 |  | ||||
|
Wednesday, November 19, 2003 Kids reading, buying more books, thanks to Potter, celebritiesBy VICKY KOREN | News-Journal Correspondent Whether it's the novelty of buying a celebrity children's book or the vivid illustrations and imaginative narrative, parents have the luxury of picking from a windfall of books — and they're not holding back. Since this is "National Children's Book Week" (Nov. 17-23), it's interesting to note that year-to-year sales of children's books have outpaced adult book sales, with a 67 percent increase overall, compared with a 33.9 percent increase in the adult market, the Association of American Publishers (AAP) reports in a recent CNN article. The AAP attributes increased sales to the release of the fifth Harry Potter book in June. Publicity surrounding the release of Madonna's second book "Mr. Peabody's Apples" will also add to this spotlight, reports Diane Roback, Publisher's Weekly senior children's books editor, in the same article. With many new releases on the way, navigating the maze of children's books can be staggering. But with a few simple tips, every parent can find the right book for his or her child, said Ormond Beach Librarian Suzan Patyi. For starters, Patyi said there are book lists available at the local libraries that will offer suggestions for reading. The elementary schools supply many of the libraries with the "Reading Counts" program book list, which is arranged by reading level. Other lists available include reference lists arranged by author, theme or book series. Patyi said that, in between releases in the Harry Potter series, "there were a lot of lists being generated. 'If you like Harry Potter then you will love...' theme lists at the bookstore and the library." If parents are not quite sure their child is on track with any of today's better books, "just ask them what they've recently read," Patyi said. "Sometimes they can give me a title. That's the best place to start. You get an idea of the reading level they are at." And there's the tried and true method to finding a book. "Browsing is always fun and it's challenging to navigate by the shelf. The kids will always come up with something," the local librarian noted. For children who are not as motivated to read, Patyi said, "get them hooked on a book in a series and they will keep going with it." And don't count out the audio books. "They are an excellent source for reluctant readers. Parents hesitate because the children only listen, but if the child gets interested in a story it encourages him to read. Some youngsters will listen to it every night," she said. For the latest releases, the retail bookstores are always the best bet. And the Internet is a great source for new books, book clubs, book news, reading tips, award winning book lists, and any book-related topic. On a recent trip to the Port Orange Library, 3-year-old Vincent Tuozzo didn't have any problem finding a book. After perusing several aisles of books, Vincent handily picked out his favorites, a book about a bus, another about a dragon, and a ghost book. "Whoa!!," Vincent howled as he looked at the cover of the ghost book. "Halloween!," he grinned. His mom Colleen Tuozzo said her 10-year-old son loves books about cars and motorcycles. "'Jesse James: Monster Garage' is his favorite. We watch the TV show and now he has to have the book. That will definitely be a Christmas present," she added. Across the aisle, 4-year-old Lynn Lee Rosolino was picking out her favorite books — anything having to do with cats, dogs and butterflies. "I can read the words cat and dog," she happily replied. No time to read to your kids? Think again:– Got a doctor's appointment? Bring a book for the waiting room. Going to the pool? Read on breaks. – Libraries have lots of cool spots to cuddle up and do some out-loud reading. – Books on tape are a great way to pass time in the car. – Vocabulary: When you're reading, stop at words that you think might be tricky for your child and ask if he knows what it means. – Memory: If you're continuing a book from the night before, ask the child if she remembers where you are in the story. – Storytelling: Stop at a point in a story and ask your child, "What do you think will happen next?" – Reading: Ask your child to read a sentence or two from the book you're reading to sharpen reading skills. HICI Special Report — Summer Reading: Challenges, Choices & Censorship |
Copyright © 2008 NIE WORLD (www.nieworld.com). All content copyrighted and may not be republished without permission. The News-Journal has no control over and is not responsible for content on other Web sites. Privacy Policy. |