Books - Pre-Printing Press

Too often we take for granted the advancements that have occurred during the years.  Cell phones have come a long way as they were very heavy and large when they first came out.  Cars are more advanced and streamlined than the first ones Henry Ford mass produced.  Everything evolves and improves as technology improves.  Books are no exception.

The first books were not paperback or with fancy covers.  They were not easily transportable.  They were not easily written.  They were incredibly hard to make and, therefore, not able to be mass produced.  Books have really changed over the years.

The first books were nothing you could imagine.  As paper does not come directly from nature, it had not been invented yet.  Mankind had to use what resources they had.  Nature provided them with mud and clay. 

Mud and clay can be baked and hardened which makes great lasting “books”.  As the flat mud tablet is still wet, the author took a stick, a reed, or any other object that could be used to make marks on the tablets.  Then the tablet hardened with the words legible.  Because of this method of writing, archeologists have found a wealth of information from centuries ago that has revealed much about ancient civilizations.

Now, this method of writing was not used to write novels and could not easily be transported.  These tablets weighed a lot.  Most people in ancient cultures used these tablets in economic ways as they documented how much grain or other product was stored and used.  This was vital for most governments.  It was also used to document the exploits of kings and emperors.  As battles were won and nations conquered, tablets were written up to describe the feats.

Stone tablets were also used, but this required the ability to legibly carve the writing into the stone.  Ancient civilizations used each of these methods which have lasted the years to come to us.

From stone and clay, mankind discovered at various times that other products could be used to create early book versions.  In China toward the end of the BC era, man discovered that from the bark of trees that had been broken down and mixed with water.  Once it was mixed well, it was laid out to dry.  The true beginnings of our current paper had been discovered.

In Egypt, paper was created out of papyrus reeds.  From these two paper methods, early forms of books arose.  Stories of heroes, religious laws, letters to others far away began to take shape.  Many of these early forms of books were compiled as wall hangings, scrolls, or just in single sheets stacked together.  Leather was used as well as copper to create scrolls pieced together to create entire books.  Many of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious pieces were written and preserved on such books.

As paper developed, it was inevitable that so would books.  With the ability to create such functioning paper which was easier to transport than clay or stone tablets and with the ability to let creativity loose, books began to grow.  Though books became more numerous, they were still not as common or readily available as they are today.  Typically only the rich could possess such wondrous art works that books had become.  To produce these books took years and sometimes lifetimes as you can see from the pictures below.

One page could take a long time to create.  But all this changed with one single invention – the printing press.

Being Cautious About What You Read

Walking into a library, a reader might feel like they have entered paradise. Rows and rows of books are just waiting for hands to open them up and soak in all the adventures that the covers contain. You can find books on science fiction, animals, traveling, history, science, mysteries, and many other topics. You and your child will find such enjoyment in the land of books, and you can find more than you bargained for.

It can happen. Your child is excited about all the books and they grab one off the shelf. Then the shock and embarrassment set in when the child asks you what something means. Grabbing the book and putting it back, you usher them quickly into the children’s section. You need to be cautious in what your child reads.

Even the children’s section should have you on guard. Will there be books that should be placed in rated sections? No, but there are some topics that families choose not to have their child exposed to.

How do you feel about your child reading about magic? There are many books on magic that have become popular lately. They will be sitting on the bestsellers table and everywhere else. If your goal is to avoid books that involve magic, you need to be careful what your child picks up.

Religion can be a topic that many families like to be selective about. It does not matter whether it is religion in general or a particular one. Many parents want to make sure that their child is receiving the instruction that they deem correct.

How can you be cautious about what your child reads and not become the “book cop”? Be aware of what the latest trends are. What are the books that all the children are talking about? If it is about vampires and that topic is on your “No” list, then you need to be aware of the book, the title, and any other books that are a part of the series. Being cautious means that you need to be informed.

