either because they didn't actually read it, or because they lack reading comprehension). If they can't answer the questions properly I have them read the book over again. This helps with reading comprehension and also teaches them perseverance.
Series

Little House on the Prairie Series ; Laura Ingles Wilder; books 1-9

Little Britches Series ; Ralph Moody; books 1-8

In Grandma's Attic Series ; Arleta Richardson; books 1-10
Readers

Pathway Readers
  • Grd.1: First Steps, Days Go By, More Days Go By
  • Grd.2: Busy Times, More Busy Times, Climbing Higher
  • Grd.3: New Friends, More New Friends
  • Grd.4: Building Our Lives
  • Grd.5: Living Together
  • Grd.6: Step By Step
  • Grd.7: Seeking True Values

These readers are full of short stories and poems that teach life lessons and values. The younger grade books are about a family living on a farm. (Available from Living Waters book and toy store; lwcb.org or 1-877-595-7585)

Copp-Clark Readers ; Short stories about everyday life, teaching values and sharing adventures. (Out of print but available on Amazon)

Mr. Mugs Readers
  • Ginn Integrated Language Program; 13 books
  • Light and Life Reading Series; 17 books
  • Sharing Points in Language Arts; 18 books

I don't own all of Mr. Mugs books, but the ones I have I love! Mr. Mugs is an Old English Sheepdog who lives with two children, Pat and Curt. The books are ideal for grades 1-4. (Available on Amazon)
Books

Owls in the Family ; Farley Mowat

The Dog Who Wouldn't Be ; Farley Mowat

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm ; Kate Douglas Wiggin 

ValueTales ; Each of the 43 books gives a simplified and fictionalized biography of a historical figure as an allegory, illustrating the value of a positive characteristic. Each volume has a brightly colored cartoon of the figure, along with some anthropomorphic item or animal that would narrate the subject's life throughout the book. (Out of print but available on Amazon for $0.01-$3.99 each)

All books by Beatrix Potter (short animal tales)

All books by Thorton W. Burgess (short animal tales)

A.A. Milne b ooks (The originals, NOT the Disney versions!)
  • Winnie-the-Pooh
  • The House at Pooh Corner
  • When We Were Very Young (book of poems)
  • Now We Are Six (book of poems)
Seek & Find Books

These are also great ones to use with any age child. It's a great (and fun!) brain work out! Doing these books with your child is also a good way to spend some time together.

There are several series of these books that I like:

  • Seek and Find
  • I Spy
  • Where's Waldo? (Some of the Waldo books have gross/scary/violent pictures, so depending on your child you might want to be a bit selective)
**P.S! There are a few things to be aware of when you are choosing books for children that are working on healing their brains and hearts:
  • NO fantasy books (our kiddos use fantasy to escape from real life and avoid relationships)
  • NO violence; warfare/fighting etc.
  • NO scary books; deaths, kidnappings, getting lost, losing parents, etc.
  • NO books promoting behaviours you wouldn't want you child displaying (Pippi Longstocking and Ramona for example, they are disrespectful, misbehaved and annoying to those around them. Not good role models!)
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE."  Jeremiah 29:11