Reader's Choice

Summer Reading is in full swing and without a doubt, we’ve had parents requesting classics, literary books, and titles that will challenge their kids, rather than picking up the Diary of a Wimpy Kid title for the 100th time.  And while classics, literary fiction and challenging works have their place, I strongly believe that kids need to learn to read for fun rather than what’s required of them. As an adult, when was the last time you read something that was required of you (outside of work)? Or that you read something that challenged you?

I just spent the last three days reading a Nora Roberts trilogy – sappy, romantic, happy endings, the works. Nora Roberts tends to be my guilty pleasure books, I know everything is going to work out in the end, they don’t take much thought process, but I love them. If kids only read things picked out for them by teachers, parents, and adults – how will they learn how great reading can be? When kids read the same title over and over again, it’s because they like it, the book makes them feel confident in their skills and isn’t that what we’re looking for? Confident readers, that enjoy reading?

So the next time you stop by the local library or bookstore, allow your kids to peruse those titles that make them want to read and maybe slip in a few read-alike titles that a librarian or bookseller can suggest, maybe they’ll pick up those new titles right away and if not, when they’re ready, they will! Happy Reading!