Connecting Kids with Books

In spite of my very busy week filled with programs and getting ready for Enchanted Library on Friday, I had a mom stop by my desk this afternoon and thank me for getting her son interested in Gordon Korman’s book Ungifted.  Before discovering Gordon Korman, he wasn’t necessarily a “bad reader,” he was (and still is) particular.  He could breeze through a stack of books, glancing merely at the cover and not be interested in a single one.
After yet another stack of books to try, I was finally able to find something that grabbed his attention and created a reader.  He’s into science, engineering, robotics and computers and so seeing a robot on the cover of Ungifted made all the difference.  Now, as his mom let me know, he’s breezing through the Swindle series, asking for the next one before he’s finished the one he’s reading.  He’s upset when he forgets his book at home for his school day and is reading for long stretches of time.
There’s no such thing as a non-reader – you’ve just got to find the right book and connect them to it!  Not always easy, but makes my job worth it!  I am so grateful to be doing something I love every day and being able to make a difference in a child’s life.
 
Addition: I just got another visit from a first grade boy who for the past month would only check out superhero books – that’s it.  No Star Wars, Scooby-Doo, nonfiction, nothing, except superheroes.  And I’m not talking stretching this idea – only Marvel and DC superheroes were agreed upon.  Now, we have a lot of superhero books, but after awhile he had read them all.  Last week, I finally convinced him to try the Lunch Lady series by Jarrett Krosoczka.  He just stopped by and actually wanted to read the next one!  Success!  This has been an AWESOME day!