Reading Together

Reading Together
By Diane W. Frankenstein
Perigee, 2009. 279 pgs. Nonfiction

Curling up on the couch with a book and a child is one of life’s most precious moments, but how do you foster a child’s desire to read on their own? If you’ve ever wondered just what will peak your child’s interest, Reading Together’s subtitle is the answer, claiming “Everything You Need to Know to Raise a Child who Loves to Read”. Now that’s magic. The volume highlights 101 books that “kids will want to read and talk about” and Frankenstein shows you how to get kids talking. Each book is featured on a story page which includes an age and grade appropriate time for a child to read the book (with a parent or on their own), a story synopsis, pertinent “what did you notice” questions, and a list of books to read next if that one hit the right spot. Most importantly, she shows you how to create an environment that doesn’t make the child feel like you’re demanding a school book report. Frankenstein’s sound ideology rings true, “the best of stories show children who they are and as importantly, who they might become.”

DAP