Reading Up

In her book blog, Jen Robinson highlights some of the issues about kids reading books that are developmentally or intellectually unsuitable for their age. In our society that is growing increasingly competitive by the minute, parents want to be able to give their children a head start on the competition. They mistakenly equate reading-up with advantages, but, as Robinson accurately notes, unknowingly these parents’ good intentions often contribute to life-long problems. Pushing kids to read books beyond their emotional or cognitive comfort zone is a terrible idea, for it disallows children from engaging with texts that speaks to their experiences and passions. Few kids that are pushed to read loftier and more difficult tomes will develop into readers. Numerous studies about passionate readers’ childhoods illustrate the importance of engaging readers with appropriate books that captures the hearts and minds of young readers. In study after study, Ross, McKechnie, and Rothbauer (2006) showcase the importance of giving children the power to choose their own books. Studies conclusively state that, contrary to popular belief, the reading of series books in childhood does not impair children’s ability to identify themselves as readers, and does not limit their ability to choose literary works later in life.

Robinson argues that children should be allowed to read more difficult fare, provided that the decision to read these books stems from the child. I agree with her logic, but only up to a point. Today children are blessed with an endless sea of appropriate fare. There is a book out there to satisfy every interest, and there are hundreds of children’s classics to choose for more advanced readers. If I was a librarian acting in a reader’s advisory capacity, and was asked by parents to choose books for advanced readers, I would gently guide them to the section of the library that houses the older tomes. In my mind, at least, there is little point in encouraging tweens to read books written for an older audience. However, I realize that some tweens may desire to read books for teens or adults and should be given the permission to do so. Tweens are wise readers, and will simply put down the book if it becomes too difficult. Hopefully they will return to these works when they are older.

Ross, C. A, McKechnie L. (E.F.) & P. M. Rothbauer., ed. (2006) Reading matters: What

 the research reveals about reading, libraries and community. Westport,

Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited.

http://jkrbooks.typepad.com/blog/2010/11/reading-and-grade-levels-keeping-it-fun-a-booklights-reissue.html