Hooray! It’s summertime! No more teachers, no more books . . . um, what? No more books? Summer is a great time to relax, but it's no time for your child to stop learning!
Many schools have a summer reading list for students, typically made up of a few classic titles that wouldn’t ordinarily make the cut if it were up to your child. But with all the books out there, how do you help your child select age-appropriate titles that catch their interest?
The first place to go is your local public library. If you haven’t been there in a while, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Your librarian is trained to help you find what you’re looking for: a specific title, books that are good for reading out loud, books related to a particular topic or even books for kids in a specific age group.
Some parents enjoy providing award-winning books for their children. The Caldecott Medal (for illustration) and the Newberry Medal (for writing) are the two most important awards for children's literature. They are awarded each year by the American Library Association, but they are given to only two of the more than 2,500 new children's books published each year.
The library will also have several journals on hand that review children's books, including the Horn Book and Booklist; they can help keep you current with what’s new, what’s trending and what’s worth pursuing in children’s books.
You can find a huge variety of discounted books at library book sales (usually held annually) and used book stores. Jacksonville’s best is Chamblin Bookmine; the store on Roosevelt Boulevard has more than 50,000 square feet of books. There you can find hundreds of books – many in like-new condition – at discounted prices.
Lots of kids cut their reading chops on comic books, which have been around since the 1930s. These days, you have comics that tell the stories of teams of popular superheroes like DC Comics’ Justice League and Marvel’s Avengers, as well as comics dedicated to each of the superheroes individually.
Calvin and Hobbes is a comic that is no longer produced, but you can find them all in paperback at any local bookstore. Calvin and Hobbes will help you remember what it’s like to be a kid; it’s funny and endearing, perfect for children of all ages.
When your child is young, it’s a good idea to start a small library for them. Keep some books for little children to handle freely. And once your child learns to read for themselves, keep reading together - encourage them to read to you some of the time.
You really can’t go wrong with whatever your child selects to read: fiction, non-fiction, magazines, comic books or the newspaper. Reading nurtures literacy, language development and thinking skills. So find a few good books - enjoy your summer, and enjoy a good read!
No comments:
Post a Comment
All comments are moderated.