I can go anywhere
Friends to know, and ways to grow
A Reading Rainbow!
I can be anything
Take a look, it’s in a book
– Reading Rainbow
If you are singing along to this once popular show song, Reading Rainbow, you’re probably also smiling and thinking of some amazing books this show introduced you to. As a kid I remember spending hours reading and escaping the world around me.
In May 1997, a small reading task force from the National Education Association (NEA) came up with a big idea to create a day to celebrate reading. They decided it was time to get kids excited about reading. What better author to use as the face of reading than Dr. Seuss? No one! On March 2, 1998, the first ever Read Across America Day occurred.
As a mom and 4th grade teacher, I love the focus on reading. Reading is the gift that keeps giving in the world of education. Everything is based on comprehension, even math. Though there is no magic number, the general recommendation for reading is 15 minutes a days, starting from birth. “Children’s academic successes at ages 9 and 10 can be attributed to the amount of talk they hear from birth through age 3.”
For most families reading with young children is a priority and part of their evening routine. There are a multitude of lists for young readers. Once kinds are old enough to read independently, the thought is it is better for them to do the reading rather than have family reads. Only 17% of parents of kids ages 9–11 read aloud to their children. Reading at this level is more than just the words on the page. This is when the critical higher level vocabulary develops, as well as deeper understanding of the world around them.
In our ever changing world, this ability to have empathy and compassion for people who are different than you is critical. Reading is also more important than ever as a way to unwind and unplug, especially for older children. A quick conversation with your local librarian or search on google can help with finding your next family read.
Some of my favorite resources for finding books for older children are:
NEA Books by Ages
Brightly Tweens and More
Here Wee Read Diverse and Inclusive Books for All Ages
National Council of Teachers of English for Preschool to Middle School
Childhood 101 Classics to Contemporary Read Aloud books for ages 6-12
And of course, Reading Rainbow
