Building up Kids to Read

I just discovered a great article on CNN from the weekend about helping kids become readers.

Essentially, kids need to see adults in their lives reading - even if it is from an E-reader. Reading in front of kids sends the message that you care about reading, about learning, and that you enjoy discovering new things from books.

Second - kids need to be read to when they are little!

The problem is that middle and high income families know this. They read to their babies when they are young, and they buy them books when they are growing up.

But how do we transfer this knowledge to lower income and struggling families? How do we help them get the resources they need to help their babies?

Part of my belief in Library Build is that libraries have the power to help these families because libraries not only offer free books, but free classes, readings, and free resources for parents.

So how to create the connection between libraries and books, and the knowledge that reading is important - to everyone?

Doo-Wop Pop!

 

I am going through donated books for Rowen's library, and came across this one: "Doo-Wop Pop" which is by far one of the cutest books ever! Shy students who all feel a little awkward and unwanted in their school, are convinced by the school janitor to form a doo-wop group (hence the Doo-Wop Pop!). Through the group they learn to sing, to become friends, and to grow out of their shells. So awesome. 

Very excited that Rowen's library will soon be full of books like this!

How to get kids to read

I already posted today, but, I logged on to CNN, and bam! the lead story is about getting kids to read! So I had to post it here and make some comments!

Here's the link to the article: How to get your kid to be a fanatic reader.

First, kids get into reading when they see other people reading!

Second, kids need to be impressed upon about how important reading is. Not boring textbooks, but fun books.

Third, boys especially need access to graphic novels, comics, etc, to engage them in reading. Once they read these and find out reading is fun, you can move on to bigger and better things.


I really enjoyed reading this article because most of it resembles what I have said when I talk about Library Build: in order to enjoy reading, kids need to read; kids need easy access to books that they will enjoy; and kids need librarians, teachers, others, to show them how great reading can be.

Go read something!