Fun Things to do with Books !

Some children love to read, can't get enough great books, and are not happy unless they have a stack of books waiting in the wings to be read. Other children..... are the opposite. They would rather eat their vegetables then sit with a book. This is soooo sad it makes me cry!

Did you know the research shows that a child not reading well by the end of third grade has only a ten percent chance of ever becoming a reader?!

Today I want to share with you terrific ways to grow your reluctant reader into a life-long reader!

1. Buy books as gifts.... and then buy some more! Owning books are part of growing up as a reader.

2. Read aloud to your child EVERY day no matter what the age. If they drive themselves to the mall to get away from you, you might want to consider stopping!

3. Find books on topics your child is interested in. Today there are tons of books on every subject for every age and reading level. There are lots of new books on non-fiction subjects which appeal to  children, but especially to boys. Go to www.guysread.com for useful ideas concerning boys and books. How do you find out what topics interest your children? Ask them!

4. Visit the library on a regular basis. This is the place with rows and rows of free books, and free magazines, and free audio books, OK- you get the idea.

5. Record yourself reading your child's favorite poem or book. Leave it with the babysitter to play while you are away. How about recording yourself reading a classic and send it to your child away at school? They would love to hear your voice and you would love to have them learn the classics. My favorite classic is Romeo and Juliet.

6. Attend free story times at your local book store or library. Local book stores are struggling due to the big guys on the block. Search for an independent book store at http://www.bookweb.org/index.html