"Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them."
- Arnold Lobel


ABOUT

Every Tuesday is Book Review Day, where I review and recommend a children's book.

Every Wednesday is Wise Owl Wednesday, where you can butter up your brain with some children's literature facts - history, milestones, trivia ... stop by here to learn a little something about the amazing world of books for the young!

Every Thursday is Literacy Tip Day, where I offer literacy suggestions for your children based upon my teaching and parenting experience.



Keep cozy this fall with a good book!

11 June 2010

Literacy Tip #7 - Let Them Read Literature They Enjoy!

Photo from weheartit.com

Lately, as I have been posting literacy tips about reluctant readers, I have noticed many comments regarding children's roles in choosing literature.

Always, always allow your child to choose what he or she would like to read for pleasure in addition to providing them with books of your choice! No child in the world will come to enjoy reading if he or she is never able to choose reading material.

As parents, of course we want to introduce our children to high-quality, well-written literature...and we must! However, as one reader here mused, "Reading is reading!".  I agree completely.  As children read books they enjoy, which may or may not adhere to the criteria of high-quality, solid literature, they build their literacy skills.  It is as simple as that.

Magazines, comic books, graphic novels - all of these play an important role in developing readers! Don't be afraid to let your children choose their own reading material - this is very empowering and satisfying to them.

Now watch your reader be off and running with confidence!!!




Here are some suggestions for graphic novels:

Redwall: The Graphic NovelThe Invention of Hugo CabretLittle & Large (Sock Monkey (Graphic Novels))Coraline: The Graphic NovelThe ArrivalArtemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel


Reluctant readers also enjoy mysteries - I love the Chasing Vermeer series by Blue Balliett! I would highly recommend reading this series - super, super fun and highly educational at the same time!

Chasing VermeerWright 3The Calder Game

Enjoy!

What are some graphic novels and/or mysteries your child enjoys?

Finally, here is the last clue for Mystery Friend Friday:  Who is the new kid on your block?



 

3 comments:

Sandy said...

I forgot Artemis Fowl had a graphic novel version!I tried to get my brother (10) interested in the novels because I have them all but he never got interested enough to read all those chapters of words. He might like the graphic novel version because he does like manga :).

Kathleen said...

I could not agree more! I'm just happy if my teenage son is reading, even if it is a magazine, I'm happy!

Jen Vincent said...

I completely agree that kids have to choose what they want to read! A just-right book is one that's at their reading level but also at their interest level! I know lots of kids who got into reading when they read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. I just finished Big Nate, which is in the same style/format as Wimpy Kid and I think kids would love it. I'm not a fan of books based on TV shows, but I do think they are useful in transitioning kids who watch lots of TV but don't read. At least they can relate to the shows on TV and then you can talk to them about books from there.

I agree parents shouldn't force kids to read certain books, but book talks are magical. If a parent reads a book and slyly tells the kid about it, it just might be them interested!!!!

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