Raising a Reader, a Guest Post by Randall de Sève
Ok,
so maybe I shouldn’t have read VALLEY OF THE DOLLS at 12. But there it was, on our bookshelves, calling
out to me with such an appealing title. And
then, once I cracked it…
Ok,
the point is I read it because it was
there. I also read an enormous
collection of GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES; Bernard Malamud short stories, Kafka’s THE
TRIAL and a host of other fine literature. All because they were there, on our shelves, asking to be plucked off
and perused.
Kids
do things that grab their attention. For
something to grab a child’s attention, it has to be in view. As a child, I was surrounded by books, so I
became a reader.
I
also became a reader because my parents were readers. My mother still starts every day with a cup
of coffee and a novel; my father loves nothing more than to sit on their porch
with the New York Times or a biography. Theirs is a mostly quiet home (but not a monastery—they do enjoy their
music and movies) where you can always find a place to cuddle up and read. And so now, when we visit, my daughters do,
too.
How
many times have I heard parents complain that their older children don’t read,
only to visit their homes where books are scarce because everything is now
digital? And who knows what a parent on
a tablet is really doing?
Now
I’m not saying that the only way to raise readers is to surround them by paper
books; but I am saying that there are new challenges today in bringing up
literate kids. If you’re a parent who
reads on a tablet:
*Let
your child know that you’re reading (as
opposed to, say, checking twitter).
*Let
your child know what you're reading. It doesn’t have to be a huge
conversation—just an “I’m reading this great book about…” Show that it’s interesting to you and worthy
of your attention.
*Show
your child how you choose books from
your vast, invisible e-library or
store; and, if s/he reads on a tablet, help her/him to do the same. This is your chance to steer your child
toward some excellent literature. But, please,
don’t push too hard. Most school-aged
children are at some stage of push back—it’s how they become individuals. Suggest, but then step back and let your
child choose; s/he’ll be more invested if s/he does.
No
matter how you do it, surround your child with books and quiet reading, and
chances are, at least sometimes, s/he’ll join you. Unless, of course, s/he’s found VALLEY OF THE
DOLLS. That one s/he’ll probably keep
secret.
Randall de Seve is the New York Times-bestselling author of Toy Boat, The Duchess of Whimsy, Mathilda and the Orange Balloon, and A Fire Truck Named Red. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband, two daughters, and a very wicked dog named Henry Biscuit.
Borrow A Fire Truck Named Red from your school or public library. Whenever possible, please support independent bookshops.
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