Those are great ideas! I'll pass those on to Mom.

I wish I could remember the details of the system they are using for reading and math, but the idea is you base what you teach on the ability of the students. Like the boy I mentioned, who will probably never be able to read, but they've taught him a love for books anyway - just looking at the pictures and turing the pages. The example Mom had for math were two students that the teacher taught how to measure things and some basic addition, and it's been a struggle for them but they've worked at it because it's interesting and they're abilities have gone up a year level. Which is pretty astonishing.

I was going to say the Eyewitness books, and also the "100 Things You Should Know" series.

I shriek about designers who come into people's rooms, look at the books cases and go

And what's with the new fad of putting the books on the shelves so that the pages, not the spines, are showing? God. It's like advertising that you can't or don't read.

My suggestion would be narrative comic books. Much easier to figure out the story even if you can't read the words, and they're usually reasonably high-level.

signed,
read one of the Tintin books in French years and years before I discovered it was a story about the opium trade and the Japanese invasion of China. Even without the words, it was still very exciting!

Middlesex

I didn't care for that book, either, and I sold my (purchased used) copy to a used book store.

Middlesex

I was going to say something about this and then realized I was thinking Middlemarch. D'oh.

askye, a local artist did an awesome picture book that I think would be fun for kids of all ages:

[link]

We both read it, neither of us wants to read it again, no reason for it to languish on our shelves when it could be out there making some other reader happy. I look at getting rid of books as giving a gift to that mysterious other reader, which makes it a lot easier.

This is how I feel as well.

lisah, I'll send her that link too. That looks like it would be a good "interactive" book.

lisah, I'll send her that link too. That looks like it would be a good "interactive" book.

it is totally fun and there is a SHOCKING bit at the end. and the illustrations are gorgeous.

In re books (yes, I'm among those who furnish with books) - a while ago the Post magazine section had an interior design issue with lots of uninhabited rooms with knick-knacks and other fancy decor. One of the rooms shown was the "library" ... with not a single book to be seen. Lots of glass thingies - nice ones, but .... Anyway, there were quite a number of letters from people saying that if it's a library, where were the books. Stoopid decorator!

The only time I agree with removing books when redecorating is when you're trying to sell your place. The A&E show "Sell This House" always has people packing away all their tchotchkes, photos, and excessive books to make the place more impersonal, so potential buyers can imagine their stuff in the house. I personally think that people who can't look beyond the furniture and personal things are not seriously house-shopping, but too many bookshelves can cover up the actual amount of wall space in a room and make it look smaller. Also, packing up stuff early helps when you have to pack up after you sell.

One place I worked built some model homes to demonstrate energy-efficient features. The home had some books artfully arranged on the built-in bookshelves and scattered about the living room. The books were a very odd assortment, and I asked the decorator about them. She told me there were companies that sold books by the pound to decorators.