If I have to make a giant, blanket statement, then: all reading is good reading. But I think we, as caregivers, balance the sprinkles -- in our children's lives *and* our own -- by adding in more challenging reading wherever and however we can. I don't expect my 9 and 7yo to seek out harder books, nor be mature enough to have the intrinsic motivation that requires, but I can read those books aloud. I can check out those books on audio from the library and include them in the stack I leave for my kids in their room. I can read both fun and funny *and* more challenging poetry at breakfast.
I honestly don't think it's either/or -- and let me be super clear, *nor do I think it should be.* Older books are not inherently better than newer books -- there are some absolutely terrible old books, and there are some absolutely excellent new books -- and the sooner we all get over that narrow mindset, the better. It's both/and, and we're lucky to have so much variety and choice.
I knew you’d have something sensible to say and I think your giant blanket statement is excellent! So do you never even wince inwardly when you see your child reading the literary equivalent of junk food? If so I shall aspire to such equanimity!
This is pretty much what I came to say! I also think it’s important for children to see their own lives reflected in books, they are so much more diverse these days that that isn’t too hard to do (could still be better and home education rep is generally terrible), and to learn about the lives of others that are different to them. I’m a home educating parent of an 11 year old and a library worker and I make it my mission to try and keep informed about middle grade books because there are so many great ones out there.
And you work with where your children are at. I thought my son would be a total bookworm as he’s hyperlexic, but he isn’t. He’ll read train books and magazines aimed at adults for hours but fiction mainly comes from read alouds or comedy graphic novels (The Investigators series is brilliant for reluctant but capable readers).
Anyway, I mainly came here to thank you Catherine for the Steam Rocket discount, I got Multiplication by Heart with pretty much next day delivery and we are really enjoying it.
Ah I’m so thrilled to hear that, thank you for letting me know! We played Prime Climb this afternoon and I thought how wonderful it is that on an ‘off’ day when I’m not up to much, we can all still play a maths game for an hour and everyone enjoys it.
You’re obviously absolutely right that one thing older books can’t manage is representing all the children today who might want to read them, and I agree that of course you have to meet your child where they are. What I struggle with is some days my children want to read challenging, excellent, Proper Books, and other days they want to read what I would knee-jerkingly think of as utter junk. Where they are changes from one day to the next and sometimes I can’t keep up!
Sounds like they have to come to a nice balance of books themselves, but it does throw us when we think we’re going to be reading/doing something and then we’re not!
I’m going to get Prime Climb as well in the next couple of months, I’d never come across it before and it looks great. Games (and maths) can be a bit iffy in this house but it looks like something that would work.
I don’t love the phrase “all reading is good reading.” To me it’s like saying “all good is good food”; a steady diet of nothing but fluffy books untimely isn’t great (though I admit this is perhaps more true for adults than for learning readers).
That said, based on my own reading growing up (and my experience as a high school and university teacher), I’d say a balance is plenty healthy. I read Babysitters Club and Nancy Drew, plowed through a million fluffy books (and, as a teen, Christian romances, ugh), but also had a steady drip of classics, and now I’m doing a PhD in 18th century English literature. As much as I cringe to think of my own child reading whatever modern mega-series catches his eye (once he can read, he’s one and a half), I think he’ll be okay.
What we are seeing in schools is a lack of attention coupled with an unfamiliarity with complex language and sentence structure. But even reluctant readers can get that from read-alouds and audiobooks.
Great point C. Read a tiny excerpt of TH White to my 4 year old son this evening and was amazed at the complex sentence structure and general expectations of this once best seller for young kids.
When I read “A Place to Belong” by Amber Johnston O’Neal she talked about how she realized her daughter had NO books where she saw herself reflected and it was slowly withering her. It gave me a little perspective as a mom to boys who will see themselves reflected in a lot of what we consider “classic” literature. I do still prefer the old books too, but have made more of an effort to mix in a variety. Left to their own devices my kids will invariably want to bring home the really stupid LEGO comic books from the library. Sometimes I say yes, sometimes I say no. I do refuse to read them aloud though 😆
The reading program we used in our house recommended keeping it simple. Parents can keep an eye out that their kid is reading a roughly evenly divided mixture of below grade-level, on grade-level, and above grade-level books each week. That way, “fun” books get balanced by “hard” books. And the kid gets the reward from all that hard work of learning to read, in the form of stories they don’t have to work hard for. (I find I do this, too: I “reward” myself for concentrating on legal theory (etc.) by diving into a spy thriller or fantasy novel!)
