It’s that time of year when the weather forces us to make a transition from being outside to cozying up to our indoor activities. So, while reading is a great pursuit all year, it lends itself well to the cooler months that are soon upon us.
We have a family of readers. And while some of us have had phases of non-reading, we all come back to those books in the end. My oldest child couldn’t get enough books. We read to him when he was little, and before long he was reading books himself. Then along came my daughter. She was happier climbing and running than sitting down to listen to a book. So, I’m sorry to admit, after a while I stopped offering. But eventually she discovered that books were pretty amazing, as well.
The three boys that followed have all fallen in love with one type of book or another. When they have gone through those stages of being reluctant readers, I have been grateful to discover series that might catch their interest. These can be the series that have stood the test of time like Lord of the Rings and Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe or the more recent Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Lightning Thief, and even (although I cringe) Captain Underpants.
My youngest is in that stage where noises emanating from various body parts is his favorite thing in the whole wide world! Can I just say here that it isn’t mine?! So, he’s gravitating towards books that highlight such things. I’m torn. But, I remind myself he’s reading and it’s not actually that bad, just mildly annoying.
I’m also torn about when my children read. It’s not in the afternoon when they’re bored. No, it’s at night when they are supposed to be going to sleep! Having been a member of the flashlight-under-the-pillow brigade myself (my husband included) I’m even more conflicted. Quite honestly when it’s really late I say something, but often I turn a blind eye. (Don’t tell my kids!)
Our family has some great memories surrounding books. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was an early favorite of our oldest and youngest because, even though it was a long book, we read it out loud to them when they were small.
Later on we all discovered the Harry Potter series. By the time the fifth book came out my kids and I were hooked. We bought Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix the day of its release. Since we all wanted to be the first one to read it (and I wasn’t about to buy four copies), we read it out loud together. Everyone could hardly wait to finish chores or jobs so we could all gather together for as long as my voice would hold out or until it was way, way past bedtime. We experienced all of the surprises and twists together. It was delightful. This same scene was repeated for book six. We even speculated together who the mysterious R.A.B. might be. By this time our oldest was off to college, but we even discussed our theories over the phone with him. When book seven rolled out my husband joined in, having watched the movies or read the books leading up to the last one. We experienced the heart break and the joy of this book together.
As my kids have gotten older reading had remained a connecting force. Three of us read the Hunger Games series at the same time, literally. We read the first and second books one right after another. My son bought the third book when it came out. I would read it while he was at school. Another son, being homeschooled at the time, would swipe it when I set it down, and then when the actual owner of the book returned from school he would pick it up. We managed to have multiple bookmarks in the book at the same time.
Now that three of my children have left the nest we still talk about books. My daughter recently read a book I recommended and loved it like I did. She returned the favor by recommending a couple of books to me that she was about to read. I liked the one she liked and disliked the one she disliked – for the same reasons. One of my favorite books, The Book Thief (not a book for young children), is also one of my children’s favorites. And I read it because he recommended it to me.
I have been working hard on my first novel. In the process of editing and publishing I need a lot of readers’ feedback. I've only let my daughter have a look at it. It probably doesn't make any sense, but I don’t want the others to read it until I've got a publishing contract in hand. I guess I’m afraid they won’t like it. Oh well, such is the foible of being on the other side of things.
Note: If you have a reluctant reader, try reading a book together by taking turns reading every other page. It makes the book seem not so daunting. Also if you can find a popular series or author, it can hook them and keep them reading. Our Cuyahoga Library is one of the best in the country, and the librarians always have great book suggestions.
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