When we sat down to plan our Kid's Club, and were thinking about our military community, we knew our club had to follow a few rules in order to make it interesting and worthwhile.

First of all, we wanted to call it a "Kid's Club" to stress the importance of independence in youth involvement with this activity. We didn't just want to have a bunch of moms showing up with half-bored kids in-tow; rather, we wanted to build a bridge between kids and the topics that speak to THEM and their unique military family culture...the literature that makes the greatest impact in THEIR lives.

Next, because we know kids pretty well (we're all moms), we knew we couldn't have a typical book club, where we all read the same book and discussed it. That would be too much like school. We decided to have two main groups: the Kittens (ages 4 - 7) and the Paws (ages 8 - 12). Each month, we choose a theme for each book club, and we have activities that give opportunities for kids to put what they learned from reading into practice.

KITTEN CLUB | ages 4 - 7
Popular book titles for this age group may include: "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown; "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Seuss; "Angie the Ant" series by Susi Beatty and Keri Gunter, "Hey...Do YOU Have a Positive Attitude?" by Tommy Ford, and more.

Our very own Donna Ebron has a brand-new picture and coloring books series, "Tales of Berkeley Manor", which highlights Chillin, Ebony, and Leatherneck -- 3 special houses that have memorable military family stories to share.

PAWS CLUB | ages 8 - 12
With a selection of themes that range from transitioning to social interaction and character building , the Paws Club is a great resource for kids & pre-teens who want to explore life through reading. Club members meet to exchange ideas, discuss different book topics and how it translates into their lives as "military brats".

Additionally, during the month of November, we celebrate Military Appreciation Month by selecting volunteer project. Individual clubs can choose their own activities, including assisting at food banks, USO, shelters, Habitat for Humanity, and more.

KIDS CLUB FACILITATORS NEEDED!
We are always looking for creative, energetic book lovers who have a gift of keeping our kids engaged! High school or college students seeking volunteer credit hours are encouraged to apply. No experience necessary; integrity of character and a positive spirit is a must! For more information or an application, please contact info@lionessbookclub.org.