Guardian of children's reading lives

Originally published in the Ketchikan Daily News, September 2018; written by Ann Marie Meiresonne.

Here’s a challenge: Be a guardian of children’s reading lives. A phrase from Striving to Thriving: How to Grow Confident, Capable Readers by Stephanie Harvey and Annie Ward.

Research shows access to appealing books, voluminous reading, and time set aside for reading in school and out of school, and adept reading instruction are steps to building strong readers. Additionally, modeling reading and reading aloud are great ways to encourage all levels of readers that reading is something to be valued, develops fluency, comprehension and a love of a good story.

I would argue that creating strong young readers is not just up to our teachers. It is in partnership that we build a picture that reading is important and fun, that the community values reading - our beautiful library proclaims this as well as having a book store in town, and that you can find people reading on the bus, in the park, etc. Parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, coaches, store managers, teachers (in class and out of class) all need to be “caught” reading to promote the message, reading is a meaningful act.

The Ketchikan Public Library along with the school libraries and the UAS library are here to help you with an abundance of reading material available on the shelves, as well as digitally, for everyone, as well as suggestions for your reading appetite, and challenges for you to stretch out of your comfort zone.

As I like to challenge in the children’s library I think everyone should pick up a picture book and read it aloud to someone or even some critter. Start with a new book: Grandma’s Purse by Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a delightfully illustrated book of a little girl exploring her grandmother’s handbag.

Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk is a bedtime lullaby that describes the gifts given to a newborn baby from the animals of the artic. An oh so sweet read aloud.

The Shark Lady: True Adventurers of Eugenia Clark is a biography of the ichthyologist whose interest in fish began at the age of nine during weekly trips to the Aquarium in New York City. This book is a great introduction to women in science, the study of sharks and how a childhood passion can become a successful career.

Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible ALVIN by Michelle Cusolito allows you to explore inside the coolest vehicle and dive two miles down to the bottom of the ocean.

Or a fiction novel to read from the children’s shelves such as Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larsen about a 17 year old orphan who inherits a Montana claim she must work to keep and is set during World War 1. Friendship, family, endurance, and commitment make this novel a stand-alone good read and a great read aloud as well.

Guarding our own reading lives takes desire. Guarding children’s reading lives takes commitment. How are you reflecting reading as a meaningful fun activity to those around you?