I recently attended a lecture put together by the National Endowment for the Arts all about reading in decline in America.
These days, books don't just compete with one another -- they must compete with television, movies, video games, the Internet (no offence Gather), and every other form of entertainment available. With today's short attention spans and "quick scan" reading habits, fewer and fewer people settle down with a good book.
That's why it's important to share the love of literature with your children.
Each night, I try to spend time reading with my son and daughter. With my son, we focus on basic classics: Dr. Seuss, Eric Carl, The Giving Tree and a bit of Bob the Builder. He's two years old, so I'm doing the reading.
With my older daughter, who is eight, we take turns reading. One night, she'll read to me. The next, I'll read to her. We usually have two books going at a time. Right now, I'm reading her Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Aurthur's Court. She's reading me The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
The verdict may still be out for the little one, but It's safe to say that my daughter loves books. Would she rather be playing with her friends or watching a Disney flick? Sometimes. But there's no denying she likes to read and to be read to. It's been a before-bedtime ritual for as long as she can remember.
Do you read to your kids? It's a great way to spend quality time together. It's also a wonderful way to foster a love for literature.
Eric D. Goodman, Books Correspondent
Eric's column, Lit Bit, is published every Wednesday to Gather Essentials: Books. Featuring bits on writing, writers, books, and literature, Lit Bit is sure to fulfill your literary longings. Eric is a correspndent, but not an employee of Gather.
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Comments: 40
I think I have to question the validity of that assertion, Eric. It doesn't make any sense, from a simple economic perspective. Publishers aren't going to publish books that don't, in the aggregate, sell enough copies to generate some significant income for themselves. As the overwhelming popularity of the Harry Potter series clearly demonstrates, there is plenty of demand for compelling literature, thankfully, from the adolescent, and younger, market segment, in particular.
I commend you for trying to instill a love of reading and literature in your kids. I fondly recall my own parents' efforts to interest me in stories and books, with bedtime stories that included Babar, Uncle Wiggley, Uncle Remus, Mother Goose, etc.
I love The Little Prince. When I found out I was pregnant with my first child that book and a beautifully illustrated Beauty and the Beast were the first purchases I made for my baby. :-)
I wish we made more time for reading. If we didn't have to spend so much time on the road it would be good reading time. I really wish we had decent rapid transit in this country. Reading on the train or bus is really nice.
My son is a great reader but I don't see him reading things like Captain Underpants or some of the other books available to 6 six-year-old boys these days. I read The Cay to him last year and he absolutely loved that book. He's never been into tv unless he's watching Animal Planet, Discovery Channel or The History Channel. I think it'll be tougher to keep his interest in reading but he knows that we love to read. I think it's an important example to set. As Donna said above, turn off the tv, turn on some low music, and read.
Maybe that is some of the reason I like non-fiction so much. I believe I said this before but I started out reading the Bible and Popular Mechanics. In my autobiography you will see that when I was stuck in the army, I took many correspondence subjects such as psychology subjects, mechanical drawing, short hand, etc. Also, I read all the fiction books such as Mickey Splaine when I could find nothing else. I am happy to see some of you getting books infront of your kids, but don't forget all the good non-fiction now available from National Geographic, etc.
1) Your Personal Penguin - by Sandra Boynton (there's also a song to download)
2) Miss Spider's New Car - by David Kirk
3) Five Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed - by Eileen Christelow
Basically, all she does is turn the pages, but she gets really excited when I plop her on my lap with one of these gems.
Paul, I think the numbers take into account some print on demand and self-published books. That's probably why the number seems so high. If I recall, it's about 75,000 new titles published each year. That's quite a few.
Any other readers who read to children out there?
Lady in Blue
Fostering a love of reading results from more than just reading to our children. It comes out of what they see. My daughters live in a house where books are valued and where they see me get excited over something I'm reading and just being able to read. Trips to the Library have always been a part of our life as have gifts of books on special occasions.
Kathy D - I LOVE "I Want To Be Your Personal Penguin"!!
Yes, I did read books to my children when they were young kids. My daughter still loves to read books, and she read books to her children. My oldest son still loves to read, but my youngest has no interest. That's great you read to your children. Hopefully they will continue your tradition. You are a good parent.
Good idea for a column, Eric.
You have to wait for an opportunity and make the most of it.
My daughter used to read E.B. White's Charlotte's Web under her blanket at night with a flashlight. When her own son was born three months early, she read it to him from her rocking chair in the neonatal unit. He's four now and loves to read!
Terry -- I think that would be a great idea for a television show -- perhaps even a movie. But I still think we need to talk about a coffee table book about all of the interesting things you put on your head.
The books mentioned here are all great ones. Lisa and Wurdzgurl, you remind me that I've been meaning to read Charlotte's Web with my daughter. She saw the recent movie and when we were done she asked me whether the book was as good as the movie. I assured her, "much better."
Perhaps after the prince will come the pig.
Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things about him/herself. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state the rules clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog.
The sad thing is, he now spends much "free" time on the computor and with video gaming. I'm sure he still reads, but there is a lot competing with pleasure reading.
An aside, our children's theatre (which produces and teaches classical literature mainly) has also bemoaned the fact that students don't seem to want to read so much anymore. They want the stories instantly, in movies. And many kids have never been to a live theatre performance until late into high school. Their loss. All the arts seem to be crying the same kinds of competition stories. Sports and gaming are the areas most American families really concentrate on when they are together. My neighbors have three teens who are always in their driveways practicing one sport skill or another. That's fine, but I do often wonder if they are doing any reading.
The kids in my family know they will get books from me as gifts for most occasions. I suppose they think I am just one of the old fashioned, know nothing ... whatevers.
These days, though I don't have children of my own, when I give gifts to kids, it's always a book. Yesterday was my friend's nephew's twelfth birthday. I gave him a copy of The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing.
He and I read several Harry Potter books together when he was younger, and we also enjoyed Eragon and Eldest. He always remembers what I have given him even though he usually has no clue later who gave him which video game or toy.
He asks me about what I am reading when he sees me and is always eager to share his latest book with me. I am always excited to hear when he is reading something I loved at his age, and am interested when he tells me about books I did not read. I think that one of the best ways to foster a love of reading in children is to be a good model yourself - showing an interest and love of books and reading, and at the same time showing an interest and love of the child.
On a side note, I just wanted to comment on your choice of A Connecticut Yankee. I still remember reading this when I was in the 6th grade. Upon Hank meeting Clarence and being told that Clarence was a page, I fell in love with Mark Twain when Hank replied, "Go 'long...you ain't more than a paragraph." I immediately read all the other Twain novels I could find in the library!