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How Do Children Choose Books?
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From: Maia Cheli-Colando <maia>
Date: Tue, 05 Oct 2004 17:48:03 -0700
Megan,
I asked my young half-sisters what their experiences are:
Jennica, age nearly 9, reported that the majority of her books are by the same author as those she has read before and liked; she also reads blurbs on back of book, and works from friends' suggestions and in the same genre. She was not aware that librarians sometimes supply lists.
Nicole, age nearly 13, said that many of the books she reads are in a series, or by same author (e.g. Gail Carson Levine, Madeleine L'Engle, Anne McCaffrey). She said that she largely makes her own choices by what looks appealing at the bookstore or library, and reads back blurbs. She also gets recommendations from friends, and other kids at camp/school. I asked, and she said that teachers and librarians don't usually recommend books. She added that her elementary school in Ohio had a very small library, and that her middle school there had no library; they used the public one. She added that her teachers in her new school in Sonora, CA, don't know her well enough to recommend books for her, but that her teachers in Ohio generally didn't make suggestions either.
Nikki is a pretty hungry reader; I took her a bag of (mostly requested) books in August, and she has worked her way through most of them. Jennica's tastes (and appetite) aren't quite so developed, she isn't active yet as a reader in the same way as her older sister.
My almost six year old picks books that look familiar, e.g. by author or subject. Books with attractive covers that make the subject clear are likely to catch her eye, especially if they are in her range of special interests (dance, science, natural world, music, art, fairies). She is quite deliberate when we visit the (university) library about which books she wants to pick up, if they are available. (Our recent trip brought home new-to-her "Snowed in with Grandmother Silk" and
"Scranimals," both of which she is enjoying quite a lot.)
Maia
Received on Tue 05 Oct 2004 07:48:03 PM CDT
Date: Tue, 05 Oct 2004 17:48:03 -0700
Megan,
I asked my young half-sisters what their experiences are:
Jennica, age nearly 9, reported that the majority of her books are by the same author as those she has read before and liked; she also reads blurbs on back of book, and works from friends' suggestions and in the same genre. She was not aware that librarians sometimes supply lists.
Nicole, age nearly 13, said that many of the books she reads are in a series, or by same author (e.g. Gail Carson Levine, Madeleine L'Engle, Anne McCaffrey). She said that she largely makes her own choices by what looks appealing at the bookstore or library, and reads back blurbs. She also gets recommendations from friends, and other kids at camp/school. I asked, and she said that teachers and librarians don't usually recommend books. She added that her elementary school in Ohio had a very small library, and that her middle school there had no library; they used the public one. She added that her teachers in her new school in Sonora, CA, don't know her well enough to recommend books for her, but that her teachers in Ohio generally didn't make suggestions either.
Nikki is a pretty hungry reader; I took her a bag of (mostly requested) books in August, and she has worked her way through most of them. Jennica's tastes (and appetite) aren't quite so developed, she isn't active yet as a reader in the same way as her older sister.
My almost six year old picks books that look familiar, e.g. by author or subject. Books with attractive covers that make the subject clear are likely to catch her eye, especially if they are in her range of special interests (dance, science, natural world, music, art, fairies). She is quite deliberate when we visit the (university) library about which books she wants to pick up, if they are available. (Our recent trip brought home new-to-her "Snowed in with Grandmother Silk" and
"Scranimals," both of which she is enjoying quite a lot.)
Maia
Received on Tue 05 Oct 2004 07:48:03 PM CDT
