The Desert Sun from Palm Springs, California • Page 32

DIP Thursday, February 8, 2001 The Desert Sun Books' These five books will get kids reading I 'c I' rii.H too young to begin learning to read. "Read to them from the very beginning," said Marianne Harper, a former teacher and the owner of Brystone Children's Books in Watauga, a Fort Worth suburb. "They should see their parents reading, have books around. Let them know it's the thing to do." Reading to children helps them learn vocabulary and understand what they've heard, said Cheryl Wisch, reading specialist at J.L. Boren Elementary School in Mansfield, Texas.

By Amanda Rogkrs fOKT WORTH STAR TKI HUKAM Dad's got his nose in the newspaper, Mom's in the bathtub basking in a novel and big brother is memorizing "Harry Potter." The only one in the house not reading is the kindergartner and she doesn't like that situation. To help little ones who are longing to read, we asked teachers, booksellers and librarians for their top picks for the learning-to-read crowd. They had a variety of favorites, but all agreed that a child is never Sell Your Jewelry HIGHEST PRICES FOR YOUR FINE JEWELRY TIMEPIECES "They may not be able to read 'Little House on the Prairie' in the first grade, but they can understand it," she said. Jaye McLaughlin, a children's librarian at Fort Worth's Central Library, said that learning how to read hasn't changed. "Our alphabet is a code, and you learn how to put it together," she said.

"You start simply by breaking it down into pieces. "Underline the words with your finger so they can see the words as well as the pictures." Pictures are also important "Just like when parents go shopping; they're not going to pick up something that's boring," Wisch said. 1. Dr. Seuss books (Random House, $7.99) In 1 957, Theodore G-eisel broke all the rules to write the antithesis of the dull primers that children were reading in school at the time.

Using rhymes, repetition and visually stimulating pictures, he captured the imagination of children and adults. Librarians at Fort Worth's Central Library said that, although Dr. Seuss books are harder than other first readers, they keep children interested. "I have parents who come in who learned to read with "The Cat in the and they want their children to learn that," said Catherine Clyde, a children's librarian at the downtown library. 2.

The Bob Books (Scholastic, 816.95) Favored by teachers, these boxed sets come with a dozen tiny phonetic paperbacks that focus on one or two sounds. Each level builds as the child develops, based on consistent sounds. Examples: "Mat. Mat sat. Sam.

Sam sat. Mat sat on Sam." There are black-and-white illustrations, which some booksellers we interviewed found boring. Written by Bobby Lynn Maslen and illustrated by John R. Maslen. 3.

Rookie Reader! (Children's Press, $4.95) Written by various authors, these colorful readers use different levels to help young readers grow, from books with two or three words per page to books with two or three sentences per page. One series of readers is in Spanish. With names like "Eat Your Peas, Louise! Big Book" and "Sneaky Pete Big Book," these books are entertaining and reader-friendly. 4. "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" (Henry Holt 86.95) Brown Bear and his friends explain what they (and the young readers) see, from a red bird looking at me to a mother looking at them.

This repetitive book uses different animals in a rhyming chant that's easy to pick up. Written by Bill Martin and illustrated by Eric Carle. 5. "Chlcka Chlcka Boom Boom" (Simon Schuster, $6.99) Letter A leads all the other letters to the top of the coconut tree in a spoof that lets children identify uppercase and lowercase letters. When the lowercase letters come crashing to the ground, the uppercase letters rush to their aid.

