Fostering a Love of Reading in Children

This week, I ate at a popular hamburger chain. The sign said that kids could read four books and them get a free hamburger.

It made me think of different kinds of reading programs I have seen.

Some of them offer a prize or a treat after reading so many pages or for so many minutes. The prize might be a ticket to an amusement or water park.

Some summer reading programs offer a trinket from a treasure box. I love to read

Others allow the children to move a construction paper shape to a new position on the wall in the room.

Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE summer reading programs,

But today I was thinking about some reading statements I have heard from parents recently.

“My child will only read books about Abraham Lincoln.”

“My child will only read graphic novels.”

And I say, “GREAT!”

Oh, it wouldn’t be great when it is time to do a devotion.

It also wouldn’t be great during the school year.

But this IS summer – right?

What a wonderful time to read anything you want (as long as it is moral). Last week I posted about different genres of books for children.

I applaud the kids who know what kind of books they love. And I applaud even louder for the parents who let them do it.

So… What kinds of books are your kids reading this summer? I’d love to know…

Carol

Comments

Fostering a Love of Reading in Children — 7 Comments

Liz Wadsworth on July 18, 2015 at 6:41 am said:

‘“My child will only read books about Abraham Lincoln.”

“My child will only read graphic novels.”

And I say, “GREAT!”’

Yes! My husband (who is a school librarian) has a stock response to those kind of statements which is along the lines of “The important word in that sentence is ‘read’, not ‘only’!”
The important thing is the LOVE of reading – if children learn to love reading they can grow and develop their tastes, whereas if they’re always being told “no you’re reading the wrong kind of book, that’s not ‘proper’ reading” that love is soon going to get squashed.
I strongly believe that all reading is valuable especially if it is done (or discussed afterwards) WITH others, whether that’s friends, teachers, parents, grandparents … Kids can learn so much about the world and make new connections in thinking, even if they’re reading ‘only’ a graphic novel.
Thank you for the post 🙂
Liz
http://www.talesofbassily.com

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Carol McAdams Moore on July 18, 2015 at 8:45 am said:

Thanks, Liz. I picture the child who is standing at the librarian or bookseller’s desk asking to see every book about Lincoln, or shells, or cars, or… THAT is a child who will become a lifelong reader. That makes me very happy!

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Kathy Cassel on July 18, 2015 at 10:11 am said:

Jasmine is reading Farenheit 451 as her required summer reading going into 9th. Kingdom Keepers by choice. Also the City of Ember series and the Legend series.

Kaleb is reading an easy version of Robin Hood and the Geronimo Stilton series.

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- Carol McAdams Moore on July 19, 2015 at 12:02 pm said:
  
  Thanks for sharing these, Kathy Cassel! Summer is a time of adventure. Reading is an adventure that can take the child into exciting places. I love the way that those adventures can fill as much time as the young reader has.
  
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Kathy Cassel on July 18, 2015 at 10:16 am said:

I totally forgot to say that we have circle time twice a day during the summer. We are reading through my book The Christian Girl’s Guide to the Bible (even Kaleb!) and trying to read 100 picture books this summer. I think picture books are good for any age! So lots of Seuss, McCloskey etc also reading some traditional books. We’ve read The Forgotten Door by Alexander Key, Number the Stars by Lowery, Call it Courage, The Cay, The Giver, The Year of Miss Agnes, Heidi, Robin Hood, Journey to the Center of the Earth and The Prince and the Pauper. And probably some I’m forgetting about.

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- Carol McAdams Moore on July 19, 2015 at 12:02 pm said:
  
  Kathy,
  I do love picture books – even for adults.
  
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