By Pam Ellis

One of the best missionaries I know has never worn a missionary name badge or learned a missionary discussion. She is a grandmother and adoptive “Grandma” to many children whom she has taken in, loved, taught, and with whom she has shared love, life lessons, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I had to find out the rest of her story.

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By Tina Scott

The first celebration that marks our passage into fall (and cooler weather for us desert dwellers) is Halloween. It’s a night where the trick part of “trick or treat” can sometimes get out of hand, yet the commemoration of October 31 has a long history, and cultural significance.

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By Nettie H. Francis

The song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads” (D&C 25:12). If music brings blessings upon our heads, I need as many as possible, especially in my role as a parent. I am not a master musician, but I have learned to use music on my quest to becoming a master mother.

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The Third Annual Target Children’s Book Festival is set for Saturday, November 8th, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Presented by the City of Las Vegas and Target, the event is the largest annual children’s literary event in Las Vegas.

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by Annette Lyon

I found my son staying up well past his bedtime, a book hidden under his covers. With a stern voice, I reminded him that it was a school night.

“Can I finish this chapter? Pleeeeease?” he begged.

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I turned a page in my life today. As I write this, it’s the first day of school. I sent three kids off to school this morning, leaving me with only two little ones at home for six hours. This year, I don’t have a kindergartener, tying me to three daily bus schedules. Nor do I have a newborn, tying me to nap schedules and nursing times in between three bus schedules.

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By Rekaya Gibson

In order to get your child to read, create a family reading room or space in your home. Make sure you include comfortable seating with adequate lighting. Have everyone choose their favorite book, magazine, or newspaper to read for fifteen minutes.

Read at the same time every day. If schedules don’t permit this, have the family agree upon a day and time once a week that’s convenient. Do not schedule anything during this time. Reduce interruptions by turning off cell phones, iPods, and televisions. Once you commit to reading on a regular basis, it will become a habit.

Before you begin, set a timer. If everybody wants to read longer, add ten more minutes. When the bell rings, enjoy a light snack with your kids. Take the opportunity to have each person discuss what they read.

By Lu Ann Brobst Staheli

You can lead a horse to water . . . but you can’t make him drink. Unfortunately, this statement is applicable all too often to children within the public school system. The first week of school, I asked students in my reading class to share the titles of ten books they had either read by themselves, or that someone had read to them, which they would recommend to others. Several of these eighth and ninth grade students admitted they had never read an entire book on their own. They have been expected to read throughout their school career. How does it happen that they get to junior high school without having read?

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By Nettie H. Francis

I am NOT a politically correct mother. I discriminate based on age and gender, and whether or not you’ve finished your homework. (For example, those who have may go out and play.) I insist that girls wear dresses and boys wear ties to special occasions. I teach my girls to cook and sew, and my boys to dig ditches and mow lawns.

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