Deconstructing Penguins

"Books are like puzzles," write Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone. "The author's ideas are hidden, and it is up to all of us to figure them out." In this indispensable reading companion, the Goldstonesnoted parent-child book club expertsencourage grownups and young readers alike to adopt an approach that will unlock the magic and power of reading. With the Goldstones help, parents can inspire kids' lifelong love of reading by teaching them how to unlock a book's hidden meaning. Featuring fun and incisive discussions of numerous children's classics, this dynamic guide highlights key elementstheme, setting, character, point of view, climax, and conflictand paves the way for meaningful conversations between parents and children. "Best of all," the Goldstones note, "you don't need an advanced degree in English literature or forty hours a week of free time to effectively discuss a book with your child. This isn't Crime and Punishment, it's Charlotte's Web." From the Trade Paperback edition.

Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone have written several well-received memoirs on reading and book collecting as well as narrative history and fiction. For the past six years they have run a highly successful series of parent-child book clubs at their local public library in Connecticut. The Goldstones live with their daughter Emily, and their beagle, Darwin.