One easy trick to transform summer for kids and grandkids.

Photo by Billie Judy

Summer vacation as a brain drain

Before 1900, there was no such thing as summer vacation. Generally, kids went to school year round, with farm kids getting spring and fall off to work the fields. And long before air conditioning, city schools, surrounded by pavement and interrupted air flow, became too hot to handle. 

Today, summer vacation is a billion dollar industry. Think about it! Toys, games, vacations, child-care. But the costs are higher than just dollars. The old notion that kids needed time off to rest up, doesn't really hold. Many kids, especially kids from families with less cash, experience an actual brain drain over the summer holiday, returning in the fall even further behind. 

Build a child's mind with video games

NOT!. There's no evidence that video games do more than entertain kids. Which isn't a bad thing. It's maybe a little silly to expect a game to dramatically improve a child's mind. Does basketball? Hopscotch? Mumbly peg?

What children do remember—see if this is true for you—is the time parents spent with them. Maybe it was a trip, maybe just a hobby. Time they got your full, positive attention. 

What's interesting is that the memorable thing doesn't have to be a big thing. It can be a small shared moment. Like sitting down to read a book together.

Children's ability to learn from hearing outpaces their reading capacity up until about grade 8. But here's the thing: you can't just hand a child a book and walk away. For the most part, if you don't read, they won't. One in four adults doesn't read a book a year.

So reading is an easy, inexpensive way to share and enjoy one-on-one time with a child you may have difficulty connecting with otherwise.

26 advantages to reading

Hit this link for a fascinating look at the difference books can make in your kids.

What to read? My middle-grade Alaska adventure, "Cheechako," is recommended adventure reading on the www.boysread.org (girls, too). The second book in that series is an unforgettable summer tale of Alaska adventure, and even a tiny bit of romance. 

If you, or your child, haven't read Gary Paulsen's "Hatchet," you're in for a treat. It's the first (and best) of three. Richard Peck and Ursula LeGuin are always good. The series of seven 'Narnia' books by C.S.Lewis, satisfies your need to keep going. 

And then, of course, there's Harry Potter. Amazing, fantastic books for adults and children. 

And remember, all these books can be had used. I get most of my copies from Goodwill or St. Vinnie's for dimes on the dollar.

Start planning, and collecting, now!

You can read the first thirty pages of any of these books FREE on Amazon. Here's my link and others are easy to find, too. 

Books by Jonathan Thomas Stratman

Reading to kids can change lives—yours and theirs. And I'd love to hear how it goes. 

Who wants to read a book without a gadget?

Don't get me wrong.

I love computers. I love getting the occasional email from a real person, love hearing that some African person wants to send me millions, and am even fond of FaceBook. With FB particularly, I like that friends and family, people I admire and am however connected to, choose and present bits of news, art or info they think I might like. And I often do. 

So that out of the way, I'm not a complete 

Luddite. 

But as a writer—computers and gadgets in stories—not so much. 

Living by wits!

I'm on page 156 of my newest book. I think it's called "The Taking of GrayGhost Island." It is my 8th novel (four published, three on the way) and takes place on Puget Sound just after WWI and somewhat before computers.

I enjoy ... not always exactly true ... writing these books, and certainly enjoy when people write, call or step up to tell me how much they've enjoyed them. I love the reviews! Thanks to all of you who have or will submit one.

It's a lonely process but I'm okay with that. I sit in my chair, research, imagine and type. I learn things. Like, the United States was one of the last countries to adopt commercial toilet paper, and that around 1900. And one big problem with early toilet paper was splinters. I won't tell you why I needed to know that, you'll have to read the book. 

But back to topic, there are no computers, or GPS units, cellphones, or any other of today's gadgets in any of my tales told of yesterday's adventures. 

Here's the problem.

Is it a problem? You decide. If your child or grandchild asks you a question, how do you answer? Most of us grab some form of computer and look it up. Driving across town? Do we take out a map and master it? No, the computer tells us. In my stories, adults and children have to figure it out, and gut it out. They have to practice to perfect skills, take chances, fail or nearly fail ... sometimes lose ... sometimes struggle to survive.

It may read like fiction, but it never reads like virtual.

(You can read 30 pages of any of my books free!)
Find them here:
http://thebookspot.org/jonathanstratmanbooks

Help an author ... post a book review!

How to be a successful Indie author

People who claim to know this, say the average "indie" author sells about 100 books, total. Agggg!

Happily, I trudged past that number a long time ago, especially with this book, the first in my Cheechako series of three. 

There are two other numbers that are very important to writers like me ... and this is where I need your help. I need a rating of stars (1 to 5), and as little as one line telling what you liked about the book. 

Help! Author needs reviews. 

My books aren't found in many bookstores. Why? Because very few people in the world have any idea I exist. Most of my books are sold through Amazon and through library distributors. For much of the book buying, reviewing world, a book doesn't become official until it has about 25 reviews.

This is where you come in. 

Please consider posting an Amazon book review. 

If you've read one of my books, and especially if you liked it, or if you've read it to the kids or grandkids (this is a great read-aloud book). Or if you're a teacher and have read it in your classroom. Then please consider contributing a review. 

You can do a review in :60 seconds. Really!

To do an Amazon review, you just decide how many stars it deserves, and write as little as one line about what you liked, or what your kids liked. It's that simple and that quick. 

It will be a big help to me ... and, you'll like it!