For me, one of the truly magical things about parenting is that you get to rediscover so many of the joys of childhood through your kids. I was delighted to re-watch Mary Poppins for the first time since I was a child, to re-discover Charlotte's Web, to swing on a swing. On a recent island vacation, I'm quite certain my husband had at least as much fun building a fort out of driftwood as our children did.
One of my greatest joys has been re-discovering classic children's books, and discovering newer ones as I share them with my kids. And, let's be frank, as I read them on my own. It's easy to pick a classic to share (although some are surprisingly dated.) Finding great new books is a little harder. In this issue of Seattle's Child, I highlight my picks for the best new books for children and teens from our region's very talented authors and illustrators.
I've also started on a personal project to read every single winner of the Newbery Medal, the most prestigious of American children's book honors, along with the Caldecott, awarded to the artists who created the most distinguished picture books. I invite you to read along. "Like" Seattle Child's Facebook page for regular updates on what I'm reading and to share thoughts of your own.
To kick things off, we've got an interview with one of the Newbery Committee members from last year, Karin Snelson. Go to the "Book Corner" section of www.SeattlesChild.com to read about what goes into choosing a Newbery medalist, plus my review of last year's winner, Moon over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool.
In this issue, you'll also find the joys of the family beach vacation in our story about Manzanita, Ore. If you haven't built a sandcastle, flown a kite, taken a ride on an old train or toured a cheese factory in a while, here's a great place to do it.
And, not to forget Father's Day, columnist Jeff Lee shares his memories of shooting hoops, catching fish and learning to pitch from his immigrant dad – who learned these all-American pastimes from library books so he could share them with his sons.
Happy Father's Day, happy reading and happy summer vacation to you all.
Ruth Schubert
Managing Editor
