NOTHING TO DO BUT READ IDEAS TO KEEP KIDS IN A LITERARY FRAME OF MIND - The Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)

IN HIS poem 'Summer Song' John Ciardi asks, 'Guess if summerlasts too long?' Many parents would answer yes after hearing theirchildren whine, 'I'm bored, there's nothing to do.'

Finding ways to keep kids happy is not always easy. One of thebest ways is to channel their energy into reading. How nice that itrequires no electrical outlet, can be done at any time, any place,and provides many happy accidents of discovery.

Planning before school ends may give students a chance toborrow books from their school library.

Encourage kids to form a Neighborhood Summer Reading Club wherebooks can be discussed, recommended and exchanged. Research hasshown that reading becomes more meaningful for kids when they cantalk about what they've read, especially to an interested adult. Soif a parent could be involved in some of these meetings, all thebetter.

A pajama party where everyone reads a part of his/her favoritebook would be fun. Sunny-day meetings under a shade tree orrainy-day basement meetings add variety. Choose a child who likesto organize as the president. The vice president could keep trackof meeting times and places. The secretary could keep notes onbooks exchanged and hours when the public library is open. Theseactivities would provide structure to the days and weeks, as wellas something to look forward to.

A colorful folder for each member with pad and pencil enclosedwould be the only supplies needed. To encourage continuity, aparent might consider getting T-shirts printed with the club'sname. A party at summer's end could include skits of favorite booksor characters. Younger brothers and sisters could be invited andinspired. Admission could be a hand-made bookmark to be exchangedat party's end. Imagination would be rewarded and children woulddiscover that reading can be fun!

What to read? The books waiting for children provide an endlessvariety of choices. As a member of the 1992 Newbery MedalCommittee, I was privileged to judge many outstanding books forchildren published during 1991. The Gold Medal winner -- for themost distinguished contribution to American literature for children-- was 'Shiloh' by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (ages 8 and up). This ismore than a book about an 11-year-old boy and his dog, Appalachia.The theme also skillfully addresses the concepts of honesty andcommitment.

Two honor books also were chosen. The first is 'Nothing But theTruth' (ages 12 and up), a documentary novel by Avi that is apowerful, realistic story dealing with misconceptions, rumor andgossip. The other honor book -- 'The Wright Brothers: How TheyInvented the Airplane' by Russell Freedman (ages 10 and up) -- is avery personal biography with original photos of Wilbur and OrvilleWright.

So many other new books with timely themes of homelessness, thedangers of drugs, prejudice and environmental issues provideinsights into the real world.

Yesterday's world is presented, even for the youngest, asCharles Lindbergh flies off the pages of 'Flight' (ages 5 and up).Titles like 'The Remarkable Voyages of Captain Cook' (11 and up),'Prairie Visions' (10 and up) and 'Now Is Your Time' (12 and up),winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, make history come alive.

Other outstanding historical fiction can be found in the CivilWar story 'Jayhawker' (11 and up) and in Katherine Paterson'smasterful tale of 'Lyddie' (12 and up), about a factory worker inMassachusetts in the 1840s. A child can go along on ChristopherColumbus' journey by sharing in 'Pedro's Journal' (8 and up), thediary of a young cabin boy aboard the Santa Maria.

The entertaining fantasy 'Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher' (8and up) will bring laughter and maybe tears to readers. 'Wanted . .. Mud Blossom' (8 and up) is a hilarious dog story, and for sportsfans ages 8 and older, there is 'Soccer Shock' and 'Finding BuckMcHenry' (baseball).

The delicious sights and sounds of poetry are found in 'Pish,Posh, Said Hieronymus Bosch' by Nancy Willard, with fantasticillustrations by the Dillons (all ages), and 'In for Winter, Outfor Spring' by Arnold Adoff, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, whichcelebrates family life throughout the cycle of seasons (recommendedfor children 4 to 8).

These books should be gobbled up, chewed and digested toprovide the energy for enjoying a whole summer with no time towhine, 'There's nothing to do!'

Other outstanding new books:

AGES 5 AND UP:

'D Is for Dolphin' by Cami Berg

'Night Tree' by Eve Bunting

'Living With Dinosaurs' by Patricia Lauber

'Rats on the Roof' by James Marshall

'The Discovery of the Americas' by Betsy and Guilio Maestro

Vanishing Culture Series -- 'Himalaya,' 'Sahara' by Jan Reynolds

'Appalachia, the Voices of Sleeping Birds' by Cynthia Rylant

'Larger Than Life: The Adventures of American Legendary Heroes'by Robert San Souci

'The Legend of William Tell' by Terry Small

'Go Fish' by Mary Stolz

'Hark! A Christmas Sampler' by Jane Yolen

POETRY:

'Winter Pennies' by N.M.Bodecker

'The Kite That Braved Old Orchard Beach' by X.J. Kennedy

'I'm Going to Pet a Worm Today' by Constance Levy

AGES 10 AND UP:

'Wings' by Bill Britain

'Oren Bell' by Barbara Hood Burgess

'Strider' by Beverly Cleary

'Chingis Khan' by Demi

'Hunt for the Last Cat' by Justin Denzel

'Animal Architecture' by Jennifer Owings Dewey

'Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt' by Jean Fritz

'Pueblo Storyteller' by Hoyt-Goldsmith

'Double Trouble Squared' by Kathryn Lasky

'Summer of Fire' by Patricia Lauber

'Amazon' by Peter Lourie

'Journey' by Patricia Mac-Lachlan

'The Great Eggspectations of Lila Fenwick' by Kate McMullen

'Soccer Shock' by Donna J. Napoli

'Wild Voices' by Drew Nelson

'American Tall Tales' by Mary Pope Osborne

'The Cookcamp' by Gary Paulsen

'Tails of the Bronx' by Jill Pinkwater

'Grandpa's Mountain' by Carolyn Reeder

'Children of the Fire' by Harriet Gillem Robinet

'The Gift of the Girl Who Couldn't Hear' by Susan Shreve

'Finding Buck McHenry' by Alfred Slote

'Thrashin' Time' by David Weitzman

'George Washington's Socks' by Elvira Woodruff

'Searching for Dragons' by Patricia C. Wrede

'The Mozart Season' by Virginia Euwer Wolff

'The Star Fisher' by Laurence Yep

'Wizard's Hall' by Jane Yolen

'The Fortuneteller in 5B' by Jane Breskin Zalben

YOUNG ADULT:

'Young Joan' by Barbara Dana

'The Borning Room' by Paul Fleischman

'The Truth About Unicorns' by James Giblin

'The Painter's Eye: Learning to Look at Contemporary AmericanArt' by Sandra Jordan

'I Am Regina' by Sally Keehn

'Goldclimbers' by Nancy Luenn

'The Striped Ships' by Eloise McGraw

'Song of the Gargoyle' by Zilpha Snyder

'Year of the Impossible Goodbyes' by Nyul Choi Sook

'The Island and the Ring' by Laura C. Stevenson

'The Weirdo' by Theodore Taylor

'User Unfriendly' by Vivian VanVelde. These books should be gobbled up, chewed and digested to providethe energy for enjoying a whole summer with no time to whine,'There's nothing to do!'