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Reading Rockets' children's literature expert, Maria Salvadore, brings you into her world as she explores the best ways to use kids' books both inside — and outside — of the classroom.

Children's Book Week — twice in seven months?

May  9, 2008

How can an annual celebration take place twice within seven months? Well, that's what's happening with Children's Book Week (CBW)! First adopted in 1919, CBW has traditionally been held in November, but has now become a spring thing.

One thing hasn't changed; CBW remains based in the belief that books change lives.

And they do.

I remember a boy named Robert who discovered that he could read when he laughed over Oliver Butterworth's The Enormous Egg (Little Brown). How Michelle — a parent who couldn't read — memorized Ezra Jack Keats' Peter's Chair (Viking) so that she could read it to her two sons, and talk with them about being jealous over a younger sibling. I think of Eric who saw a child that looked like he did in Molly Bang's Ten, Nine, Eight (Greenwillow) — and whose grandmother added this book to the one book in their home (which was the Bible).

Books touch people; they change lives. And so it's good to be reminded that they deserve a special time to be celebrated.

The Children's Book Council, the organization that administers CBW, also works with the International Reading Association (IRA) to come up with Children's Choices, lists "with a twist!" The books are selected and evaluated by kids.

It's a great way to fine out what books children like though we may not know until they're older why they do or how the books have touched them.

Check out the 2008 Children's Choice list on May 14 or download earlier lists. It's always interesting to see where adult and children's choices intersect — and diverge.

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