An Exhortation

A couple of weeks ago, I read Diary of a Wimpy Kid (see my other blog for a thorough review of this book) as I was curious to see why this series has been so popular in recent years. I was appalled. I would not want my child to read this book. I immediately began to wonder why so many other parents allowed their children to read it. After perusing many reviews - written by parents, teachers, and librarians - several themes began to emerge. I would like to take some time to address one of the most common arguments and exhort all of us to adopt a different approach to raising good readers.

Argument: "This book is not great, but if it gets reluctant kids to read, then that's good."

Response: In an era when the average child spends many hours per day watching television and playing video games, you frequently hear this argument. We assume that reading anything at all is better than reading nothing. I am a huge advocate of reading, yet I disagree with this sentiment.

Let us consider a food analogy. If given a choice, many children would prefer to eat junk food as opposed to healthier options. However, a responsible parent would not yield to this desire and respond with the attitude, "Well, it's not great, but at least my child is eating something." Parents know that this approach is not healthy for their children. And yet this is exactly our attitude when it comes to reading. We assume that something - even if it is degenerate - is better than nothing.

In my opinion, the ideas and images to which we expose ourselves are ultimately more affecting than even the food we consume. If we aspire to become wiser people, then we ought to pursue what is good and true. I do not mean that we should only read books that agree with our value system, but I would encourage parents to use more discernment. If we want our children to grow into men and women of character, we need to guide them toward literature that fosters admirable values and supplies honorable role models.

Given the above argument, what can parents do to inspire reluctant readers to partake of quality literature? The short answer is: expose them to it. Practically speaking, here are some specific steps parents can take to support their struggling reader.

1. Be aware of what your child is reading and interact with him about his book choices. If there is a book that is very popular, and your child really wants to read what his peers are reading, at the very least be prepared to discuss the content with him. For example, if my child were reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid, I would be asking him what he thinks about Greg: "Is he a good friend?" "Does he do the right thing? Why or why not?" "What motivates him to act?" It is through this type of discussion that we teach our children what is right, true, and valuable.

2. Find someone whose judgement you trust and ask for book suggestions. Then, when your child visits the library, provide him with a list of titles and authors to help guide his search. Having been an elementary school teacher, I know how little time librarians and teachers have available to help students choose quality books. Without this adult guidance, children usually turn to their peers for recommendations.

3. Read out loud to your child. This activity does not have to end when your child is able to read by himself. Not only can this be a wonderful bonding experience, but it provides a natural way for you to introduce your child to books that you believe are worthwhile.

4. Obtain books on CD so that your child can experience stories that may otherwise be above his reading level. Your local library can be a valuable resource in this regard.

5. Familiarize yourself with children's literature, both past and current. Be prepared to suggest alternatives and introduce new genres.

Some children will never be great readers, but we should continue to motivate them. Help your child to discover the joys of reading great literature - books that expand our horizons, foster creativity, and inspire us to be better people. And, in the midst of it all, always remember that being a wise person is ultimately more important than being a prolific reader.

Easter Books

Here are two book suggestions for Easter:

The Easter Egg
Author and Illustrator: Jan Brett
Genre: Picture Book
Age Level: 4-8 years

The bunny who decorates the most beautiful Easter egg gets to accompany the Easter Bunny when he hides the eggs on Easter morning. This year, Hoppi is excited to participate for the first time. The problem is he needs an idea, so he goes around looking at what the other rabbits are doing, hoping to get some inspiration. Some very artistic rabbits are creating some amazing eggs, but whose egg will the Easter Bunny choose?

This is a great story with a good message about the importance of self-sacrifice and kindness. Jan Brett's illustrations are wonderful as always.


The Robe
Author: Lloyd C. Douglas
Illustrator: Dean Cornwell
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 14+ years

This tale follows the life of Tribune Marcellus, the Roman soldier who was directly responsible for carrying out Jesus’ crucifixion. While casting lots, Marcellus wins Jesus’ robe. At first, due to the effects the Robe has on him, he believes it is cursed. However, at his darkest moment, he touches the Robe and it brings him peace. He decides he wants to find out more about this man named Jesus. He sets off on a tour of the Galilean region where Jesus had been most active and meets many people along the way who were touched by this special man. He gradually becomes convinced that Jesus was the Messiah as he claimed, and becomes a Christian. Unfortunately, being an early Christian in the time when Caligula was ruling the Roman Empire, was a dangerous proposition. What will Marcellus do when he is confronted about his new found belief?

This tale is an interesting take on the early days of Christianity told from the perspective of a Roman soldier. It is a great story with memorable characters drawn from historical figures. I did not always agree with the underlying theological perspectives, but enjoyed reading this book anyway.

National Library Week (April 10-16)

In honor of National Library Week, I thought I would review a few picture books that are library-themed. Here are a few that my children have discovered and enjoyed. Happy reading!

The Library
Author: Sarah Stewart
Illustrator: David Small
Age Level: 4-8 years

Elizabeth Brown loves to read – in fact, that’s all she does. She collects books until she eventually realizes that her house couldn’t possibly hold even one more. She donates her books to the town to establish a free public library so that everyone can enjoy reading them as much as she has.

Library Mouse
Author & Illustrator: Daniel Kirk
Age Level: 4-8 years

Sam is a library mouse who decides to write some books of his own. As each new book is discovered, the librarian becomes more intrigued, wondering who this new author could be. She invites Sam to appear at a Meet-the-Author event. Sam isn't convinced that would be a good idea (he is a mouse after all), but he does have another idea. Why not find a way to encourage the children to become authors themselves!

Our Library
Author: Eve Bunting
Illustrator: Maggie Smith
Age Level: 3-6 years

The story of a raccoon and his friends who set out to save their library which is in danger of being closed. They use books and ingenuity to meet each new challenge and eventually find the perfect solution.