Why YOU Should Read a Kids Book
Last week I challenged you to read more children’s books in 2016, whether or not you consider yourself a child. Not convinced yet? Here are some reasons why YOU should read a kids book today!
- They are quick to read. Haven’t got a lot of time to read? You can finish a children’s book in a matter of hours – even minutes.
- They deal with any topic you can imagine. Just like so-called ‘adult’ books, there are children’s books on almost every aspect of human existence and in every genre.
- They are entertaining. You can laugh, cry, be confused, amazed, joyful – you name it. Again, just like ‘adult’ books.
- They are well written. Think about it: the fewer words you have to work with, the harder it is to hide clumsy writing, boring bits, and errors. Writing for children is just as hard (or harder) than writing for adults and the quality of what gets published is proof of that.
- You show your coolness and confidence. Nothing says at home with who you are more than being willing to read a children’s book in public where there are no children present.
- You are setting a good example to the children in your life. When you read a children’s book you show your coolness (see point 5) but also the coolness of the book. If a child who looks up to you sees you reading of their books, they get the message that it is a cool thing to do.
- You open up communication with the young people around you. If you and your child/relative/young fri
end/student read the same book, you can talk about it: what you like, what you didn’t like, what you might read next. - You can do it at the same time as other things. Visiting the beach, floating in the pool, waiting for the kids to finish school, eating lunch, travelling. Book are portable, and children’s books (being generally lighter) and extra portable.
- They improve your mind. You learn stuff when you read kids’ books – again, just like ‘adult’ books.
- There is no such thing as children’s books. What? Here I am exhorting you to read them and now I’m claiming they don’t exist? That’s because I would argue that books are just books. You can read whatever you like! So why not read a kids’ book.
I could go on and give you a hundred reasons (and, if you’ve got one you think I should have mentioned, feel free to comment below), but ten should get you started. If you have read a good kids’ book lately, and agree with me, it would be great if you’d tell the world about. The hash tag I’ve been using is #readakidsbook – and I’d love to see others using it, too.
A Monday Book Quote
A Monday Book Quote
Rediscovering Old Favourites
Throughout my childhood and well into my adult years I loved the thrill of revisiting a favourite book. Like visiting an old friend, the conversation with a favourite book is comfortable, yet frequently surprising. But these past few years – maybe even as long as ten years – rereading has been a rare thing for me. Since I started Aussiereviews, I always have a steady supply of new books (more than I can possibly read, at times), and my various dayjobs, family and writing commitments have swallowed up a lot of time, as such things are wont to do.
This past week, though, I’ve immersed myself in rereading. Having been accepted into the PhD program at ECU, where my focus will be children’s poetry, including verse novels, I decided to start my reading by reconnecting with old favourites. And what a joy that has been.
The first verse novel I ever read was Margaret Wild’s Jinx. In fact it was such a new form for me that I had no idea how to describe it when I reviewed it in 2002. I just knew that I loved it, and almost instantly knew that this was a form I wanted to write in, as well. So, the first two verse novels I reread were Jinx, and Wild’s second verse novel, One Night. I hadn’t read either of these for some years , though I often recommend them to other readers. Interestingly, as I reread I was surprised anew by them. I’d actually forgotten what happens, even who the characters were. What I’d retained was the sense of satisfaction. I don’t remember crying when I read them the first time, but reading One Night this time round had me weeping at the kitchen table, much to the bemusement of my family.
From these two I’ve gone on to revisit other favourites – by Steven Herrick, Sharon Creech and Nikki Grimes. Still to come are more Herrick , Lorraine Marwood, Sherryl Clark and more. While perhaps I’m reading these with different eyes – as a researcher and also as one who has since written verse novels – it’s also proving a lovely trip into my reading past, and is inspiring me to look back at other favourites which perhaps deserve a revisit. At the same time, I’m learning stuff. I love seeing how other authors make use of the form, and have been inspired to try a few new things in my own writing.
What a luxurious way to start my new studies. It feels like an indulgence even while it’s paying such lovely dividends for my research and writing.
January Reads
Well, where did that go? And by that I mean January. Seems only seconds ago we were ushering in the new year and now here it is February already!
After last year’s challenge to try to read a book a day (at which I failed miserably) this year I’ve decided not to put a number on t, but I am keeping track of my reading and am going to try to post my list each month.
So, without any further nonsense, here is my reading list for January, with links to reviews:
| 1 | Thirst | LA Larkin | Pier 9/Murdoch |
| 2 | The Magnificent Tree | Nick Bland & Stephen Michael King | Scholastic |
| 3 | Sheep on a Beach | P. Crumble & Danielle McDonald | Scholastic |
| 4 | Too Cold for a Tutu | Mini Goss | Allen & Unwin |
| 5 | Dads: A Field Guide | Justin Ratcliffe & Cathie Glassby | Random House |
| 6 | Hannah & Emil | Belinda Castles | Allen & Unwin |
| 7 | In the Company of Strangers | Liz Byrski | Macmillan |
| 8 | Friday Brown | Vikki Wakefield | Text |
| 9 | The Burial | Courtney Collins | Allen & Unwin |
| 10 | Word Hunters | Nick Earls | UQP |
| 11 | Finding Jasper | Lynne Leonhardt | Margaret River Press |
| 12 | Unforgotten | Tohby Riddle | Allen & Unwin |
| 13 | Heather Fell in the Water | Doug MacLeod & Craig Smith | Allen & Unwin |
| 14 | Around the World in 80 Days | Jules Verne & Robert Ingpen | Walker Books |
| 15 | Unnatural Habits | Kerry Greenwood | Allen & Unwin |
Six of these were picture books – which I only count in my tally if I also review them – so I definitely had a slower month reading-wise. Must have something to do with the beautiful summer we’re having in my part of the world.