National Book Reading Month: March
Yes, March is National Book Reading Month. While its month is almost over, there are several things worth considering -- things that perhaps can endure beyond March.
(1) Reading is not just for readers. Reading to kids is wonderful for them -- it develops their imagination and their language skills, and it creates a bond between parent and child. Our son (now an adult) had several favorite books that we read and read and read when he was young -- probably 100 times each. Even now, we remember those books and the memory of reading them. https://www.leapfrog.com/en-us/learning-path/articles/march-is-national-reading-month-even-if-you-dont-readyet
(2) For kids, it has always been my view that it really does not matter what they read, as long as they read -- off and online. I appreciate the value of good literature and old chestnuts. But, if your kid likes books on car parts or perusing dictionaries or reading magazines on wrestling, that's fine in my book (so to speak). It's the reading that matters. And, if you read what is appealing to you (as an adult or child), reading is not a chore; it is an opportunity for intellectual or/and emotional flight.
(3) Some children struggle to read and that frustration is exacerbated by the fact that we have an expectation that all kids read at the same time and same rate. But for some kids, reading is not an easily acquired skill; in fact, the inability to read becomes frustrating, and kids can tune out to reading altogether. In the children's book I just wrote (Lady Lucy's Quest), the name "Lucy" is in a totally different font. So, kids who are too young to read or kids who struggle with reading will recognize the name "Lucy" and can read along and shout out her name. Rewarding to read even just a tad. Kind of like a sing-along. (www.northshire.com/ladylucy)
(4) Sadly, we have issues across our nation with adult literacy. It is not just children who struggle to read. And the inability to read does not just affect one's pleasure quotient, it impacts one's ability to fill out a job application or read one's child's report card or to peruse the daily newspaper or even to order online. Perhaps my next book (well next after the next) will be a book that both adults and kids who struggle with reading can enjoy. Instead of lowering the reading level, perhaps the book can use imagery and photographs and color and different fonts to enable adults and kids to begin to enjoy all that reading has to offer.
March is not over -- yet. Let's read.