A couple of weeks ago I read a newspaper article about a study of families of children who are successful in school. They found a strong correlation between homes filled with books and success in school. Children who grew up in houses lined with bookcases full of books were 30% more succesful in schools and careers.

Now one should always be careful drawing conclusions from correlations, because they don't tell you what is cause and what is effect. Still the study is intriguing. The houses I lived in were always teeming with books and my parents used them. My mom read to us a lot and my sisters and I became comfortable with them at an early age. All three of us now have advanced degrees and have interesting professional occupations. There is something stimulating about growing up in an environment full of books, where you can run your fingers over the spines and pull out the tomes that allure you.

Based on my experience, then (for what it's worth), the study I mentioned, and other studies and programs, here is a preliminary list of ways to turn your kids into readers.

1. Be a reader yourself.
2. Fill your house with books. E-readers are fine, but they won't really have the same effect as a wall with rows of books.
3. Read to your kids from the time they can focus on illustrations in children's books and for as many years as they are willing to be read to.
4. Take your kids to the library and to bookstores. They make great free outings and offer something for all ages.
5. Always be willing to read new books.
6. Buy your kids books for birthdays and other occasions. Not always books, mind you! Sometimes.
7. Go to a major book fair with the family. If you live in the metroplex, be sure to go to the 5th Dallas International Book Fair in October. This is not just a children's event, although there is a lot for them. It is a Festival of Reading for All Ages.

The 2010 Book Fair is coming!

Keep watching this blog for information about the 5th annual Dallas International Book Fair. I can tell you a couple of things right now. The date is 23 October 2010 and the place is the beautiful Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young Street in Dallas, across the street from City Hall. Rember, this is free and open to everyone.

The theme for the Book Fair is A Festival of Reading for All Ages. This is not your Scholastic Book Fair, wonderful as those are. The Dallas International Book Fair is for children and for adults. It's a place for all readers to meet authors, get their books signed, hear authors read from their work, attend panels on various topics, or just mill around and socialize with other readers. And it's all free! Every person who loves reading should drop by and bring a friend. Last year 6,000 children came. We would love to have them back and add 6,000 adults.

Be watching the Book Fair web site in the coming weeks for program details. As usual, there will be a short story writing contest, so sharpen your pencils and fire up the computers.

I will of course be there and I hope to meet you. Please search my name, David A. Bedford on YouTube and go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/Angela1.html to find out about my latest release.

See you at the Fair!

Sips 'n Cups Cafe and Reading Room: Politically Correct Christian Fiction

Sips 'n Cups Cafe and Reading Room: Politically Correct Christian Fiction

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http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/Angela1.html

Novel Journey: She Reads

Novel Journey: She Reads

Short Story Contest Winners

The winners of the short story contest are listed below:

English
1st Place Mamatha Vaddi Sparks – “The Palestinian Dishwasher” ( Euless )
2nd Place Lori Rader Day – “The Calamities” ( Chicago )
3rd Place Barbara Graettinger – “Toots and the One Legged Rooster” ( Irving )
Honorable Mention Rosa C Fleming Stevenson – “A Love Story” ( Dallas )

Spanish
1st place Ariel González – “La Obsesion” (Miami)
2nd place Gustavo Green – “Propiedades de los Peces de Mar”(Argentina)
3rd place Mary Cornalino – “Tatuajes” ( Uruguay )

According to the judges you are all winners, the selection was really hard, they told us they had to go deep into plot development to make the final determination. Judges were on site Sunday to meet and greet the contestants and to provide comments and recommendations. .

Judges were:
Dr. Yvonne Jocks, multi-published novelist
Vicki Sapp, Associate Professor of English, Tarrant County community college
David Bedford, Spanish language professor, Texas Christian University
Ivan Mino, Chair of World Languages Department, Tarrant County Community College

The fair was a tremendous success with over 5,358 participants. Everyone enjoyed meeting the authors and taking part in the workshops.

Please mark your calendars for next year Dallas International Book Fair October 22-24, 2010.

Congratulations To All

Miriam Rodriguez
Assistant Director
Dallas Public Library

Ten Reasons you should come to the International Book Fair

1. You can dine with famous international celebrities.
2. You can get first edition books, signed by the authors.
3. You can see an Asian tea ceremony.
4. You can watch a play.
5. You can listen to live music.
6. You can see original art work.
7. You can learn about other cultures, other history.
8. You can make some really cool things.
9. You can win some really cool things -- like a $100 gift card to
Half-Price Books.
10. You can discover Bilingual SpeedReading, the easy way to read a second language.

You can do all this, and still make it home in plenty of time for Trick-or-Treat.

So have some fun -- and treat yourself to the International Book Fair.