Stories and Short Poems for Kids: A Family Reading Night

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Reading stories and short poems for kids aloud to your children is a critical step in teaching your child to read, but it has a wonderful hidden benefit as well. When you take the time to read to your children you are taking time with them, with no distractions, no cell phone, no computer, no TV. You are showing them that they are an important priority for you. They will love that special time with you, no matter their age.

Many of our read aloud story times have led to some great heart to heart discussions. Reading stories together gives us time to slow down and a reason to talk about things that maybe we wouldn't on a day to day basis. Stories are a wonderful way to teach life lessons, reinforce good choices, model positive morals and open the door to talk about life's difficulties such as sickness or death, dating or peer pressure.

As your children get older and you move into more challenging reading material they will benefit greatly from the discussions that will arise during your story time. Keep communication lines open with your children by simply reading to them. The relationship and communication that your family read aloud times will establish can carry you through what could be some very tough teenage years.

There is simply something magical about stories. We are all drawn into them, no matter our age. Sometimes my older child doesn't feel like joining in our reading times because he's too busy listening to music or on his iPod, but inevitably, as we get into the story he is drawn into the room from wherever he was. He can't help but listen - and usually sits down with us to hear the rest of the story.

Institute a story night in your home this week, and if your older children roll their eyes at you just smile, they will learn to love that special time with you.

Kristina Harding has more tips on establishing a family reading night using stories and short poems for kids and more short story fun at Short-Story-Time.com.

The Destiny of Natalie X by William Boyd

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An aspect of William Boyd's writing that always seems close to the surface of his work is an examination of selfishness. At the very least, his characters fulfil their self-interest. One recalls how the events of The New Confessions or Any Human Heart unfold, how in both cases the central character's aspirations are forever paramount, often to the detriment of those he proclaims to love. But it is probably in his short stories that this theme is best illustrated and his collection, The Tragedy Of Natalie X, does precisely that.

Two of the stories, The Dream Lover and Alpes Maritimes, in just twenty pages each, pursue there ideas in depth. In the first, a student in a south of France university is envious of the obvious wealth and easy-going lifestyle of an American fellow student. This well-heeled American splashes money around, advertises his talents and gets the girls - at least in theory. He even has a desirable Afghan coat. By the end of the story, the narrator has utterly reversed the roles. Not only does he come out on top financially, he goes off with the girl, and even gets the coat. In addition, he has benefited from the other's profligacy along the way.

Another side of selfishness is expressed via responses to temptation, specifically to the proximity of opportunity. Even a man in a stable, happy relationship cannot avoid speculating what a taste of something different might bring. The possibility that it might sour everything else is, of course, never contemplated. In Alpes Maritimes a lusty young man just cannot resist the idea that grass is greener on the other side of the twins. His partner is one twin, his desire might be the other. He years to sample what he seems to see as the merchandise.

So while it is in progress, William Boyd suggests that life may be a neurotic search for ever greater fulfilment, even if that is only imagined. Future promise, it seems, always surpasses experience. When it is ended, however, life seems inconsequential. We live, we love, we dream, we die. And we are soon forgotten, even the turbulence of the journey is soon smoothed. Those with whom we have shared our lives may remember us for a while, but even memory, it seems, is founded in self-interest. Perhaps memory of a deceased is the livings' mechanism of coping with their own future.

The Destiny Of Natalie X, the title story, deals with the making of a film. It addresses pretence and the inflation of egos. But it also makes us think of the mundane and how, for every individual, it remains special, the only possible existence.

As ever, William Boyd uses many different forms to express his ideas. For some readers this variability may get in the way of appreciation of the material. But rest assured, the material is worth the challenge and, if it forms a barrier, then the stories are worth several readings until their challenges are overcome.

Philip Spires
Author of Mission and A Fool's Knot, African novels set in Kenya
http://www.philipspires.co.uk/
Migwani is a small town in Kitui District, eastern Kenya. My books examine how social and economic change impact on the lives of ordinary people. They portray characters whose identity is bound up with their home area, but whose futures are determined by the globalized world in which they live.

In Pineapples

Emotional roller coaster ride to take you, this is a story full of sweet ironies. He related failures and triumphs; Joy white; And loss. It is a hell of a story they were humble beginnings due to troubles, Asian to try another country together with his family. Transmitting sound is written with a passion play gentle words going beyond the intro narration. It marks the character speak for itself-complete with some hints of humor, anti-character flaws. And Yes, the story is simply fascinating as its title.

Narrator takes a seat to tell his story. Narrator starts an hour past his family to Hawaii from the Philippines in 1946. He was introduced in the context of the war in the Philippines suffers from hunger and unemployment in most of the families. For these same reasons, the family was forced to leave the Asian migrant and start a new life in Hawaii. But everything is not as easy as it looks. How many brothers are perceived by the circumstances of misery, you must stay behind. A reunion with his brother at the last, however, hell they are still more story of longing that is ultimately, happiness and love.

