Growing a Reader: Kids' Books, Tips and More

It's something we do every day at the library – help children and paren'ts navigate the many shelves of fiction books for children and find something to read. When you come into the library, we ask a series of questions to help get a feel for what will be a good match for your child – some of these would be good questions to ask yourself, as well, to help get a bead on the book that will fit both your needs and those of your child.

One of the first and more imprtant questions is what he or she last enjoyed. This can give us an idea of whether this particular person wants to read something with lots of plot and action, something that makes them laugh, something a little more contemplative, or something that everyone else is reading, so they can share the experience. If it's not clear from the book they mention, or you're not familiar with that book, you can always follow up and ask what they liked about it, or what part they liked best.

Why all this emphasis on what they like? Quite simply, we want this to be an enjoyable experience for them! Who wants to do something that isn't any fun? And yes, this does mean that there ideally should be some wiggle room for allowing "junk," especially if you have a child who is not naturally drawn to reading.  Not only do we all need breaks and a little bit of brain candy, but series books and fluff are a nice comfort zone for kids who are intimidated by heavy reading. Some families will negotiate a "one for me, one for you" rule, to create a balance between the award-winners that please teachers and paren'ts and the lighter fare that some kids crave.

Trying to match the theme, style, or genre to the child is one of our first moves, but once there is a book that seems like a good fit, it is important to give the child a few minutes with that book. We recommend that they read the jacket flap, and that they open it up and try reading a few paragraphs. This tells them a few things. Do they like the writing style, or is it too dense? Is the reading level a good fit? Is there anything that creates interest and makes them want to read more? If this little trial has them wanting to read the book, the chances are high that they will enjoy it and read the whole book.

But what if you come without your child? Or if you are in a hurry and can't wait for your little reader to try out a few books? I usually send paren'ts out with a little selection, so that they can'take them home and let their kid browse and taste-test and choose the ones that work for them. The great joy of borrowing is that library books are free, so you can bring home an armload, and let them find their way to the ones that strike them. Soon, they'll learn to find their way to what they like, and we can help by simply making suggestions for them to take or leave – because no matter how much we might want to pass on our taste, our job is really to help them develop their own.