I aspire to raise book-loving children, and Advent is a lovely time to ponder good books for gifts and shared experiences. (Come, Lord Jesus, and, as we wait, let’s have some quality reading. :)) Still, there are a few less pleasant things about children obsessed with reading. Below is a little article about that.
What I’m finding is that I love to look for books for the family of all ages. Still, sometimes it seems like I find a great idea, buy it, and later find a better treatment of the topic. Sigh. Oh well. Book-loving children won’t really mind. I wish I were likewise patient rather than wishing for immediate topical perfection.
I should allow that sometimes topics need to grow. In the church, we didn’t need the creeds until disputes and heresies arose. Why would other topics be different?
Which brings us to one of my strongest beliefs about writing non-fiction: sometimes starting, or restarting, the conversation is the most powerful and helpful thing you can do. Someone in a decade—or even a century—may take our humble beginnings to higher heights to the glory of God. That, in itself, is success. Even potential is valuable.
And, to get back to vague practices, heh heh, topics grow, readers grow, and writers grow. Sometimes you skim, sometimes you plumb the depth, and sometimes with book-loving children you simply read on and on and on. Maybe it’s all good for something, as long as it’s, you know, not poison.
In part due to misreading the calendar, I’m letting my homeschoolers have three weeks off now in hopes to read aloud to them an extra amount this next week. It’ll be family time, warm-cuddles time, and just plain book-time. Relaxation old-school.
If you are so inclined, feel free to share any favorite books you like for the eight and under crowd. 🙂 Serious, fun, we like ’em all! Fiction, non-fiction, holiday or common time: all are welcome. Read-alouds are particularly so.
Also, any tips for encouraging book-loving children and their parents?
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For the 8 and under crowd: Jon Scieszka. Both Cowboy and Octopus and The Stinky Cheese Man. Kevin Lewis’ My Truck is Stuck and Chugga Chugga Choo Choo. But my all time favorites are still Horton Hatches the Egg and Yurtle the Turtle.
Thanks! We have Chugga Chugga Choo Choo, all tattered with love and use. 🙂
Good Morning, Mary. Thank you for your Facebook page–I just got connected last week.
Thanks for your thoughts on authors today–I agree! More than once I have observed ideas that did not fully blossom until their “time had come.”
Thanks also for the invitation to recommend books for children. Though my own reading and writing run to worship, music and hymnology, I am glad to recommend children’s literature, from my experience as a grandpa!
To many this may be old news, but anything by Arnold Lobel is excellent– both text and illustrations–especially his FROG AND TOAD series. And if anyone can lay their hands on a copy of FABLES, go for it–I buy that one every time I find it, to insure a supply to give away!
Lobel is still much in reprint at inflated prices, but (Deo Gratias) also much available at the used book stores.
The Lord’s Peace to you!
Hello, David. We love Frog and Toad! Now I’ll be sure to add Fables to our list. Thanks!