"If parents understood the huge educational benefits and intense happiness brought about by reading aloud to their children, and if every parent - and every adult caring for a child - read aloud a minimum of three stories a day to the children in their lives, we could probably wipe out illiteracy within one generation."

from Reading Magic

Here's something to think about: one in four parents in Canada cannot read the directions on their child's medicine bottle. One quarter of Ontario grade ten students failed their literacy test last year.

But this need not be!We can do so much to help our children become literate and it would be relatively easy to incorporate reading together into a daily schedule. It is a small effort for parents and caregivers to make, and it would produce huge benefits. Since income is closely associated with educational status, we owe it to our children to help them in as many ways as we can to give them the best possible start. But reading to children does not only benefit them by helping them to become more comfortable with reading; the time spent reading together provides clear evidence to a child of a parent's love, care and focused attention, and also it gives the parent a chance to close off the rest of the world, to relax and to connect with the child in a special and wonderful way.

One of the most rewarding things about working in a public library is having mothers come in for a hour or so with their children, find a book and settle down to read it together. It's time out from a normal routine, a special place just for Mom and child, and I hope it will provide lasting memories of a special period in that child's life.

This is the time of year when the literary prizes are awarded. In case you are interested in reading them, the winner of the Governor-General's prize for literature is Douglas Glover with his novel 'Elle' and the winner of the Giller Prize is M.G. Vassanji with 'The In-Between World of Vikram Lall'. D.B.C Pierre is the winner of the Booker Prize ( and $78,000 US) with his first novel 'Vernon God Little'.

New additions to our shelves.

Non-fiction

Browne, Sylvia.     Visits FromThe Afterlife; the truth about hauntings, spirits and reunions with lost loved ones.

Bolles, Richard.         What Color Is Your Parachute 2004.

Dallaire, Romeo.         Shake Hands With The Devil.

Fox, Mem.      Reading Magic; why reading aloud to our children will change their lives forever.

Hartley, Catherine.      To the Poles Without A Beard.

McTeer, Maureen.     In My Own Name.

Newman, Paul.     Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good.

Rule, Ann.      Heart Full Of Lies.

Fiction

Baldacci, David.      Split Second.

Cussler, Clive.     Golden Buddha.

Eddings, David.      The Elder Glass.

Evanovich, Janet      Full Speed.

Howard, Audrey.      Reflections from the Past.

Howard, Linda.      Cry No More

Karon, Jan.      Shepherd's Abiding.

Ludlum, Robert.      Tristan Betrayal

McLean, Stuart.      Vinyl Cafe Diaries

Mitchard, Jacquelyn.      Christmas Presents.

Morrison, Toni.      Love

Patterson, Richard N.      Balance of Power.

Rice, Anne.      Blood Canticle.

Roberts, Nora.      Love By Design.

Steel, Danielle      Safe Harbour

Uris, Leon.      O'Hara's Choice.

Let's give our children books for Christmas; more importantly, let's read them together!

Best seasonal wishes to all 'Lines" readers. -Frankie, Janet and Janice.