Give Tips To Inspire Young Readers (NAPSA)—Inspiring a love of reading is one of the best gifts a parent can give a child. And who better to give advice on literary inspiration than the people who write the words we love to read? These five best-selling children’s books’ authors, whose books are featured by Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories, share their thoughts on how parents can encourage kids to becomelifelong readers. Teach from your own experience “When I grew up and had my own children, I knew I wanted to pass on that reading torch. How? By following my parents’ example. Because they had read to me, I read to my kids. Because they hadfilled their house with books, I filled my house with books. Because they had taken meto the library once, twice, even three times a week, I took my kids to the library once, twice, three times a week.” — Candace Fleming, author of “Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!” Enjoy the story you are reading(ortelling) “Take delight in the stories you read or tell your kids, don’t force it and don’t fake it. It’s the joy that’s infectious, and that instills a love of reading in a child. The corollary is to pick stories to share that you really do enjoy.” — Robert Kinerk, author of “Clorinda.” Create your ownstories “Write an ongoing story with an adult or another child. You can work on the book side-by-side or mail it back and forth—especially fun to do with grandparents, aunts or uncles. When two people alternate telling one story, with multiple doses of creativity at work, you never know howthestory will end. Collaborative stories, part creative endeavor, part keepsake, can be kept on the bookshelf with the other books you read at bedtime.” — John Lithgow, Author of “I'm a Manatee.” Allow your imagination to wanderwhile reading “My mother used to tell me wonderful stories of her childhood Actor and best-selling children’s book author John Lithgow reads from his book, “I’m a Manatee,” one of five books featured free inside specially marked boxes of cereal through early 2006. in Puerto Rico, and my book, “No Dogs Allowed!” is based on my own childhood in New York City. Reading can take you to other places without even leaving your room!” — Sonia Manzano, author of “No Dogs Allowed!” Makereadinga part of your daily routine “My husband and I joke that we’ve been reading to our son since before he was born, and it’s become an important part of our daily routine. Our reading time together has laid an important foundation that helps us keep the right perspective on all those little skirmishes about brushing teeth and putting toys away. For us, reading time is family time, the most valuable timeofall.” — Lauren Thompson, author of “Little Quack.” These authors’ books will be given away free inside specially marked boxes of Cheerios, from November 2005 through January 2006, as part of the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories program. For the fourth year in a row, Cheerios is giving away five million books, and $500,000 to First Book, a national nonprofit that helps get books to children from low-incomefamilies.
