Comments on: Raising a Reader

By: Str4y

Str4y — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:35:05 +0000

As someone who, yes, is a born bookworm…I want to give an internet high-five for this article…and also share a few comments/ideas of my own.
I think that all parents should encourage their children to read…it’s a wonderful world of awesome. My mom read to me every night — and not JUST simple, kid-friendly books…Lord of the Rings, Ivanjoe, Treasure Island (I’ve always had a weakness for fantasy and adventure…) and I grew up loving reading. I ALSO grew up with a pretty darn good vocabulary and decent spelling skills.
However…if reading is forced, it’s a chore and something that a child will grow up shunning.
One of the most successful tactics in my experience is to find books the young reader is interested in — I know this isn’t brain surgery or anything, but letting the child choose the book (or hey…letting the book choose the child, I suppose) means that the reading is a) something THEY are choosing to do and b) something that is interesting to them.
Also, if reading looks cool, they’ll want to do it. I love to read and have awesome purple hair and cool clothes…and seeing ME reading all the time convinced my neighbor’s 10 year old daughter that reading might not be so square after all. I loaned her the first books in a couple series–Warriors and Series of Unfortunate Events–and she fell in love with Warriors. Now her mom has to convince her to STOP reading at night to go to bed, and everyone who will hold still gets filled in on the latest plot developments.
I will rent myself out for a reasonable hourly price.

By: Raising A Reader MA

Raising A Reader MA — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:12:57 +0000

Dialogic reading is key. Fantastic post!

Best,
Dana at Raising A Reader MA

By: Peta Love, Author of Beef Casserole for the Dog's Soul

Peta Love, Author of Beef Casserole for the Dog's Soul — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:41:29 +0000

What a fantastic article! My girl is only 5 and she has always used books as way to ‘center herself’ even when a baby. She would sit with a pile of books and systematically ‘read’ them. I am a big reader and she has definitely imitated my behaviour.

i also wanted to write a reply because as you noted in your article, dogs are wonderful assistants in helping children who are learning to read or who may need a little help being turned on to books. I wrote an article about this recently on my blog.

i am also hopeful that parents with dogs might allow their children to read my book, Beef Casserole for the Dog’s Soul, to their dog since it is dog-friendly, (as in written to be read aloud to dogs) and family-friendly. Children are likely to get an extra-good response from their dog reading it – fun head tilting etc. from their dog which in turn makes reading even more fun in an unusual way!

Forgive me plugging my book in a comment! I do it with all good intentions and love.

love,
Peta