Raising Bookworms

December 1, 2008
Aquote from B. F. Skinner sums up the goal of this book: We shouldnt teach great books; we should teach a love of reading. Hamilton, a prolific childrens book author, believes that success in readingor in any endeavor, for that matterdepends on the pleasure that results. After beginning with some disturbing statistics about the decline in American reading habits, Hamilton lays out ideas, strategies, and book lists that aim to rescue reading from the deadening clutches of school assignments. Traditionalists will bristle at Hamiltons kitchen-sink approach; she advocates nearly anything that can connect reading with joy, including relevant movies, TV, comics, games, snacks, even staying up late. Heavy with bulleted lists, the book invites browsing for the section most relevant to your childs age and preferences, and though the content is appropriately broad, Hamilton occasionally tackles specifics (her concern with the teen problem novel is particularly illuminating).This is agreat tool for parents hoping to instill in their child a love of the printed word.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)