Library
Jane Szokolik
Library Technician
Reading for pleasure
The best way to engage children in reading is to encourage them to read for enjoyment. They may be into comics, manga, the newspaper, non-fiction, or fiction, but whatever their choice, they will reap the benefits:
- increased vocabulary
- empathy for others
- creativity
- sense of community connection
- relaxation
- improved mental health and self-esteem
- increased comprehension, grammar, and writing ability
- understanding of other cultures
- increased general knowledge
- deeper understanding of human nature
It is interesting to note knowledge increases without the need to read a wide range of genres. Krashen (2021) quotes Miller (2009, p. 66):
“One year, Tommy, a staunch fantasy fan, read sixty-five fantasy and science-fiction books, but avoided almost every other genre or book. He knew what he liked and he enjoyed the freedom to read whatever he wanted. I left Tommy to read what he wanted. Talking with Tommy for two minutes revealed the depth of knowledge he acquired about fortresses, armaments, mythology, and medieval history from all those fantasy books. He also understood complex literacy ideas like tone, allegory, and character archetypes right away when I taught them, having already discovered multiple examples from his books”.
Consider these advantages also – reading is a cheap and often free activity; it can be done alone and without supervision; books are portable and easy to use.
Check out the Children's Book Council of Australia website for books that made the 2022 Notables list. There is sure to be something that appeals to you. Our library has many of the titles that are listed in the Older Readers category.
References
Stephen Krashen
https://www.bringmeabook.org/pleasure-reading/
Department for Education, UK
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-evidence-on-reading-for-pleasure
Cherrybrook Technology High School
https://library.cths.nsw.edu.au/read/reading-for-pleasure/
Sydney Morning Herald