How to Give Your Child a Lifelong Love of Reading

Alex Johnson

Paperback, 216 pages

9780712353854

How do you create an active reader? Why is reading good for creativity? Why is it vital for teaching the next generation resilience and positive mental health? In the digital age of never-ending screen time you could argue that the power of books has diminished. But while screens have changed the act of reading, Alex Johnson believes reading is even more important, and that people value books more than ever. This is visible in the sales of printed special editions, the revival in reading aloud, the increased interest in poetry anthologies and the rescuing of 'lost words' from obscurity.

But the problem is: with so many competing distractions, which are the best books for children to read and how can we access them? How do we get children to start reading? And how can we encourage them to be curious? How can we encourage their reading and maintain their interest? In this book of practical advice, Alex Johnson brings his tremendous enthusiasm and informed passion to answer these questions, and many more, to ensure a new generation of bookworms are whisked away to new worlds and essential discoveries.

Contents

Introduction - Why reading is good for children

Jacqueline Wilson on becoming a reader

1 - How to find good books

Cat Anderson on bookshops and recommending books

2 - Starting to read

Cressida Cowell on the magic of writing for all children

Abi Elphinstone on what she’s learned from books

3 - How to go places: The importance of non-fiction

Hollie McNish on learning to love poetry

4 - How to encourage their reading

Tracy Goodyear on reading in schools

5 - Sounds and pictures: Enjoying the varieties of reading

Ken Wilson-Max on what’s important in books for children

6 - How to maintain interest: Getting out and about

Michael Rosen on the importance of libraries

Tom Hodgkinson on the Idler’s approach to raising a reader

Helpful resources

Reading recommendations from the CLPE (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education)