Book Clubs Can Help Youths Get the Reading Bug

Reading turns into an addiction with regular exposure to books and people who love them. So, if you want to get your kids hooked, expose them to age-appropriate book clubs. They can hang out with their pals in a safe setting and get the reading bug. Check out these clubs for your young readers.

* Bookbusters is a club that focuses on intermediate and young adult fiction. It meets monthly, usually on the second Sunday, at 4 p.m. at Borders Books & Music in Thousand Oaks. The discussion group is led by Wildwood Elementary School librarian Mary Lock. Today’s featured book is “The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963” by Christopher Curtis.

* Life & Times, a biography group for 8- to 12-year-olds, meets at 4:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble. The April 27 meeting will focus on Laura Ingalls Wilder. Recent subjects for in-depth discussions included Daniel Boone and Jackie Robinson.

* The very young can attend “First Book Story Time” the second Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m. at the Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble. A similar club meets at the Ventura Barnes & Noble the last Friday of the month at 7 p.m. The events benefit First Book, a national nonprofit organization. Publishers of featured books will make a donation to this organization, which gives disadvantaged children new books.

* The American Girl Club targets girls who enjoy the book series about girls living during various times in U.S. history. The club meets at the Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble the third Tuesday of the month at 4 and 7 p.m. The April 20 meeting features American Girl Addy. At the Ventura Barnes & Noble, the American Girl Club meets the fourth Wednesday at 7 p.m. The April 28 meeting will feature Kirsten and craft-making. An RSVP for the Ventura club meeting is requested by April 26. Call 339-9170.

* A Children’s Musical Adventure heralds a new program that combines reading and music for the family. Children will learn how the instruments of an orchestra look and sound. They will meet for the first time April 25 at 2:30 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble to read and listen to Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf.”

If these choices won’t work for your family, consider starting your own reading club for children. It’s never too soon to launch a good habit--even if it becomes an addiction.

HAPPENINGS

* Today at noon. Mystery author Chuck Freadhoff will discuss and sign his book “Blue Rain” at Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks (374-0084).

* Today at 2:30 p.m. Jeffrey Mark and Risa Gruberger will discuss and sign their new parenting book “What’s Right? What’s Wrong: A Guide to Talking About Values for Parents and Kids.” This book is part of the Readers Digest Parenting Guides for ages 5-15. At Calabasas Barnes & Noble, 4735 Commons Way ([818] 222-0542).

* Today at 3 p.m. Animal behavior expert Larry Lachman will discuss and sign his new book “Dogs on the Couch: Behavior Therapy for Training and Caring for Your Dog” at Borders Books & Music, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks (497-8159).

* Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The Ventura County Writers Club welcomes guest speaker Gene Perrett, a comedy writer and recipient of three Emmys who can tell you what’s funny, what isn’t and why. He has written more than 20 books on comedy and humor. Free and open to the public. At Borders Books & Music, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks (497-8159).

* Friday at 3 p.m. Story time at Adventures for Kids, 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura (650-9688).

* Friday at 7 p.m. Author John Reitano and illustrator William Haines will discuss their book, “What If the Zebras Lost Their Stripes?” at the Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St. (339-9170).

* Friday at 7:15 p.m. Author Ruth S. Jacobowitz will discuss and sign “The Estrogen Answer Book” at The Oaks at Ojai, 122 E. Ojai Ave, (646-5573).

* Friday at 7:30 p.m. Slam Poetry, an open competition of performance poetry facilitated by poet / radio personality Roni. Sign-ups at 7 p.m. At Borders Books & Music, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks (497-8159). Pick up contest rules at Borders or e-mail Laughing BPD@aol.com.

* Friday at 7:30 p.m. Fabulous Funnies book-signing and demonstration featuring artist / author Mark O’Hare of the comic strip “Citizen Dog” at Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., Thousand Oaks (446-2820).

* Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Peter Rabbit visits the Calabasas Barnes & Noble. Parents may bring cameras. 4735 Commons Way, ([818] 222-0542).

* Saturday. Three author events sponsored by Mysteries to Die For. The first two will be at 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. At 10 a.m., Kirk Mitchell, author of “Cry Dance,” and at noon, M.D. Lake, author of “Death Calls the Tune,” will sign and discuss their books. The third event, at 4:30 p.m., features Peter Robinson, author of “In a Dry Season,” who will discuss and sign his book at the Crown and Anchor Pub, Skyline Plaza, 2891 Thousand Oaks Blvd. (374-0084).

* Saturday at 7 p.m. Author Helen Hood discusses and signs her book “Awakened Heart Parenting: Relating to and Raising Children (Infants and Toddlers) as Spirit Beings.” At Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., Thousand Oaks (446-2820).

* Saturday at 8 p.m. “Ojai Shorts,” an annual fund-raising event for the Ojai Valley libraries, sponsored by the Ojai Valley Library Friends and Foundation. It features local personalities and professional actors reading literary selections. (649-0368).

Catch you next week.