BOOK SMART

HOW TO MAKE READING NOT SUCH A NOVEL IDEA FOR YOUR CHILDREN

Book Smart

Inspiring your kids to love reading at an early age
has a deep, powerful and lasting effect on their lives.
Case in point: Sophie Epstein, a 13-year-old avid
—make that voracious—reader who’s garnering
national acclaim for her young-adult book blog, Mrs.
Magoo Reads (www.mrsmagooreads.com). With
her blog, which features book and video reviews,
author interviews, and more, Epstein has created not only a valuable resource for young readers and their parents but a keen and modern way to breed an appreciation of books. Here, she gives you her tips on fostering your little characters’ love of the written word—a relationship that’s certain to take them places, real and imagined.

1. Read to them every night
Choose a book with your child and read a certain amount (a chapter or two) every night before he or she goes to bed. As long as you have picked an interesting book, the activity will accustom your child to reading and will wake up his or her creative imagination.

2. Start a book club
Start a “book club” with your child. After finishing a book, take your child out to dinner or for ice cream to discuss it. What did you like? What didn’t you like? Who was your favorite character and why? What do you think happened to the characters after the novel? (If this is a hit, you could also consider starting a more formal club with a few other parent-child pairs.)

3. Don’t force it
Forcing your child to read a book he or she isn’t interested in can turn him or her off to reading at a very early age. If you are reading aloud and your kid seems bored, don’t bother sticking with the book, even if it is your childhood favorite. And don’t force your child to read a heavy classic if he or she is obviously reluctant to pick it up. The desire to read it will come in time—meanwhile, focus on reading for enjoyment.

4. Participate in contests
Foster your child’s competitive side by entering local reading contests. If neither your school nor library hosts any, gather together with a few other parents to organize a competition. If all else fails, start a contest between your family members!

5. Be impressed
If your child is just learning to read, remember to turn every word he or she gets correct into an accomplishment. Making your pride clear will, in turn, make your child proud about his or her reading ability.

6. Don’t use the “you won’t understand” line
As long as a novel doesn’t contain inappropriate content, don’t forbid your child from reading a book by dismissing it as “too advanced.” You can bring up your concern, but allow your child to make the final decision so that he or she doesn’t feel like an incompetent reader.