Iowa’s first lady is asking parents to consider giving their kids books as a gift this holiday season. A certified teacher and an avid reader, Christie Vilsack has made literacy her focus at Terrace Hill, the Iowa governor’s mansion.The first lady says adolescent books” are some of the best being written today and many adult books are suitable for young readers, as are books on tape which let them listen as they read. Mrs. Vilsack herself just finished reading one of this year’s best-sellers for adult readers, “The Secret Life of Bees,” by novelist Sue Monk Kidd. She says the book’s about a 14-year-old girl and she’d recommend it for middle-school-aged readers, saying there’s nothing inappropriate and it’s a “wonderful read.” She’s also recommended another book from adult best-seller lists, “Girl With a Pearl Earring.” Vilsack says to make a gift personal, read the book yourself first and then give it to a child so you can discuss it while they’re reading it. Other favorites she recommends: “The Da Vinci Code” and “Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key,” a story of a boy with attention-deficit disorder. For more, check out the first lady’s website, www.christievilsack.org
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