Life in Hawaii was not easy. Successes came through hard work and perseverance. Sometimes, it is very difficult to learn, too. The story also reveals high school life spent in primary school and high school. There he learned his paper route business, which led him to be the acquisition of second-hand and as trustee for casual cycling. The story will fall into his life after his shared with friends and adventures elementary Wilson Mando, Randy.

The story is moss12 from the minds of a person responsible for the creation of a place as. If you have already read the last adventures of it, you know that he is Asian-American, now live in Hawaii. This chronicle the experiences challenged to avoid from being hanged from his memory. He came with a collection of stories and to clues about his life. Tagged as "talk story" on the island of Hawaii, this narrative is teeming with enthusiasm and on the life of fulfillment. In addition, he also gives away that references this papaya, mango trees, Kauai Surf and Hawaii that may have you enjoyed from stories. With so much originality, voice, each chapter is an irresistibly less boredom of nationalist-autobiographical account.

She take the reality and fictional – something surely enjoy between cold weather, a hot cup of tea. But like what the author said in the introduction, if you don't know how to listen, then this book is not for you.

Pineapple Sam originated as a fictional character from the mind of Ismael Tabalno Hawaii. Is a person of Asian decided to "write the story ago as when he retired.
I loved her "to talk to Sam pineapple story" when they say in many of his friends and family, now you still hear or read about his adventures.
Http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/stabalno

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

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Book Review: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The literary world is incomplete without mention of Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary fictional character Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes ruled the minds of audiences in a manner no other literary character has been able to do and his adventures continues to awe, frighten and excite us till this very day.

The author wrote several novels featuring Holmes but it was his short stories that turned into a raving success among the readers. Of the five collections that was published, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" published in 1892 was the first and the most popular. It contains all except one of the five all-time most popular short stories in the Sherlock Holmes catalogue (A Scandal in Bohemia, The Red-headed League, The Blue Carbuncle, and The Speckled Band), as well as some other gems like The Five Orange Pips.

These stories are considered to be among the finest ever written in the genre of mystery and detective literature and for those who wish to taste the work of Arthur Conan Doyle for the first time, it would be a great idea to start with these stories first.

Highlights

A Scandal in Bohemia

This is the very first story featured in the collection and one of the best. The story involves Holmes rare failure at finding the culprit. He is hired by the kingdom of Bohemia to regain a scandalous photograph of the future king of the kingdom from the beautiful Irene Adler. After going through a plethora of disguises and detective work, Holmes is outwitted by the lady in an intriguing fashion.

The Red-headed League

Generally regarded as all-time second best Sherlock Holmes story, this bizarre tale features a pawnbroker who is paid money to join the mysterious red-headed league, as part of an ingenious scheme to rob a bank.

Full list of the short stories in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

A Scandal in BohemiaThe Red-Headed LeagueA Case of IdentityThe Boscombe Valley MysteryThe Five Orange PipsThe Man with the Twisted LipThe Adventure of the Blue CarbuncleThe Adventure of the Speckled BandThe Adventure of the Engineer's ThumbThe Adventure of the Noble BachelorThe Adventure of the Beryl CoronetThe Adventure of the Copper Beeches

Why do i like The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes so much? Well the exquisite detail of the characters make them real rather than made up, the sometimes unbelievable (in a good way) stories and predicaments within the plots are utterly amazing.

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Christmas Short Stories: Reading Holiday Favorites Together

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Ready to start a fun new tradition using great Christmas short stories?

Most families have a Christmas tradition or two that they look forward to sharing together year after year. Traditions draw us closer together and allow us to slow down and enjoy the Christmas season; they're also something special to share with future generations. If you don't have a Christmas tradition, try reading Christmas short stories together this year! It's free, meaningful and gives a slight pause to each day of the hustle and bustle that comes with the holiday season.

Begin on December 1st and read a story each night until Christmas. You may want to plan ahead by having each family member pick out several of their favorite holiday stories to have on hand. You can borrow some from your local library, download them to your iPod (many can be downloaded free), or listen to audio stories. If you are stuck and don't have enough favorites for each day, explore some new stories. We've created a list below to help get you started.

Make story time special by turning off the TV, computers, and iPods after dinner each night (unless of course, you've downloaded your Christmas short stories to your iPod). Light some candles, or gather the family around the lit Christmas tree. Make some apple cider or hot chocolate and have a small treat like a Christmas sugar cookie or shortbread to go with your hot drink. Then settle in to read, or listen to, your Christmas short stories.

