The Case for Reading Good Books

lead your children toward a life of knowing and loving stories.

By Sarah Barber, Book fair coordinator

From an educational perspective, being well-read places you in the small percentage of people who have a broader perspective of life - the movers and shakers of the world. Why? Because, in general, readers have superior thinking and language skills. They know more about life. They can see both the “big picture” and the finer details and maintain a sense of reality because reading expands their minds beyond the boundaries of their own experiences.

One of my own earliest memories is of watching my mom read. There is one time in particular that I can see as clear as if it was yesterday. It was summertime in the early 80s, and she was reading a book she could not put down. My mom sat in a folding lawn chair under the shade of the trees on our family farm, a bandana tied around her head to keep her hair out of her face, completely absorbed in a book. I played nearby for hours while she read. I still have that book, and it has become something very special to me. My mom instilled a love of reading and of good books in me, and the book is a visual reminder of the generational investment that the love of reading provides. 

Reading became even more important to me when I became a mom. I quickly learned that when all else failed - tired toddlers, quarreling siblings, “I have nothing to do” school-aged children, and even tech-interested teenagers, pulling out a good book and reading aloud created a calm, shared space where everyone could settle down, connect, and practice the art of listening. 

As my children grew older, one by one, they were each diagnosed with a range of dyslexia, language processing disorders, auditory processing delays, and ADD. It took time to get accurate diagnoses because they all had such strong language skills. Their vocabularies were impressive, and they each inhabited their own unique way of seeing the world around them - deep feelers, deep thinkers, and hard workers. Though very different in personality, they all love hearing the written word and are incredible storytellers. I have to imagine these traits come from early exposure to good literature and a home that created an environment where books abound! 

We are each created by a loving God, gifted uniquely and wonderfully. The most valued and important written words are His. When in doubt, start there. Be encouraged to lead your children toward a life of knowing and loving stories - listening, reading, writing, illustrating, and experiencing them in their own unique ways. 

Ideas for creating a love of reading in your home

1. Have a print rich environment - make books accessible in each room. Change books out seasonally. Check out library books. Books are a generational investment! Give books as gifts for birthdays and holidays. Children love to read and reread their favorite books and take great pleasure in having their own copies of their favorite stories. 

2. Read aloud ALL THE TIME.

3. Let your children see you read books.

4. Let your children see you attach value to books. 

5. Make books come alive! Read Paddle to the Sea and take a family trip to the Straits in Michigan. Read Paddington and follow it with a family movie night, complete with tea and scones. Read James Herriot stories and visit a farm.

6. Listen to audiobooks in the car. Our family favorites include The Chronicles of Narnia series and The Jesus Storybook Bible, which we often listen to on the way to school.

7. Start a Christmas book tradition. Wrap 25 books and allow your child to open one each day in December for a family read aloud. Reuse the same books each year and add new ones as your collection grows. Reading is a gift!

The Perimeter School Book Fair is right around the corner on November 17 and 18, in the Fellowship Hall. We are excited to share many wonderful titles with you and to give your children the opportunity to get excited about having good books in your home.