Encourage summer reading

July 16, 2007

Our principal sent home a letter in May saying that when kids read for fun during the summer, they do better in school come fall. I'm trying to make it happen. My fourth-grade daughter loves to read -- no problem there. Her younger brother and older sister don't, so I spend a lot of time at the local library trying to find books they might like, but it's very trial and error. My neighbor told me you mentioned in your column a "five-finger" test to match kids to books. Can you elaborate?

Sometimes kids are attracted to books because the topics interest them, but they can't read them because the writing level is too high for their skills. Teachers sometimes use a "five-finger test" to quickly determine whether the reading level in a specific book is too challenging for a child. When browsing in a library or bookstore and a child selects a book, ask the child to read the first page and hold up a finger for every unknown word. If the child holds up five fingers, the book is probably too hard for reading alone.

Of course, the five-finger test isn't infallible. Every teacher knows reluctant readers who suddenly devour material well above their reading ability just because the subject matter is something they're passionate about. "Boys who say they 'hate reading' often pick up and start to read above-level books about favorite sports. They can read them because they are motivated to learn more about the subject. Their background knowledge provides clues that help them tackle vocabulary they might otherwise have difficulty with," advises Mary Dietz, a California reading specialist.

Valerie Lewis, a children's literature expert, and co-author of "Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children," (Collins, 2004), says, "Don't rule out a book because it's not the right age level. There really is no such thing as a '10-year-old and up' book! If your child chooses something with subject matter she's emotionally not ready for, leave it in the library and explain that it's a book for when she is older. But don't rule out scary books. We all survived 'Hansel and Gretel,' a great tale of overcoming adversity! Unlike video games or television, books give kids time to ponder, process information, work out problems and figure out life's lessons."

To find books that will hook kids on summer reading, consider these tips:

-- Prime the pump by reading to them: Don't stop reading aloud to your children as they get older. Find an author or a story you think they might like, and read a section every day. Stop at a "cliffhanger" point each time to build interest, suggests Dietz.

-- Build on kids' interests: Too often parents have an idealized notion of what kids should spend the summer reading. "If your son loves video games, look for books that help him with strategy or that contain plots from the games," suggests Carl Harvey, library media specialist at North Elementary School in Noblesville, Ind. "Or you might find a comic or graphic novel about a sports star he admires.

-- Involve them in the selection process: Make sure they go to the library with you. "Letting them choose their reading is very important," says Harvey. "Don't worry if it looks like 'junk' to you. Wouldn't you rather have them read a comic or graphic novel than not read at all?" And expect some trial and error in the selection process, says Lewis. "Go to the library and let the kids choose an armful; read the ones that click and return those that don't with no regret."

-- Seek out a great series: "A captivating series is perfect for summer. When kids discover they love one title, they want to read them all because they care about the characters and their exploits. It's like spending time with a good friend," says Jonathan Rosenbloom, children's literature expert and executive editor of Time for Kids. "Harry Potter (Scholastic) and his charm proved you can get reluctant readers to plow through a series of 700-page books, and 'Lemony Snicket's Adventures of the Baudelaire Twins' (HarperCollins) proved you could giggle your way through 13 books."

Most series host their own Web sites, where readers can chat with the authors and share comments. "I love hearing from young readers as they move through my series, 'Crime Through Time'" (Little Brown), says author Bill Doyle (billdoyle.net). "They give me ideas that go into the next books."

-- Mix the media: Reading is reading, whether kids are holding a book, a magazine, newspaper, or scrolling down a Web page. "Kids who do well in school are those who read broadly," says Dietz. "We want them to read fiction and nonfiction, be interested in a lot of topics and make connections among those topics." Show them how different media can bring them fresh perspectives on the same topic. If your kids love the new summer movie, "Ratatouille," (Pixar) about a delightful mouse who becomes a chef, check out the Caldecott-winning "Anatole" series (Knopf), equally delightful books about an epicurean mouse seeking to earn self-respect.

A-Plus Advice For Parents, aplusadvice.com

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