Be aware of what is available to your children and that it meets your standards. Do not set fear in your child for picking up a book that might be inappropriate. You want them to enjoy reading. Explain to them how you feel about certain books. Let them know that it is not the book that is bad, but what the book says. Never make a child afraid of books. If you have any other questions about what children are reading, talk to the librarian. She will be glad to help.

Be an Example

Trying to get your child to read can be difficult.  Giving them interesting topics can help, but one of the biggest steps you can take to get your child motivated to read is to be an example yourself.

How often do you read?  Jobs do interfere as well as other things in an adult’s life.  If your child does not see you ever reading, what is motivating them?  Absolutely nothing.

When a child sees their parent reading and enjoying it, they want to know what is so exciting between those pages.  They begin to search out books and begin to devour them the way their parent does.  Parents have amazing influences over their child and their habits.

What can you do to improve your own reading to be such a good example?  Here are a few ideas to help you get reading back into your busy schedule.

Order Magazines/Newspapers – How often do you have magazines arriving in the mail?  Do you buy them often?  Get some various magazines coming in and keep them around the house.  As you drink your morning coffee, read a magazine or scan a newspaper.  Place magazines in the living room, the bathroom, next to your bed, in the car, or keep one in your purse or briefcase. 

Book Locations – You are running here and running there.  When you do have time to read, there is not a book to be found.  Be deliberate.  Keep books placed in strategic locations so that you can pick up one and read at any time.  Keep one in your purse so when you are stuck at the doctor’s office you can spend a few minutes (or hours) reading as you wait.  Keep one in your car, at your desk, or by your favorite chair. 

Relax with a Book – Got a few minutes to sit and breathe?  Relax by sitting in the swing and reading a book.  Try a quiet moment next to the crackling fire.  You can even read a book while listening to your favorite music.  Be deliberate in reading while you are relaxing.

Shop at a Bookstore – As you are going about your errands and even shopping, include a bookstore.  Take the time to browse the aisles and pick up a new book or two.

Spend a Saturday at the Library – Don’t always spend Saturday watching television.  Go to the library and relax reading a new mystery novel.

When your child sees you enjoying a book and always with something to read, they will also want to read.  Children learn by example.  Get back into reading and show them that it is a wonderful world of adventure and relaxation. 

Homonyms from Ante to Auricle

by Lisa Binion

Homonyms are a source of confusion for many writers. They also endlessly confuse school children and those who don’t know the English language very well. Other languages also have homonyms, so English isn’t the only language made confusing by them.

Ante and auntie
Ante is a term familiar to anyone who plays poker or places bets of any kind. It is a monetary bet on the outcome of a game.
Gerard greedily eyed the large ante and seriously considered how much he should add to it.
An auntie is the sister of either your mother or your father.
My auntie took me to the zoo.

Arc and ark
An arc is part of a circle.
Joanna’s geometry homework was to find the measurement of the arc.
An ark is a huge boat.
God instructed Noah to build an ark.

Ascent and assent
An ascent is a climb.
The steep ascent made the mountain nearly impossible to climb.
An assent is an agreement.
Much to the speaker’s surprise, every hand in the auditorium raised in assent.

Ate and eight
Alright, so this is probably one that you are familiar with. Anyway, ate is the past tense of eat.
Melinda ate a chopped sirloin sandwich.
Eight is the number 8 written in the form of a word.
Eight snowballs hit Jessica in the back as she ran across the playground.

Auger and augur
An auger is a tool used for boring.
Joe used an auger to bore through the earth and find water.
An augur is a prophet or soothsayer.
The augur was visited constantly by those wanting to know their future.

Aught and ought
Aught means anything.
For aught I know, the trip will be worth the effort.
Ought means should.
Mary ought to study for her test.

Aural and oral
Aural is an adjective that describes something to do with the sense of hearing.
The aural capabilities of canines are far greater than the aural capabilities of humans.
Oral means spoken with the mouth.
Monica is scheduled to give an oral presentation on how to properly brush your teeth.

