The hot days of August are a perfect time to fall in love with a book. Summer days and vacations just beg for a good book and, if you are lucky, your vacation will eventually be defined by the book you were reading at the time.
I remember one such vacation, when I was 10 years old and camping with my family. Scientists claim that the sense of smell triggers some of the strongest memories. For me, it is books. I don’t recall where we were, or what we did, but I can vividly recall lying on a blow-up inner tube, covered with a beach towel, and reading “James and the Giant Peach,” by Roald Dahl.
It was hot and sunny, and a fly was bothering me. The book was hard for me to read as it was a bit above my reading level at the time. I have always remembered that trip as the “Giant Peach” vacation.
Some 30 years later, my daughter experienced her own version of the “Giant Peach” vacation when we happened upon a small, stone building that houses the Shelburne Free Public Library in Shelburne, Mass. We were fortunate to be passing by while the library was open, as it is only open for three hours every other day. The building had seen no renovations, and consequently had the smell and feel of a cozy one-room schoolhouse. What it lacked in modernity, however, it made up for with charm and a surprisingly good selection of books overflowing the wooden shelves.
At the librarian’s suggestion, my daughter chose “Firehorse,” by Diane Wilson. The book is set in Boston in the late 1800s and features a horse-loving young girl who nurses an injured fire horse back to health. For my daughter, a young horse lover herself, the book couldn’t have been a better fit. From the moment she began reading the book, she didn’t put it down, and brought it with her wherever we went.
When it was time to head back home, we drove past the library to return the book, along with some Harry Potter trinkets, and a note of thanks to the librarian. Much to my surprise, my daughter’s eyes filled up with tears, and she begged to keep the book.
To this day, that vacation is defined not by where we went, or what we did, but by the book that was my daughter’s first experience with book passion. It is a wonderful feeling to see joy in your child, sparked by a good book, and it is important to ignite that spark again and again.
Creating that passion is not always easy, as children can be picky readers, and parents are competing with many types of electronic distractions. But a few things help to find that perfect book.
Bring your children to the library to select their own books; they will be more interested in the topics, and there will be greater “buy-in” if they choose their own books. Take home a fairly large selection of books and leave them in a visible place. Children tend to peruse the books when bored and one may spark an interest.
Ask the librarians for assistance. It worked for me, as they may provide an idea or two that you haven’t tried, and sometimes, children tend to take suggestions better from adults other than their parents. Try all types of books: non-fiction, graphic novels, or books on CD. A book such as “The Book Whisperer,” by Donalyn Miller can also offer some great suggestions.
Summer is the perfect time for a child to discover books, when they are not bogged down with schoolwork and other activities. Never give up; a passion for books is far too important. It is a magical experience that every child deserves and will lead to a true love of reading.
Kelly Unsworth is a children’s librarian at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood.
