From: Janet Wanamaker <jwanamaker>
Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2004 08:50:08 -0500

I have a 9 year old and a 12 year old. They are heavily influenced by me and my interest in books. They are also highly influenced by their teachers' read aloud choices. Another influence is what their friends are reading.

The biggest media/commercial influence is the Scholastic Book order. My son saw Storm Breaker, by Anthony Horowitz, in a book order and it turned us on to the whole four book series, featuring the British teen spy, Alex Rider. I don't think I would have found that series without this source. I use the Scholastic Book orders as a source of finding books too. My orders have helped many teachers build their classroom libraries.

Book fairs at school are another source of influence. The kids watch a promotional video about the authors and their books and often choose (or want) those books.

My kids also read series books, follow a certain author or follow a theme such as reading all Newbery Award books.

This is what I think influences them. I'll ask them and some other kids I know and report back.

Janet Wanamaker Neenah, WI
Received on Wed 06 Oct 2004 08:50:08 AM CDT