Recently I discussed the concern that the number of children who read for fun is decreasing. It seems that the older children get, the less they enjoy reading. While many different factors may contribute to why children do not find reading fun, one problem that many children face is finding the right book.
There are some things that both parents and teachers can do to help children when selecting a book to read. Before taking your next trip to the library, discuss with your child the importance of careful book selection and about book browsing before making a choice.
Use some of the tips listed below.
While a famous saying while admit that you are not to judge a book by its cover, it does not hurt to check it out. Look at the book’s cover and examine the illustrations. May books will give a short summary of the story on the back cover. Try reading this too.
Open the book. After checking out the cover and reading the summary, look inside. Skim over the pictures and the words. Do they look interesting? Are they too easy or too difficult?
When arriving at the library, always check out the cart that holds the books ready to be returned to the shelf. These are books that other people have checked out and returned. If someone else chose the book, you too may enjoy it.
The new display section is also a good place to browse. Most libraries will have a selection for their latest arrivals.
Talk with the librarian. Librarians are very familiar with all types of books. Describe to the library what you are looking for and discuss your interests. He or she will likely be able to make some suggestions for reading on your level and topic. Librarians are also much quicker at finding these selections.