Lois Ehlert added bright illustrations. Authors Bill Martin, who also wrote "Brown Bear, Brown Bear," and John Archambault use another rhyming chant in this alphabet tale. "There needs to be a balance between phonetic readers and those with rhyme and repetition; it's not one method that works with children," Wisch said." mi CROWDS. iiT A I C. mi Hassles, a Weekend nu coast $69 Di rs(M't ri (in Hum mi imns i io iiii: iHM OIK FlI'U'l nil I.IUSWHI mi I'lKin I oi'i'OKiiMn 10 mi mi iiim'H.

no sihik ii iirrir ok ro sunn os mi ro mi wiiiioi i rill' IKOttDV lilt IKMHCOK IMF NANSIIS CM I l-OK KI SUVAI IONS renaSnce. iGOURA HILLS HOTEL AGOURA HILLS, CALIFORNIA Nom Nil I s. C'A W.W 1220 I WWW SM'I non I OM "S( Hill I r. Ul MUL 1 1 UIP KI Ml NU.HtvONIV Mi ll IHMKI I si Mil IIMf KtUHVATION lir Tiffany Tiffany Art Decoc. 1920 SELL with the LEADING INTERNATIONAL BUYERS of DIAMOND AND' ESTATE JEWELRY 1 Strictly Confidential 1 Immediate Payment We Top AH Offers Phone Quotes IESTATE Jewelry Collection 73-1 1 1 El Paseo, Palm Desert (760)779-1856 (beside Culstot Restaurant) Home cookiwr? We'll tcllpuliow to; DESERT HORIZONS SPECTACULAR! 3bd, 3ba Large courtyard Saultillo tile inside and out Views, views 2813 sq.

ft. High beamed ceilings Wet Bar Large closets This special home located in one ol the deserts premier clubs will not last long. This home has a warm wonderful leel. From the minute you step into the spacious courtyard you know this home is spectacular and at this price, a great buyl $395,000 Jerry Rheams Pager 760-861-2900 Office: 760-771-5454 Email: jjwr8435aol.com 0 Fred Sands DESERT REALTY HEHTUP. DICE UP, GRILL UP.

SEE' EIHP. 1 Aake it thetr Books help you get things done, get into shape KNIGHT RIDDER.TRIBUNB NEWS SERVICE "Getting Things Done," by David Allen (Viking, $24.95 hardcover). "Top-down" organization doesn't work for many people, says this management trainer. Clarifying personal or corporate missions sounds great but who has time? Most people can't stop juggling interruptions and rewriting "incomplete lists of unclear" tasks long enough to think a few hours ahead. "Getting current on and in control of what's in your in-basket and on your mind right now" is a more practical way to go, he says.

"The Biology of Success," by Robert Arnot, M.D. (Little, Brown $14.95 paperback). NBC's Dr. Bob is the correspondent with a cure, as his previous books indicate. This time he prescribes sleep, diet, exercise and positive thinking habits that are supposed to make you energetic and success-prone.

Quizzes and advice help readers play to their dominant personality traits and most productive hours of the day, among other things. There are good tips here, but to follow his program you'll need huge reserves of freedom, focus and Gas-X. XKf -ii Whtt I A. 1 W. Just do one simple thing.

30 off Gold Necklaces Earrings 4 "'xft- Jewelry repairs and special orders it All jewelry repairs done on premises if Watch repair available (I ii 73-330 El PaseoT Palm Desert, 346-8535, 9-5 closed (Irealioe tl'iotoer Aoon (irrvr 6. ENROLLING NOW "FREE ESTIMATES" Shower Doors Heavy Glass Custom Mirrors Custom Etching Closet Doors pdvns The Desert Sun has a great advertising package for you. This page is just part of the package: For more info, contact: PALM SPRINGS 322-2222 PALM DESERT 341-6222 1 OR 1-800 -233-31 4xl 73 463 Guadalupe Ave, Palm Desert ASSISTED LIVING FOR SENIORS 'SiaffulKilh and nuuuipti with Energy Efficient Replacement Windows Save on your electric bill 1EAVY CLASS If CIS C3 SPECIALTY" NEW YEARHiTfp. Ail Tub Enclosures Instilled (Standard Frame 60 57 38 wtvor obtcm or dear giant Call Dan (he Shower Ucwm Bonded, in'fSSS) Jiot'oer door 461584 746-9373 Lie. 336403416 Call 760-340-3909.