I love this discussion! I think for kids often any reading is good reading because it instills a love of reading, then later on (maybe as teens) a nudge toward classics if they haven’t already gotten into them, would be good! :) Also just working in a few beloved children’s classics here and there when possible, like you were saying, can’t really go awry! I remember listening to old classics on audiobooks as a kid and just loving them even though I was often in a phase of always choosing to read Star Wars books in my own free time. Over the years I fell more and more in love with old books, and although I still enjoy a good Star Wars books, it’s a much smaller percentage of the books I tend to read! :)
Also, if you haven’t read this essay by C.S.Lewis, I highly recommend it!! This habit/mindset would be more natural in the teen years once kids become more motivated to expand their reading horizons, I think! :)
I used to think all reading is good reading, but now that my children are tween + teen, I can really appreciate the benefit of having prioritised their exposure to literary classics. The language in older novels tends to be more complex with richer vocabulary, and the longer sentences train the power of attention. My boys both adore ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ for example, while their friends who read only modern writers simply can’t grasp Tolkien’s prose.
This is my fear! I think Ruth Gaskowski would agree with you too. But to what extent do you think your boys are somehow genetically predisposed to enjoy books like LOTR and their friends just aren’t? And maybe that’s why they also took to classics at an earlier age when their friends didn’t? I don’t know if there are any twin studies on reading habits…!
I’m generally sympathetic to genetic predisposition when it comes to educational outcomes (Bryan Caplan and Freddie de Boer have written effectively on this). But what I see in my social network is a question of fluency, not taste. Most — including children of bookworm parents — lack the attention span and vocabulary to engage with classics, much less enjoy them.
One flaw with many of the big studies looking at educational outcomes: the subjects are children raised pre-2000, and often earlier, long before smartphones, before technology dominated schools, and when most children still had a great deal of outdoor unsupervised play. I’m not convinced we should apply these conclusions to the typical child today.
Former elementary and middle grade school librarian chiming in here to say, it absolutely depends on the child! In a perfect world we could provide a literary diet heavy on what Charlotte Mason calls "living books," but unfortunately that just doesn't work for a lot of kids. As someone who also is a bit of a book snob, it took me a looooong time and a loooooot of struggle to understand that also stocking my library shelves with easy-reader series and books with famous (non-literary) names emblazoned on the covers gave struggling readers a gateway into the world of books. Same with graphic novels! I am a big fan, but I wasn't always. I have a 9 year old myself, and we play a tightrope act of negotation -- for every graphic novel she has going, there has to be a novel, too. And right now, it's the vintage Babysitter's Club series of my own childhood, which makes me both nostalgic and cringe-y at the same time! But she is also reading Little Women, so I hope that I am doing something right.
Thank you for sharing Katy, I love getting your perspective both as a parent and a librarian. Babysitter’s Club and Little Women sounds like quite a combination 😂.
One thing I’ve found that has helped us is placing classic series on her bookshelves and just casually telling her. Like “oh, I found this box set of Narnia book at the thrift store and put them on the shelf.” If I don’t make a big deal about it, she usually gets to them on her own eventually 😂
My kid is still 1, so I don't have a lot of practical knowledge here, but my instinct is it's going to depend on the kid. Easier reads are going to be essential for kids who struggle with reading, while kids who read easily should be encouraged to challenge themselves. I read way above my level from the start and didn't need to be encouraged to grab random books out of my dad's library (though that was more classic sci-fi than classic literature, to be fair) but if my son takes longer I don't want him to feel discouraged and start feeling like reading is a chore. If there's more challenging stuff I want him to experience, I can read it to or with him to lessen the burden somewhat.
I think it’s about cultivating their palate (or at least trying to), by encouraging consumption of the living books but not framing the ‘junkier’ reads (looking at you, Goosebumps) as the forbidden fruit. I’d prefer to invite my kids into a higher quality of living and accept their literary ‘snacks’. I want them to read widely too.
If I have to make a giant, blanket statement, then: all reading is good reading. But I think we, as caregivers, balance the sprinkles -- in our children's lives *and* our own -- by adding in more challenging reading wherever and however we can. I don't expect my 9 and 7yo to seek out harder books, nor be mature enough to have the intrinsic motivation that requires, but I can read those books aloud. I can check out those books on audio from the library and include them in the stack I leave for my kids in their room. I can read both fun and funny *and* more challenging poetry at breakfast.
