100 books for girls to grow on : lively descriptions of the most inspiring books for girls, terrific discussion questions to spark conversation, great ideas for book-inspired activities, crafts, and field trips

An Inspiring Approach to Reading From A Tree Grows in Brooklyn to Ramona the Pest to Wringer, here are 100 great books guaranteed to stir the imagination, spark conversation, and lead the way to adventure. In 100 Books for Girls to Grow On, Shireen Dodson, author of the acclaimed The Mother-Daughter Book Club, offers a selection of both new and classic titles. Each book has been handpicked because it is a joy to read, because it inspires mother-daughter dialogue, and because it encourages creativity beyond the book experience. Included are brief plot summaries for each book, as well as thought-provoking discussion questions, inspired field trip ideas, fun crafts and activities, and biographies of the authors. Let books become a springboard for encouraging your daughter's imagination. Ideas inside include: Design and draw colorful dresses like Wanda Petronski, heroine of Eleanore Estes' The Hundred Dresses. Take your cue from Harriet the Spy and create your own stories from overheard snippets of conversation. While reading Caddie Woodlawn, pull out a map and trace Caddie's mother's journey from Boston to the Wisconsin frontier. You don't need to form a book club to use and enjoy 100 Books for Girls to Grow On. Shireen Dodson offers stimulating ideas that will spark your daughter's creativity and nurture a love for books.

In 1997, Shireen Dodson wrote about a book club she started for mothers and daughters in The Mother-Daughter Book Club. Now, in her new book, Dodson provides 100 recommendations for inspired reading for girls. Each book entry is comprehensive, giving parents ideas for discussion questions and activities that will ultimately encourage reading and enhance the time they spend with their children.

VOYA

In this helpful and inspirational resource, author Dodson (The Mother-Daughter Book Club [HarperPerennial, 1997]) summarizes one hundred books that girls ages nine to thirteen might enjoy reading on their own or sharing in a book discussion group. Librarians, educators, and parents will find hundreds of ideas on how to use both the classic and current fiction selections in their libraries, classrooms, and homes, from Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Blakiston, 1943) to Jerry Spinelli's Wringer (HarperCollins, 1997). Organized alphabetically by title, each book is broken down into several categories including the summary, reading time, themes, discussion questions, information about the author, activities to do beyond the book, and recommended further reading. The discussion questions are thought-provoking and original, and will generate much discussion if used in a group. While reading time varies for each individual reader, the times Dodson approximates are quite accurate for the average enthusiastic reader. The information provided about each author is a short combination of interesting career and personal information, some of which may inspire many readers to do more research if they enjoy the book. Activities described to extend the reader's experience beyond the book are not always practical for librarians to do but can often be adapted and will generate many other ideas for crafts, games, research, and food options. This excellent tool is just right for anyone thinking of starting a book discussion group, energizing an existing book group, or looking to expand a readers' advisory collection. Index. Further Reading.