Guest Blogger Susannah Harris is the Senior Manager of AdLit.org, a national multimedia initiative offering resources to the parents and educators of struggling readers and writers in grades 4-12. Susannah has been a tutor herself for more than 16 years working with a range of organizations including The Higher Achievement Program and Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, She is the Volunteer Coordinator for The Community Club, a college access provider serving middle and high schools students in Washington, D.C.
I was watching Modern Family last week and one of the kids started pouting when he got a book for Christmas—because he already had one.
Do most kids think books are bummer gifts? If that’s the case, then I think the problem may lie with the adults making the choices, rather than with the kids. Too often parents buy the books they want their children to read rather than books the kids themselves would like. If we want kids to read for pleasure, we need to be attuned to their interests and give them books that nurture those interests.
To help you make your gift selections, AdLit.org has a great new holiday buying guide from our Literature Advisor Maria Salvadore. The guide is organized by age range and includes descriptions of each title. We’ve got tall tales, science fiction, family drama, romance, short stories, sports, and biographies, so there’s something there for everyone.
Now that you’re working on getting kids reading during the winter break, why not get them writing, too? Have you heard about The Exquisite Prompt, AdLit.org’s year-long writing challenge developed in conjunction with the Library of Congress and the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance? Each month we offer writing prompts inspired by the life and work of an award-winning children’s author or illustrator. Contest winners in each of the four age ranges receive books, a certificate, and the chance to have a Skype visit with one of the featured authors. This month’s prompts feature Susan Cooper and James Ransome. It’s not too late to get in on the action.
Thanks for the link to your holiday buying guide. I love the writing prompt a month idea. A beautiful journal and a pen for writing their prompts would make a good gift as well – something they just can’t resist using every day! Also, I like personalized children’s books, especially for younger children just starting to read. The thrill of reading a story about themselves and the people in their lives is a great motivation. Also makes great keepsakes.
Thanks for this post.