Auricle and oracle
The auricle is the outer part of your ear.
Jasmine’s auricle was heavily decorated with earrings of various shapes and sizes.
An oracle is a prophet or seer.
The visiting oracle told Melody things that no one should have known, things she had kept a secret between herself and God.

Several of these homonyms surprised me; I had been pronouncing them the wrong way. Maybe I need to check the pronunciation of words, as well as their meaning, more often.

Homonyms from Ail to Ant

by Lisa Binion

Homonyms are words that are frequently confused by people. They sound exactly alike but are spelled differently. One has to learn what each spelling means. When confronted with a word that has more than one spelling, confusion can set in. If you aren’t sure of the meaning, grab a dictionary before deciding which one to use. As you can see from the following homonyms, using the wrong one can change the entire meaning of a sentence, perhaps even your story.

Ail and ale
To ail is to feel poorly or cause someone uneasiness.
Jessica tried not to ail over the dire situation.
Ale is a malt beverage that is darker, heavier, and bitterer than beer.
Joe ordered an ale from the bartender.

Air, are, e’er, ere, err, heir
Air is what we breathe.
The air smells wonderfully fresh after a rain storm.
Are, pronounced just like the air we breathe, is a surface measure equal to 100 square meters. That one surprised me; I thought sure the pronunciation was a mistake, but I discovered differently.
An are is equal to 119.6 square yards.
E’er is the contraction for ever and is usually used in poetry.
And all that beauty, all that wealth e’er gave
Ere means before.
Ere you left the room, the computer crashed.
Err means to make a mistake.
Marilyn's belief that to err is human was tested when she battled her wits against a human who seemingly never made a mistake.
An heir is someone who inherits property after a person’s death.
Mr. Simpson named Barbara as his heir.

Aisle, I’ll, and isle
An aisle is a long walkway, such as a bride would walk down. It is also a walkway between or along sections of seats in a theater or church.
The veil of Mitzi’s bridal gown was surrounded by rose petals as she walked down the aisle.
I’ll is the contraction for I will.
I’ll see you in the morning.
An isle is an island.
As the sun set, the sailors saw an isle in the distance.

All and awl
All means everything, nothing is left out.
All of the furniture in the room is to be moved into the hallway.
An awl is a sharp, pointed instrument used for poking holes in items such as leather and wood.
Michael, who loved to make belts, received a new awl for his birthday.

Allowed and aloud
Allowed is when one has been given permission to do something.
Megan was allowed to go to the party.
Aloud is to speak with a voice that can be heard or to speak loudly.
Emily was 5-years-old before she spoke aloud.

Altar and alter
An altar is a place of worship.
Lucinda approached the altar to pray.
When you alter something, you change it in some way.
The dress was perfect, but it needed to be altered.

An and Ann
An is the Sumerian god of heaven. It is also an indefinite article which appears before used before words with an initial vowel sound.
She has an apple in her lunch box.
Ann is a woman’s name.
Ann is the name of one of my closest friends.

Ant and aunt
An ant is an insect.
Ants were crawling all over the food that had been left on the counter overnight.
An aunt is a relative, the sister of your mother or father.
My Aunt Sissy is a lot of fun to be around.

For those of you who enjoy word games, below is a link to Good Knight, Suite Prints, a story written by Mary Ellen Slate that contains 140 pairs of homonyms. Games Magazine, who put the article on the internet for me, said that you are free to print out your own copy of the story. That way you can work on it away from your computer.

Good Knight, Suite Prints can be found at http://www.gamesmagazine-online.com/gameslinks/GoodKnight.html.

Homonyms from Acts to Affect

by Lisa Binion

Homonyms are a source of confusion for many people. These words sound exactly alike, but each one has its own way of being spelled and its own meaning. I never realized how many homonyms there were until I began to search for them. This article covers only a few of the many homonyms I have discovered.

