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Looking for reading material for your kids? Here are a few tips and resources to get your child interested in reading, and recommendations for the best books out there for children.
Reading by Interest
One of the ways to keep a child interested in reading is to give them reading material that follows an existing interest. If the hero of a story has a personality or interest that your child can relate to, he or she is more likely to get hooked on the story.
Is your daughter interested in horses, or take riding lessons? Direct her toward books about horses like Marguerite Henry's classics Misty of Chingoteague and King of the Wind. Does your son like tree forts and running around outside? On the next rainy day when he's stuck indoors, give him a copy of My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George.
Reading by Theme
Stories can help introduce a child to very grown-up concepts like justice, equality, forgiveness, right and wrong, and the importance of love and family. Mildred D. Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, set in Depression-Era Mississippi, covers all of these themes. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle, teaches the importance of love, creativity and individuality, even in children who don't feel special or creative.
Reading by Lists
All of the books mentioned previously in the article are past Newbery Award or Honor winners. The Newbery Medal is awarded to one book per year by the American Library Association. Up to four or five books each year are also given an Honor award. The ALA website lists all past winners dating back to 1922, and many winners are still considered to be among the best of Childrens Lit.
Reading the Classics
Don't be intimidated by a book just because it's older than you. Some are surprisingly accessible. Also, many classic stories like The Wind in the Willows and Treasure Island have been made into which are familiar to both you and your child, making the book a repeat of an already favorite story. Browsing the young readers section of penguingroup.com turns up other classic Children's authors like Frances Hodgson Burnett, Lewis Carroll, A.A. Milne, and E. Nesbit.
Reading Along
Studies have shown that children who are read to frequently develop certain learning skills younger and faster than their peers. Read together several nights each week, even if it's only one chapter at a time.
Be aware of what your children are reading by themselves, and make a point to familiarize yourself with the story. Asking your child questions about the book such as why a character chooses to do one thing over another will help to develop analytical and reading comprehension skills.
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