Reading Matters

Reading matters a lot in our family. It’s important because reading is the center of many precious family memories of times spent together. My daughter Susie (14) and I devour books, at least one per week. My husband and son Westin (17) struggle with reading, but both have worked hard to develop their ability to the point where they can enjoy independent reading at their own level, as well as the stories our family shares together.

My favorite moments associated with reading are of the times I spent (and still spend) reading to my children. I was fortunate to be able to stay home with my children when they were young, and we have always made weekly trips to the library. The kids would choose some interesting books, and I’d always choose “educational” books with numbers, alphabet, rhymes or other intellectual concepts. We would bring these home and read them throughout the day, and especially at bedtime. Once they were old enough to attend to chapter books, around age 5, we began reading those at bedtime. We read through Roald Dahl’s The BFG, the Little House on the Prairie series, Pippi Longstocking series, and others. These are precious memories of snuggling on the couch or under the covers with my kids, sharing stories together.

As they got older, our shared reading has changed. Our family enjoys listening to audiobooks as we travel during the summer. Favorites include any of the adventure stories by Gary Paulsen, humorous downhome narratives of Richard Peck, Twain’s Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn adventures, and the entire Harry Potter series. We have recently started the Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix, which is just as exciting as the HP series. Just finished book 1 of 7, Mister Monday.

When Westin was 11, he wanted to read the Narnia series by C. S. Lewis, which was beyond his independent reading level. So he and I took turns reading pages through the first 3 books, until he felt confident enough to tackle the remainder of the series on his own. He has since found other Science Fiction series that he enjoys: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, Septimus Heap by Angie Sage, Lord of the Rings by Tolkein, which he can read independently. He also likes listening to audiobooks and following along in the text. His favorite repeater is a murder-mystery, The Westing Game.

Susie likes to have me read the books that she’s reading so we can discuss them. Problem is, she now reads MUCH too fast for me to keep up, so she just fills me in on the gist of the story and we discuss the themes (totalitarian government in Haddox’s Shadow Children series; synesthesia in A Mango Shaped Space; the afterlife in Elsewhere). For an idea of a "few" of the books Susie has read recently, check out her bookshelf on her blog:
http://shoodalways.blogspot.com/

Of course this is just for her independent reading. I also assign her “classic” novels which I have taught at the high school level and which we discuss: To Kill A Mockingbird, Animal Farm, Grapes of Wrath, Fahrenheit 451, Old Man and the Sea.

Besides my SJSU texts, these are books I'm reading right now:

The Tightwad Gazette III, by Amy Dacyczyn
(I'm always looking for more ways to be frugal.)

The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman
(Gotta read it before we watch the movie.)

Busier Than Ever, by Darrah, Freeman, & English-Lueck
(Jan English-Lueck is an SJSU Prof whose daughter who was in Susie's Girl Scout troop. And yes, the topic seems applicable.)

Parenting with Purpose, by Reasoner & Lane
(This is a new book by Marilyn Lane, whom I served with on the CAG Board for 4 years. Geared for parents of younger kids, but Marilyn sent me a copy so I'll read it.)