Acts, besides being a book in the New Testament of the Bible, are deeds that people have done. Acts are also divisions in a play.
The book of Acts was written by the apostle Paul.
The ruler's noble acts were recorded for his historians.
The play has five acts.
An ax is a sharp instrument used to chop down a tree or some other object.
The farmer practiced chopping with his new ax.

Ad is short for advertisement, an announcement of goods or products for sale.
The ad for the new tennis shoes ran every five minutes.
Add is short for addition, the process of finding the total of two or more numbers.
Lakeisha is learning how to add in math class.

Adds - When one adds, one says or writes more, one finds the totals of two or more numbers. Or one may increase the number of something.
She continually adds more words to the script.
Ads is more than one advertisement.
Several ads for the new movie appeared all over town.
An adze is an axelike tool used for chopping.
He went to the hardware store to buy a new adze.

When someone drinks an ade, they are drinking a fruit beverage.
Beverly sold an ade made from peaches and bananas to raise money for her project.
When you help someone do some work, you aid them.
Mother needs some aid with her housework.
An aide is an assistant.
Mr. Hodgins hired a new aide.

An aerie, or an eagle’s nest, is something that most of us will never have the pleasure of viewing.
The arduous climb up the cliff was well worth the view of the aerie that Joseph now beheld.
Airy means breezy.
The airy day was perfect for hanging laundry outside on the clothesline.

Aero has to do with aircraft.
The aero engine was difficult to work on.
An arrow is a slender, straight pointed missile or weapon made to be shot from a bow.
Timothy aimed the bow and arrow at the approaching deer.

Affect means to change.
Not studying for the test will affect your grade in a negative way.
Effect means result.
As an effect of studying for the test, Jerri scored 100%.

Advantages of Reading More Advanced Books

Reading books can be fun. Children love to get into the stories. Yet, there comes a time when they might need to be reading more advanced books. Why? There are several advantages to reading books more advanced that what your child typically reads.

By reading more advanced books, children get to see that there is more to reading. They can get excited about more words and deeper adventures. If a child thinks that what they have before them is all there is, the thrill of reading might diminish. Keep the thrill alive by letting them look over more advanced books and even trying them.

A child gets pushed academically and mentally when they are exposed to more advanced books. They are not hounded to do better or expected to be prodigies. They do get out of the rut they might themselves in. Advanced books keep children from being complacent. When a child is pushed, they are challenged. Research has shown that when the brain is challenged, it grows stronger (as seen in older patients). Pushing the brain to think harder gives your child the ability to think further and deeper.

When a child is exposed to books above their reading level they begin to expand how their brain thinks. Too many times, children get into classes that they find hard. They cannot “think outside the box”. They might get used to having things “fed” to them or answers being found quickly and easily. By having a child look to more advanced books, it has the mind find new ways to think. Cells and pathways are opened up and more parts of the brain begin to challenged and used. Many times children will begin to find that they have a larger vocabulary or can reason situations out much quicker. The brain can get its exercise.

The critical thinking skills of a child improve when they are challenged with more advanced reading. This is done mainly by more complex sentence structure, new words, and scenarios that require more thinking. Add more advanced reading with discussion, and the child’s mind learns to think in three dimensions. They begin to look for other reasons a character might act a certain way. They will begin to anticipate more complicated scenes.

When children are using more advanced reading material, there are effects on other subjects. They begin to see vocabulary words in other subjects. They begin to use those critical thinking skills on math and science. The light bulb comes on. The reasoning and problem solving that is used in more advanced reading can be used anywhere in life. You could see a mass improvement in other areas.

Exposing your child to more advanced reading material is a great way to challenge them and get them even more excited about reading. The key is to not give them material that is too advanced which can actually discourage them from reading. Making reading exciting and not scary.

Want to help your children learn to read more and enjoy it? Check out All About Reading. You won't be disappointed.