Raising Bookworms: Getting Kids Reading for Pleasure and Empowerment
By Emma Walton Hamilton
My thoughts:
Growing up I read countless books on subjects that interested me including tornadoes, insects, wildlife, and of course, fictional fairy tales and other stories I could get lost in. After having children of my own, something I knew for certain was that I wanted them to be readers too–not just for school, but to actually develop a love for reading and learning for life. It couldn’t be more of a challenge, especially now in a world full of electronic competition.
In this book the author demonstrates how parents and teachers can guide children toward reading, and help establish a love for reading beginning as early as baby hood. She shares strategies for different age groups and some eye-opening statistics. There are also recommended book lists for each age group, and a resource section which includes recommended books and other publications, organizations, and websites for parents and educators.
One of my favorite aspects of the book were the quotes shared for each chapter…
“Properly, we should read for power. Man reading should be man intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one’s hand.” –Ezra Pound, Poet
The book does seem repetitive throughout, but the way it’s organized is what makes it feel that way. Each section covers a different age range and some suggestions for early elementary-aged children also pertain to middle-grade readers; for example, “keep books everywhere” is a suggestion for all age groups. If you’re reading it from front to back, the book might seem monotonous, but one who just focuses on their child’s age will get exactly what they’re looking for.
A big question I had before reading this book was: “Should I still be reading aloud to my middle-graders?” The answer is a resounding yes!
“Keep reading with your child. Really. Continue reading aloud to your older child, wherever and whenever possible. It isn’t until around eighth grade that young people’s reading abilities and listening skills converge–meaning that until that point, children can understand a great deal more of what is read to them than they are able to read themselves, both in terms of vocabulary and ideas. This alone should be incentive enough to continue reading aloud with kids through middle-school. But there’s also the fact that continuing to read together through the middle school years keeps the connection between reading and pleasure alive, as well as helping young people to become better readers themselves and discover what kinds of stories and authors inspire them. Plus, it provides important opportunities for you to explore social and moral issues together.”
I was full of positivity after learning that because reading together is something we still enjoy doing (even though they’re perfectly capable of reading on their own), and to know it’s beneficial is comforting. After reading through this book, it’s apparent that I’ve done much of what I can, but there’s certainly still room for improvement as well.
Overall, this is a book I recommend for parents, teachers, or anyone who has a chance in helping a child establish the connection between reading and pleasure. There’s a wealth of information here and it’s a great book to have for reference.
4****
Find this book on Goodreads and Amazon:
- Paperback: 190 pages
- Publisher: Beech Tree Books; 1st edition (December 1, 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 098158330X
- ISBN-13: 978-0981583303
From Goodreads:
This book offers creative strategies, tips, and activities to help young people discover – or rediscover – the joy and empowerment of reading.
Thanks for reading my review! Do your children love to read? Did you love reading as a child? Let’s chat in the comments section!
❤ Mischenko
I love the idea of reading aloud to middle graders. I didn’t do this, but it makes sense that it’s beneficial! Great review, Mischenko!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! ❤
LikeLike
Lovely review, M! I just love the ideas behind this book and that you are still reading to your kids, no matter the age!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jen!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, we didn’t do everything right, but we certainly did manage to raise bookworms.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s great, Mitch. My oldest son who is now 19 used to love to read. He’s so busy now with work and friends that he doesn’t read much anymore. I do remember having ups and downs with reading in my younger days too. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I think it’s important to read to your children. Several benefits–the closeness, modeling the enjoyment, and introducing them to the big world out there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally agree! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 😉
LikeLike
For every baby shower, I have gone to, I buy a book for the unborn child.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s sweet, Martie. A great idea! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing, Jen. I’ll pick this up as I am interested in learning more about how to keep children reading for pleasure. Like your rightly pointed out, the competition is stiff with so many other options out there for children. When I was growing up, we had far fewer options so a lot of children my age read for pleasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s exactly how it was when I was growing up too. We had video games, but there wasn’t internet or anything like that. This one is definitely worth checking out. Thank you 💙
LikeLiked by 1 person
How interesting. I never thought that reading outloud could still have such an impact on kids. Honestly, my older kids read so much on their own, we barely read together at all. Maybe I’ll have to get that going again… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d questioned it too, Lorilin. I guess my thought was that they’d be better off reading the words on their own. I think we have a decent balance of both and it’s nice to know there are benefits to still reading out loud. Thanks! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: October 2019 Wrap-up #Books #BookReviews #Music #ReadingChallenge #October – ReadRantRock&Roll