I honestly don't think it's either/or -- and let me be super clear, *nor do I think it should be.* Older books are not inherently better than newer books -- there are some absolutely terrible old books, and there are some absolutely excellent new books -- and the sooner we all get over that narrow mindset, the better. It's both/and, and we're lucky to have so much variety and choice.
I knew you’d have something sensible to say and I think your giant blanket statement is excellent! So do you never even wince inwardly when you see your child reading the literary equivalent of junk food? If so I shall aspire to such equanimity!
I do, but less and less, to the point of almost never, now.
I wrote a post about this which pretty much says everything I think on this topic, if you're interested: https://canweread.substack.com/p/what-do-you-do-if-your-child-picks
This is pretty much what I came to say! I also think it’s important for children to see their own lives reflected in books, they are so much more diverse these days that that isn’t too hard to do (could still be better and home education rep is generally terrible), and to learn about the lives of others that are different to them. I’m a home educating parent of an 11 year old and a library worker and I make it my mission to try and keep informed about middle grade books because there are so many great ones out there.
And you work with where your children are at. I thought my son would be a total bookworm as he’s hyperlexic, but he isn’t. He’ll read train books and magazines aimed at adults for hours but fiction mainly comes from read alouds or comedy graphic novels (The Investigators series is brilliant for reluctant but capable readers).
Anyway, I mainly came here to thank you Catherine for the Steam Rocket discount, I got Multiplication by Heart with pretty much next day delivery and we are really enjoying it.
Ah I’m so thrilled to hear that, thank you for letting me know! We played Prime Climb this afternoon and I thought how wonderful it is that on an ‘off’ day when I’m not up to much, we can all still play a maths game for an hour and everyone enjoys it.
You’re obviously absolutely right that one thing older books can’t manage is representing all the children today who might want to read them, and I agree that of course you have to meet your child where they are. What I struggle with is some days my children want to read challenging, excellent, Proper Books, and other days they want to read what I would knee-jerkingly think of as utter junk. Where they are changes from one day to the next and sometimes I can’t keep up!
Sounds like they have to come to a nice balance of books themselves, but it does throw us when we think we’re going to be reading/doing something and then we’re not!
I’m going to get Prime Climb as well in the next couple of months, I’d never come across it before and it looks great. Games (and maths) can be a bit iffy in this house but it looks like something that would work.
Just realised I misread your comment because I clearly had Prime Climb on the brain! I’m so pleased you’re enjoying the Multiplication By Heart!
"He’ll read train books and magazines aimed at adults for hours..." Sounds like a bookworm to me!
Yes you’re right! I was a ‘lap all the books up’ kind of bookworm as a child, this is a different but just as important type of bookwormery.
I don’t love the phrase “all reading is good reading.” To me it’s like saying “all good is good food”; a steady diet of nothing but fluffy books untimely isn’t great (though I admit this is perhaps more true for adults than for learning readers).
That said, based on my own reading growing up (and my experience as a high school and university teacher), I’d say a balance is plenty healthy. I read Babysitters Club and Nancy Drew, plowed through a million fluffy books (and, as a teen, Christian romances, ugh), but also had a steady drip of classics, and now I’m doing a PhD in 18th century English literature. As much as I cringe to think of my own child reading whatever modern mega-series catches his eye (once he can read, he’s one and a half), I think he’ll be okay.
What we are seeing in schools is a lack of attention coupled with an unfamiliarity with complex language and sentence structure. But even reluctant readers can get that from read-alouds and audiobooks.
Great point C. Read a tiny excerpt of TH White to my 4 year old son this evening and was amazed at the complex sentence structure and general expectations of this once best seller for young kids.
When I read “A Place to Belong” by Amber Johnston O’Neal she talked about how she realized her daughter had NO books where she saw herself reflected and it was slowly withering her. It gave me a little perspective as a mom to boys who will see themselves reflected in a lot of what we consider “classic” literature. I do still prefer the old books too, but have made more of an effort to mix in a variety. Left to their own devices my kids will invariably want to bring home the really stupid LEGO comic books from the library. Sometimes I say yes, sometimes I say no. I do refuse to read them aloud though 😆
The reading program we used in our house recommended keeping it simple. Parents can keep an eye out that their kid is reading a roughly evenly divided mixture of below grade-level, on grade-level, and above grade-level books each week. That way, “fun” books get balanced by “hard” books. And the kid gets the reward from all that hard work of learning to read, in the form of stories they don’t have to work hard for. (I find I do this, too: I “reward” myself for concentrating on legal theory (etc.) by diving into a spy thriller or fantasy novel!)
