Finding Your Child's Gateway to Reading: Writer Wednesdy

If you're a reader you can can probably think back to your childhood and name a book and writer that lead you to become a reader.  This book and writer who created a passion for reading has created a new term in reading circle called "gateway books."  All gateway books create a passion for future regular reading into adulthood and academic success in reading, so finding this gateway book is important for your child.  Here are my tips to helping your child find his or her gateway book and author:

1. Provide good material.  If you want your child to eat well, you buy them good food.  Start where you can get good books:  libraries, book fairs, books stores, and even your own bookshelves! 
2. Start with what you know.  What books and authors were your favorites growing up?  Share these with your children with read alouds, or discussions, check them out or buy them.
3. Provide variety.  You might be a mystery fan, but your child might like action adventure, fantasy, or science fiction.  It's all about letting them try different genres!
4. Graphic Novels can plant the seed.  A graphic novel is a graphic illustrated novel much like our childhood comics only longer in format.  Allowing your child to read graphic novels is okay because it can create a love of reading and they will move to chapter books as they mature.  I cannot tell you how many people have become readers because of Dav Pilkey's "Captain Underpants!"  My students will probably remember "Dog Man" also by Dav Pilkey as their gateway book.
5. Peers can provide help.  Find ways to your child to get recommendations from their friends!  It may be as simple as asking them, what is so and so reading?  Or look into summer reading programs and take them to the library with friends.  Join a Battle of the books program, or send them to teen activities at the library with friends.
6. Ask the librarian!  Your school and local librarians are wonderful resources for what books are currently hot.
7. Check out Goodreads.com and look for books with good ratings in genres your child likes and find out if the book fits your child's reading level.  With the Internet, it is easy to determine if a book is appropriate for your child's age, grade and Lexile level.
8. Check out Amazon and look at books you know your child likes.  Then look for the "people who bought this, also purchased these books."

Helping your child become a reader is as important as training their good eating, sleeping and exercise habits!   Today's child has so many distractions from reading, so make an effort to keep them engaged in reading and it will pay off with future success!