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Book Smart

The successful, motivated reader.

Motivation
Social Stories: How Children Build Perspective-Taking Skills

Jamie Zibulsky Ph.D. on May 21, 2018

When a child acts unkind, we ask, “How would you feel if someone did that to you?” That's because it's an easier question to answer than "How do you think you made him feel?"

When a child acts unkind, we ask, “How would you feel if someone did that to you?” That's because it's an easier question to answer than "How do you think you made him feel?"

Environment
Why Should Kids Celebrate Earth Day?

Jamie Zibulsky Ph.D. on April 18, 2018

As Earth Day approaches, here are some books that can help your children celebrate the world around us and think about how to be a gentle guardian of its resources.

As Earth Day approaches, here are some books that can help your children celebrate the world around us and think about how to be a gentle guardian of its resources.

Sport and Competition
Can Children Benefit from Reading E-books?

Jamie Zibulsky Ph.D. on October 21, 2015

As younger generations do more and more of their reading online and on electronic devices, one of the most common questions I hear from parents during our reading workshops is some variation of “should I let my kid read on my iPad?” There is not yet a great or conclusive body of evidence out there to answer the question, but some recent studies shed light on the issue.

As younger generations do more and more of their reading online and on electronic devices, one of the most common questions I hear from parents during our reading workshops is some variation of “should I let my kid read on my iPad?” There is not yet a great or conclusive body of evidence out there to answer the question, but some recent studies shed light on the issue.

Play
How Do Children Learn to Recognize Print?

Jamie Zibulsky Ph.D. on October 6, 2015

My fourteen-month-old son, Henry, has just started to recognize his name in print, which feels like an amazing milestone to me. Here’s how it happened.

My fourteen-month-old son, Henry, has just started to recognize his name in print, which feels like an amazing milestone to me. Here’s how it happened.

Play
Understanding the School-to-Prison Pipeline

Jamie Zibulsky Ph.D. on September 16, 2015

At first, when I would look through the school records of a troubled 15-year-old and see notes on his report cards as far back as kindergarten that said, “Please be sure to practice reading at home every night,” I would feel like a clever detective. Over time though, I realized that almost every student I was working with had notes like that in their school files.

At first, when I would look through the school records of a troubled 15-year-old and see notes on his report cards as far back as kindergarten that said, “Please be sure to practice reading at home every night,” I would feel like a clever detective. Over time though, I realized that almost every student I was working with had notes like that in their school files.

Friends
Parent Involvement in Schools

Jamie Zibulsky Ph.D. on September 9, 2015

No one disputes that it is a good thing to have parents who are actively involved in their children's schooling, but there are many obstacles that can make showing up tough. Schools could do a better job of engaging parents if they thought about those obstacles when planning events and programs.

No one disputes that it is a good thing to have parents who are actively involved in their children's schooling, but there are many obstacles that can make showing up tough. Schools could do a better job of engaging parents if they thought about those obstacles when planning events and programs.

Stress
How To Enjoy Back-to-School Reading Time With Your Kids

Jamie Zibulsky Ph.D. on September 1, 2015

Carving out time each day for a shared reading routine sounds wonderful in the abstract, but it can be challenging to do, for many reasons. So what’s a parent to do? Here are some tips that may help you!

Carving out time each day for a shared reading routine sounds wonderful in the abstract, but it can be challenging to do, for many reasons. So what’s a parent to do? Here are some tips that may help you!

Attention
What We Like About Stories

Jamie Zibulsky Ph.D. on August 26, 2015

Two of the characteristics of stories that are most important to us as readers or audience members may seem contradictory: we like surprises, but we also like predictability. Children also value these same elements in books, even from a young age.

Two of the characteristics of stories that are most important to us as readers or audience members may seem contradictory: we like surprises, but we also like predictability. Children also value these same elements in books, even from a young age.

Fantasies
Early Reading Adventures

Jamie Zibulsky Ph.D. on August 19, 2015

The last time I posted – slightly over a year ago – I was beginning a quiet summer and looking forward to a chance to catch up on my own fiction reading. Less than six weeks later, my husband and I were lucky enough to adopt a newborn baby boy, and my journey as a book smart parent began. I’ve had an incredibly fun year “practicing what I preach” with Henry.

The last time I posted – slightly over a year ago – I was beginning a quiet summer and looking forward to a chance to catch up on my own fiction reading. Less than six weeks later, my husband and I were lucky enough to adopt a newborn baby boy, and my journey as a book smart parent began. I’ve had an incredibly fun year “practicing what I preach” with Henry.

Memory
What Parents Need to Know About Shared Reading

Jamie Zibulsky Ph.D. on June 26, 2014

People often assume that parents who aren’t regularly reading with their children chose not to do so, but that is rarely the case – these parents generally lack the time, knowledge, and resources to engage in regular reading, and I am really hopeful that this week's collaborative effort by some big players in reading will help that change.

People often assume that parents who aren’t regularly reading with their children chose not to do so, but that is rarely the case – these parents generally lack the time, knowledge, and resources to engage in regular reading, and I am really hopeful that this week's collaborative effort by some big players in reading will help that change.

Education
The Exposure Gap: Connecting the Dots

Jamie Zibulsky Ph.D. on February 6, 2014

What we call an achievement gap truly begins as an exposure gap. By shifting our focus, we can provide all children with positive role models, a wide variety of books and conversations, and the many other essentials of early education.

What we call an achievement gap truly begins as an exposure gap. By shifting our focus, we can provide all children with positive role models, a wide variety of books and conversations, and the many other essentials of early education.

Cognition
How Do We Help Children Identify as Readers?

Jamie Zibulsky Ph.D. on January 28, 2014

Children first learn to read on their parents’ laps, and parents serve as their guides to the world of books. For many years of a child’s development, reading is highly interactive. How can parents use this time to help children identify as readers?

Children first learn to read on their parents’ laps, and parents serve as their guides to the world of books. For many years of a child’s development, reading is highly interactive. How can parents use this time to help children identify as readers?

Child Development
The Purpose of Reading: Seeking the Why

Jamie Zibulsky Ph.D. on November 26, 2013

Even for (and perhaps especially for) children, the world is an uncertain place. But we all seek comfort from knowing that people endure difficult times, and stories and memoirs are often testaments to the capacity that humans have for persevering and remaining hopeful. One of the reasons we read narratives about other people is to learn from a protagonist's struggles.

Even for (and perhaps especially for) children, the world is an uncertain place. But we all seek comfort from knowing that people endure difficult times, and stories and memoirs are often testaments to the capacity that humans have for persevering and remaining hopeful. One of the reasons we read narratives about other people is to learn from a protagonist's struggles.