Choosing
Books for Kids
There's no shortage of books for
kids out there. The problem is finding books that kids will
actually want to read--and that they will get something out
of--rather than just the "fluff" that fills so much
of our bookstores.
A good book will stay with a
child. It will transport him or her to a new world, help him
or her to experience new events, to learn about making
difficult choices, to feel the wonder of new discovery. Not
all books provide this.
It is so crucial, though, that
kids read. Kids who read for pleasure do better in school, get
better jobs, and are often healthier emotionally.
So how do we get kids to read?
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First,
pick good books. Here are my favourites,
divided by age group:
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Second,
read to your kids. Even when they're older. The
family that reads together experiences together. You share
adventures and sorrows, and have a whole other level of
communication. Reading is an easy time for low stress
sustained contact with your kids, and keeps them
interested in books. Even though Rebecca, our oldest, has
been reading for well over a year, she still cherishes the
time that we read out loud to her. So don't stop!
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Third,
read yourself. If your kids see you reading,
they'll know reading is important. If they never see you
pick up a book, they'll wonder what all the fuss is about.
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Fourth,
don't be afraid to try something new. It's easy
to stick to the familiar: the Franklin books, the Arthur
books, the Magic School Bus, all the books that have been
commercialized. But children's books are timeless: books
that were great in 1960 are still great today. Ask the
librarians about the classics, or follow some of my links
below.
Happy
reading!
Try these
other booklists, too:
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