What parent doesn't wish his or her child was a just a little more excited about reading? To answer this concern, reading motivation expert Nancy Newman will speak on "Raising Passionate Readers and Learners" at a parent seminar March 4, sponsored by the Plainedge Council of PTAs.

Newman is an educator, parent and author, whose first novel, Disturbing the Peace, was recently published by Harper Collins. Her seminar will address ways to help children develop the joy of reading and end the frustration parents often feel when their child doesn't love reading the way they do.

Her down-to-earth presentation gives practical strategies that even the busiest families can use with their children, and the results are proven. "It was refreshing to hear that a spirit of playfulness was much more productive than a sense of obligation when encouraging children to learn. The many concrete tips you shared were infused with a unique sense of fun, and I am sure will benefit the children of all those in attendance for years to come," stated one appreciative parent after attending Newman's seminar.

"Parents can turn children into avid readers if they know how to help them. It doesn't have to cost any extra time--it's all about knowing how to share the fun of using words," Newman explained. "Even children who have reading disabilities and read much later than others can become voracious readers if reading is connected to pleasure and they don't feel anxious. With the right kind of support in school and at home, reading difficulties can be ameliorated."

Those interested in attending Newman's seminar might also want to check out her novel, Disturbing the Peace, which centers on the emotional roller coaster ride of a 35-year-old single woman's search for and reunion with her birth mother. The book's larger theme is the importance of doing one's emotional homework, and, while it tackles some serious subjects, has a breezy, comic tone and is wrapped in a love story.

"Raising Passionate Readers and Learners" will be held in the Plainedge High School Cafeteria at 7:30 p.m.