cussed their feelings. Some of the
monthly on Tuesdays and the boys every
women remembered reading the Judy
six weeks on Thursdays.
Blume book as young girls. In each
Erlich manages administrative details
group, there were parental suggestions of
for both groups. She supplies them with
pamphlets or courses to help with ado-
book choices, information on the
lescent issues.
authors' writing styles and related read-
The adults dominated conversations
ings. Volunteer adult-child pairs take
in
both
groups until a rule was adopted
turns leading the meetings, a task that
requiring
two of the kids to speak before
includes facilitating discussions, creating
a
parent
was
allowed.
a project and arranging a snack.
Erlich
feels
the groups are helping
The girls' group decided to creative-
‘`ensure
that
our
children will become
ly bring in a food relating to the theme
lifelong readers by encouraging them to
of the book," Erlich said. Their male
read for pleasure," and by "providing
counterparts agreed quickly that the best
them with positive adult role models."
dinner for each meeting was pizza:
Active since Dec. 3, the boys' club
Although Erlich directs the meetings,
has
15 members — one dad joined with
which will run through May, male cler-
his
two
sons. The girls' group, begun the
gy have been asked to attend the boys'
same
week,
has 30 members, including
discussions.
two
grandmothers.
Rabbi Joshua Bennett found it
Babe Fink joined to spend "an
important "for the boys to come here
evening alone" with her youngest grand-
with their dads and be scholars togeth-
child, Lauren Fink, 10. Karen Manchel
er." His participation brought a religious
joined with her 9-year-old daughter
element, connecting bible stories and
Allison after finding that "there are not
moral issues to experiences from the
too many things that we can do with
book.
just
mother and daughter."
A peer pressure theme in E.L.
Evan
Samuels, 10, found the book
The
View
from
Saturday,
Konigsburg's
club a way to read something he and his
read by the boys, elicited a discussion on
father both enjoy, instead of his dad's
how "to do the right thing."
usual choices of "books about Indians or
Books read by both groups included
history or how things work." His father,
other life issues as well. Reading about
Gary, agreed, finding the club "a great
the religious choices made by the child
forum for realizing how your kids'
of intermarried parents elicited a lengthy
thoughts and ideas are maturing."
discussion among the girls when they
While reading the book together,
realized many in their group lived in
they
"stopped numerous times, leaving
similar situations.
the story to discuss other things," said
The children express themselves in
Gary. "It's always nice to get surprised
front of their peers, and learn from the
about your kids." P
comments of others. Parents, too, dis-

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Detroit Jewish News

2/19
1999

33

