My kids have spoiled me; they eagerly seek out books and love trips to the library. But I know not all moms share this luxury, and that for many kids reading feels like a chore. Parents of resistant readers, don’t give up! If we can find the right books, we can unlock the magic of reading. This week, Children’s Book Week (CBW), is all about getting the right books in those little hands.
The idea for CBW started almost 100 years ago in 1913. Franklin K. Matthiews, who was the librarian for the Boy Scouts of America, proposed starting a weeklong celebration of books and reading. Matthiews chose prominent figures in the literary world, including Frederic G. Melcher, the visionary editor of Publishers Weekly, to help start up his project. Fortunately, the idea caught on, and every year, CBW promotes special events at libraries and bookstores to encourage young readers. You can also find several “blog hops” and giveaways on the web.
“A great nation is a reading nation.” Frederic G. Melcher
Since children read most enthusiastically when they choose their own books, every year CBW includes the announcement of the Children’s Choice Book Awards. These awards are special because the kids pick the books, not editors or authors or other professionals from the literary industry. Over 900,000 children and youth voted this year! Hopefully something on this list will appeal to your kids too.
The winners of the 2012 Children’s Choice Book Awards:
· K-2 Book of the Year: Three Hens and a Peacock by by Lester L. Laminack, illustrated by Henry Cole
· 3 – 4 Book of the Year: Bad Kitty Meets the Baby by Nick Bruel
· 5 – 6 Book of the Year: Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
· Teen Book of the Year: Clockwork Prince: The Infernal Devices, Book Two by Cassandra Clare
· Author of the Year: Jeff Kinney for Diary of A Wimpy Kid 6: Cabin Fever
· Illustrator of the Year: Brian Selznick for Wonderstruck
You can read samples from the winning books and the finalists by going to the 2012 Children’s Choice Book Awards finalists page of the CBWwebsite. I loved The Invention of Hugo Cabret and can’t wait to read Wonderstruck. Clockwork Prince has received lots of love in the blogosphere, so I’ll have to add that one to the (getting very long) TBR list.
My friend Lori tells me that her son never enjoyed reading until fifth grade, when he found L.R. Stine’s Goosebumps series. Since then, he has been an avid reader. Although Lori wouldn’t have chosen those books for her son (much like I would not choose the Diary of a Wimpy Kidbooks for my children), they accomplished what no one else could – they opened the door to the wonderful world of reading.
To give you more ideas, let me share the official
Tomiak Children’s Choice BookAwards for 2012:
(imagine drum roll and giggles here)
Tomiak Children’s Choice BookAwards for 2012:
(imagine drum roll and giggles here)
· Preschooler: Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems
· 2nd Grader: Showoffby Gordon Korman
· 4th Grader: The Serpent’s Shadow by Rick Riordan
· Middle Schooler: The Outcasts: Brotherband Chronicles Book 1 by John Flanagan
Can you share a book or series that helped you or your child discover the joy of reading? Is there another recently published book that you could add to the ones I’ve listed here? Have you read or can you comment on any of the official Choice Award winners? Click on the comments below to add your thoughts and recommendations! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you find some great books for summer reading.
Related posts:
Helping Guys Read Note: Guys Read: Thriller is now out and includes short stories from Anthony Horowitz (Alex Rider series), James Patterson, and Margaret Peterson Haddix (The Missing series)
Walter Dean Myers, Ambassador for Young People’s Literature
Julia
Me too! I have heard good things about the Alex Rider series and Artemis Fowl…they have been added to the list! Ranger’s Appeentice has been devoured!
I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! Read more about it here: http://www.muddyingthewaters.com/
Have a great day!
I love this post because I love children’s books! My problem is, most of the books that thrilled me as a child (Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Judy Blume, Madeleine L’Engle) don’t apply at all to my 3 boys! I’m on a quest now for some good boy adventures. I just heard about Helping Guys Read, so I’m anxious to try that. Those of you with boys (or just looking for a really good story), try Suzanne Collins’ Gregor the Overlander series (before The Hunger Games!) or the 100 Cupboards trilogy by N. D. Wilson…so good! Oh, and my sons like them too. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Muddy! There is so much more out there for boys compared to when we were young. The Gregor the Overlander series is a great recommendation- thanks for sharing. Have your sons tried the Alex Rider series, or Artemis Foul? They are big hits with my 12 year old son, as are The Ranger’s Apprentice and Pendragon. I also hope you can find good ideas at Guys Read.
Thanks Ladies! Your suggestions are wonderful- wouldn’t it be great if we all had more time to curl up under the covers with books? We have all enjoyed the Little House books, and I really like Amy’s idea of reading classics aloud – to help with the appeal. I’d like to try that this summer.
Julia,
I’m with Kim – I loved the Little House series. As for my kids, Scott was the one I had to wrestle until he found Dave Pilkey’s Captain Underpants and Matt Christopher’s sports-themed books.
Thanks for the great suggestions!
Susan
Julia,
Thanks for helping me walk down memory lane tonight. Ohhh, how many fond memories I have of sharing the love of reading with my children. I love the Tomiak Children’s Choice Awards–what a cool idea! I still remember my favorite series as a child: the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. My third grade teacher read them to us every afternoon. I still have my series sitting on my desk. Thanks again for this delightful post.
This is such a great post–you are an ambassador for books! I LOVE IT!
I don’t have children, but I can tell you that it was the classics that made me a reader–Shel Silverstein, Dr. Seuss, Madeleine L’Engle, Roald Dahl. Oh, to be a child again–to burrow under my bedspread at night with a flashlight and a book!
Good stuff! My kids also love to read and I often want to say, “Put down your book and talk to me!” They loved Harry Potter so much. Love Rick Riordan and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I find that if I want them to read a “classic” I have to read aloud to them and then they can get into it. Maybe when they get older they will appreciate the classics more. But for now, reading has been a huge delight and has made them confident in every other subject area. You are right. It’s a blessing to have readers.