I love this discussion! I think for kids often any reading is good reading because it instills a love of reading, then later on (maybe as teens) a nudge toward classics if they haven’t already gotten into them, would be good! :) Also just working in a few beloved children’s classics here and there when possible, like you were saying, can’t really go awry! I remember listening to old classics on audiobooks as a kid and just loving them even though I was often in a phase of always choosing to read Star Wars books in my own free time. Over the years I fell more and more in love with old books, and although I still enjoy a good Star Wars books, it’s a much smaller percentage of the books I tend to read! :)
Also, if you haven’t read this essay by C.S.Lewis, I highly recommend it!! This habit/mindset would be more natural in the teen years once kids become more motivated to expand their reading horizons, I think! :)
https://reasonabletheology.org/cs-lewis-on-reading-old-books/
Thank you Megan that CS Lewis essay looks fascinating, I’ll look forward to reading it properly.
I used to think all reading is good reading, but now that my children are tween + teen, I can really appreciate the benefit of having prioritised their exposure to literary classics. The language in older novels tends to be more complex with richer vocabulary, and the longer sentences train the power of attention. My boys both adore ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ for example, while their friends who read only modern writers simply can’t grasp Tolkien’s prose.
This is my fear! I think Ruth Gaskowski would agree with you too. But to what extent do you think your boys are somehow genetically predisposed to enjoy books like LOTR and their friends just aren’t? And maybe that’s why they also took to classics at an earlier age when their friends didn’t? I don’t know if there are any twin studies on reading habits…!
I’m generally sympathetic to genetic predisposition when it comes to educational outcomes (Bryan Caplan and Freddie de Boer have written effectively on this). But what I see in my social network is a question of fluency, not taste. Most — including children of bookworm parents — lack the attention span and vocabulary to engage with classics, much less enjoy them.
One flaw with many of the big studies looking at educational outcomes: the subjects are children raised pre-2000, and often earlier, long before smartphones, before technology dominated schools, and when most children still had a great deal of outdoor unsupervised play. I’m not convinced we should apply these conclusions to the typical child today.
Former elementary and middle grade school librarian chiming in here to say, it absolutely depends on the child! In a perfect world we could provide a literary diet heavy on what Charlotte Mason calls "living books," but unfortunately that just doesn't work for a lot of kids. As someone who also is a bit of a book snob, it took me a looooong time and a loooooot of struggle to understand that also stocking my library shelves with easy-reader series and books with famous (non-literary) names emblazoned on the covers gave struggling readers a gateway into the world of books. Same with graphic novels! I am a big fan, but I wasn't always. I have a 9 year old myself, and we play a tightrope act of negotation -- for every graphic novel she has going, there has to be a novel, too. And right now, it's the vintage Babysitter's Club series of my own childhood, which makes me both nostalgic and cringe-y at the same time! But she is also reading Little Women, so I hope that I am doing something right.
Thank you for sharing Katy, I love getting your perspective both as a parent and a librarian. Babysitter’s Club and Little Women sounds like quite a combination 😂.
Such an...interesting combination 😂😂
One thing I’ve found that has helped us is placing classic series on her bookshelves and just casually telling her. Like “oh, I found this box set of Narnia book at the thrift store and put them on the shelf.” If I don’t make a big deal about it, she usually gets to them on her own eventually 😂
My kid is still 1, so I don't have a lot of practical knowledge here, but my instinct is it's going to depend on the kid. Easier reads are going to be essential for kids who struggle with reading, while kids who read easily should be encouraged to challenge themselves. I read way above my level from the start and didn't need to be encouraged to grab random books out of my dad's library (though that was more classic sci-fi than classic literature, to be fair) but if my son takes longer I don't want him to feel discouraged and start feeling like reading is a chore. If there's more challenging stuff I want him to experience, I can read it to or with him to lessen the burden somewhat.
Yes, yes, yes. Such a great point.
I think it’s about cultivating their palate (or at least trying to), by encouraging consumption of the living books but not framing the ‘junkier’ reads (looking at you, Goosebumps) as the forbidden fruit. I’d prefer to invite my kids into a higher quality of living and accept their literary ‘snacks’. I want them to read widely too.