Month: April 2025

“Through a Child’s Eyes”

Sometimes life hands us hard things and we have to dig deep to push through. Sometimes life hands us really, really hard things, and we wonder if we can push through but need to dig deeper than we thought we ever could to fight.

Stefania Venusio Amicucci takes her readers on a journey through her cancer diagnosis and treatment writing from her daughters’ view in “Through a Child’s Eyes.” Written from conversations with her two young daughters while she fought cancer, Amicucci shares with readers how her children initally noticed something was wrong and processed her being sick. Her description of her children envisioning cancer as a monster that needed to be zapped by medicine was a comparison young readers would definitely understand.

When we face hard things, we often feel alone. Trying to be strong for our family, especially young children, can be so challenging. We need to draw on support from those around us. Books are so incredible for children dealing with something difficult. While young children might not know another child in real life going through the same thing, we can often find friends in books. Knowing that someone else understands, even what that someone else is a character that lives inside the pages of a book, gives young readers (and really readers of any age) hope.

While we all wish for a world without cancer or any illness, until then, I hope young readers find comfort in books like this. I wish none of you reading this ever need to read a book like this with your children, but unfortunately most of us will know someone battling cancer. Amicucci does a wonderful job writing in a way that shows sickness and hope to young readers. I highly recommend this book!

Reading with your high schooler – Homer

To raise a reader, we need to demonstrate reading. It’s hard to sell a child on doing something if they never see those around them do that exact thing. Being read to as a young child encourages reading. Seeing parents and other friends and relatives read, encourages reading.

When my children recommended books to me that they enjoyed, I loved reading them. Sometimes the stories were incredible, and I appreciated the recommendation of a great story. Sometimes they weren’t books I’d choose but seeing how happy my child was that I read that book, made it one of the best books ever. They were sharing books with me that they loved.

As my children move through their education, they will casually mention “did you ever read this book?” I love when it is a book I remember, and we can discuss it. Sometimes, I remember reading the book but not the specifics. Sometimes, it’s a book I’ve never read before, and I’m interested to read it as well. I love that conversations can start from simply “did you ever read this book?”

One thing I’ve discovered as a reader and parent is, in addition to reading or rereading the book my child might be reading, I can read an incredible companion book. What is a companion book? A companion book is a book that explores the topic of the book further. These books include details on authors, additional information on the story itself, or give another perspective on the story. Last OTCS, I talked about “Some Writer!” the story of E.B. White. This fascinating companion book provides so much additional information about E.B. White and his experience writing with so many great conversation topics to share with your reader who is enjoying “Charlotte’s Web.”

A new favorite companion book that I highly recommend to anyone who is reading Homer (or whose children are reading Homer in school) is “The Epic Women of Homer: Exploring Women’s Roles in the Iliad and the Odyssey” by Eirene Allen, my dear friend and brilliant writer. Immerse yourself in Homer’s epic poems by understanding the stories further through Allen’s detailed look at the goddesses and heroines who have not always received the attention they deserve. Read along with your highschooler who is on this epic adventure and share insights from Allen’s exploration of these essential characters.

Reading books like this show your child how important the books they are reading truly are. Reading books like this show your child how much you value reading. Reading books like this are great conversation starters to explore the epic poems even further together. Be sure to check out Eirene Allen’s new book “The Epic Women of Homer.” I highly recommend it.