by Sarah Statz Cords
As I do not have kids, and I have never been all that interested in Children’s Librarianship (it feels weird to admit that, but although I am interested in children, and very interested in children reading, I’ll admit my professional interests have always been more in the line of encouraging adults to read), I didn’t think I would get much out of Emma Walton Hamilton’s* book Raising Bookworms: Getting Kids Reading for Pleasure and Empowerment.
It is my pleasure to report I was completely wrong. This is a great book.
Hamilton wastes no time in laying out her argument for why she believes it is imperative for kids to engage in reading: “Chances are, you already believe, as I do, that there’s a direct relationship between reading skills and our ability to participate in the world with confidence as an informed citizen, able to communicate effectively, succeed in our chosen career, enjoy rewarding relationships, and achieve personal fulfillment.” (p. 2.) She also goes on to list some frightening literacy (or illiteracy, rather) statistics, including one that suggests that eighty percent of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year.**
From there she’s off into her chapters, each of which examines a specific age group from babies and toddlers to middle schoolers and beyond, and each of which offers ways to help children equate reading with joy and pleasure (imagine that!), listing strategies for home reading, books particularly appropriate to each age group, and other activities and techniques that support reading.
My favorite thing about this book, hands down, is the suggestion that appears in nearly every chapter: “Set a good example!” Hamilton states that “nothing will teach children to love reading more than seeing the adults around them showing enthusiasm for it.” (p. 17.) She takes the trouble to restate the suggestion in many different ways, saying that she knows it’s hard, but parents and other adults must make and take the time for themselves to enjoy reading so the kids around them can observe that. When I worked in a public library I always felt like we didn’t sufficiently address that concern or offer enough reading support to adults; children’s services got a lot of publicity but what happened, I always wondered, when those kids grew up and no one gave them any more prizes for reading in the summer? It used to break my heart when parents would regularly come to the library with their kids and check out a number of kids’ books, but not one book for themselves. (Although, yes, it was great they were in the library at all.)
But I digress. This is an interesting book for those looking for ideas to encourage reading in children (and the reading lists are very helpful too–I myself might check out some of the titles suggested for middle- and high-schoolers), but it’s also a great book if you want to think about how you can encourage adults to encourage children to read.
Hamilton is not a trained reading specialist, and does not offer tips on the mechanics of reading, but she is a children’s book author herself and has worked as an arts education administrator.
*Fun fact: the author is the daughter of actress and singer Julie Andrews.
**Gasp!
