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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2003

News Release

"Books Your Kids Will Talk About!" 

New Book from the NEA Professional Library Helps Teachers, Parents and Kids Create a Buzz About Books

Washington, D.C. – With the holidays just around the corner, if you’re looking for ‘the perfect book’ to give a favorite child, Books Your Kids Will Talk About! A Guide to Children's Literature for Teachers and Parents (K-6), can make your quest easy, fun, and educational. NEA's first book for both parents and teachers, Books! is a multicultural annotated booklist that makes reading choices easier in the classroom and the family room.

Children’s literature specialists Susan Hepler and Maria Salvadore teamed up with the National Education Association’s (NEA) Professional Library to create this helpful guide to books that children will not only love to read, but talk about as well. Just as talking about a book can make reading more fun and memorable for adults, the same holds true for kids. "The thrill of talking about what you’ve read," say the authors, "is a powerful tool for learning."

Divided into 10 child-centered themes, each chapter discusses important topics, such as living in a family, going to school, making friends, making a difference, and getting through tough times. Suggested titles include old and new classics, award winners, parents' and teachers' choices, and children's favorites--a rich variety of books to tempt even the most reluctant readers.

Much more than an annotated bibliography, Books Your Kids Will Talk About! also features conversations with authors and illustrators and contains tips from teachers and parents on making reading for pleasure a part of every child’s life. Alison Ward, a Wilmington, N.C., assistant principal, for example, writes about “Bus Buddies,” a reading program that teamed older students with younger ones on a once-rowdy school bus.  The result: no more discipline problems on the school bus, and increased reading skills, to boot.

Regie Routman, reading and writing specialist and author of Reading Essentials, says " . . . what the authors manage to do brilliantly is distill the essence of a well-selected book, tie it to an important theme, and in one sentence give great suggestions for reading, writing, discussing, and extending the book. I love the way this book looks and is arranged--lovely graphics and easy-to-access topics. . . This is just the book teachers, parents, and librarians need!"

Books Your Kids Will Talk About! is available only through the NEA Professional Library and can be ordered online at www.nea.org/books or by calling 1-800-229-4200. Bulk discounts are available.

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.