You'll be surprised at how much your family will look forward to this quiet time with each other and you may even have some wonderful conversations during or after reading these timeless Christmas short stories together. Story time is also a great way to wind everyone down before bed, both young and old.

Make this Christmas special and begin a tradition that your family will look forward to each year. Your kids will remember this tradition and may even pass it on to their kids someday!

Here are some stories to get you started. You can find many of these free online.
The Gift, by R. Louis CarrollThe Story of BabouskaT'was the Night Before Christmas, by Clement C. MooreThe Christmas Story, the Bible - Matthew Chapters 1&2The Gift of the Magi, by O. HenryThe Little Match Seller, by Hans Christian AndersonThe Selfish Giant, by Oscar WildeThe Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, by L. Frank BaumA Kidnapped Santa Claus, by L. Frank BaumThe Cobbler and His Guest, by Anne McCollum BoylesThe Story of the Candy Cane

We hope that you enjoy reading them and continue the tradition for years to come.

Kristina Harding shares more Christmas short stories and more short story fun on her site at Short-Story-Time.com.

"Mute," by Stephen King (A Review)

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I finally found a well written, short story with a good ending by Stephen King, a little too many cuss words for my liking, but not bad; "Mute," from the book "Just after Sunset." In the process I found out he was seventeen-days older than I. Somehow I'm not surprised.

Anyhow let me just make a few comments, and be done with it, it was a challenge to find one with a skilful narration - no, let me, correct that, with a tri-focal, form of narration, seldom seen. His terminology in dealing with a deaf-mute is wise, not belittling. His vocabulary is a little higher in this story than in the several previous short stories I've read out of "Just after Sunset," and "Night Shift." From a forth grade level to a fifth grade level, an improvement, although he shows his limitation with his simple unneeded cussing. I was brought up in rough neighborhood in Minnesota, and he does more cussing per short story, than I heard in a week long drunk. Do people really enjoy reading cuss words, evidently there is a group out there that must love them, I wonder if they use them themselves around the household, if so, no wonder America is going to hell in a paper bag.

The other thing I wonder about reading his stories lately, and I'm really not that much a fan of his-and have only read a few books of his, and threw them away some fifteen-years ago, finding only one well written, out of three or four, then I gave up, anyhow, I prefer H.P., and Stoker, and Clark A. Smith, and Howard, but what I notice with King, and even in "Mute," he uses the priesthood, Jesus, the words sin, the church and its language, and all that kind of sacred talk quite a lot, as if he is himself trying to make a connection with the incarnate God-man, as if he's trying to tempt him with his blasphemous stories. There is no doubt in my mind, he is very well aware of what he is doing, and perhaps has some childhood needles still in him because of Jesus being thrown at him, or shoved down his throat. Whatever the case, he's surely not writing for posterity, or to get into the gates of heaven, but I suppose at an income of $173-million, that would even tempt the best of men.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

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Book Review: Alice's Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Caroll

Lewis Carrol phenomenally successful work "Alice In Wonderland", is all about Alice falling down a rabbit hole and then coming back to the surface. The intriguing factor of the novel is what happens to her between this interval of time. The novel has been a favourite among all those who love fantasy filled stories and almost every kindergarten kid grows up listening to dear Alice's adventures.

Now unlike everyone else, I never really got to read the story upto now. It was my intention to read it a long time ago but the factor of procrastination delayed the inevitable upto this date. After finally tasting Lewis Carrol classic work I must admit, I am highly taken in with Alice, the world she falls into through the rabbit hole and everything that happens to her from the Giant Queen to the talking tortoise.

This book is definitely going to find a place of honour in my reading shelf and will be read again in the near future when I need a dose of fantasy and myth.

The story of "Alice in Wonderland" begins with Alice spending some quiet time in the meadows when she notices a rabbit. The unusual thing about this long eared mammal was that it was wearing a suit and a had a watch as well. She follows it into a rabbit hole where she enters the realm of another world where bizarre is normal, animals converse in a knowledgeable manner and everything that can be mentioned in the breath of being a fantasy is real.

There are talking cats that disappear all leaving only their grin behind as a haunting reminder of their presence, sneezing babies that turn into pigs and smoking caterpillars. The queen of the land is a cranky creature who does not hesitate before ordering someone to be decapitated while there are door mice with sleeping disorders who hang out with nutty hatters and crazy hares. Alice drinks a potion which turns her into a giant and then also into a midget.

All of this may sound like gibberish but the wonderful thing about it, is that it is nonsense that actually starts making sense once you start reading the book. So go out to the nearest bookstore and pick yourselves a copy of "Alice the Wonderland" and trust me, it will be worth the trip.

The difference between the literal and actual meanings of words, expressions and everyday sayings truly opens your mind, Alice's adventures in wonderland is a clever and fascinating book that i will no doubt read many times again.

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