From: Larry Longard <larrylongard>
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:03:56 -0600

I'm writing more as a new parent than a librarian (Still a student anyway).

I have a 1-year-old daughter, Maya, and would like to allow her to explore and learn on her own in the ways you've described. However, we live in a small house with a small yard in the city. I figure on gardening with Maya. My wife, Patty, plans to make an art corner in the basement. But isn't that planning for her as well? How do you suggest we go about encouraging Maya to use her imagination?

As for reading aloud, I love to do that. I've read books aloud to Patty for years. Our favorites by far have been the two fairy tales by Kate DiCamillo, Tale of Despereaux and Edward Tulane. I read to Maya of course. And I'm going to plug my blog, which is a little frightening, this being the first time I've mentioned it to real librarians. It's at http://mayareads.blogspot.com. I'd love some critiques. I look in on other librarians' blogs and think my reviewing could use a little work. I've looked around for other reviewers I like, such as Roger Sutton and Helen Cooper. I've found Sutton's blog. Does Cooper have one that anyone knows of?

Please offer any tips you have. My email is larrylongard at gmail.com.

Thanks so much,

Larry
Received on Thu 28 Feb 2008 06:03:56 PM CST