A couple months back, I overheard a conversation a school aide was having with a student at the book fair. He picked out a Minecraft book and she was explaining to him that it wasn't in his reading level and he should pick out a different book. He clutched that book even tighter. Then the librarian intervened. Oh, thank goodness. Except, she also told him he needed to find a different book. Sure, he had enough money. Sure, that was the book on his list that his parents signed. However, they were both so fixated on this reading level babble that they couldn't see what this was truly about.
This was about a book. And a boy.
Sure, it's a Minecraft book. Perhaps he can't actually read it. But do you know what? That shouldn't matter. Not even in the slightest. Because as long as he has the passion to read that book, he's going to most likely read it someday. Maybe even this year. So no matter how many police books, Ninja Turtles, superheroes, and car books you shove at him, he wants that one. And they should have let him buy it. After all, his parents sent him in there to buy that particular book, a purchase that was benefiting the school library. He didn't want any other books. And telling him he could just ask his parents to buy it at Barnes and Noble is revolting! Again, you should be encouraging him to branch out from his reading level. You should allow him to support the book fair. You should be praising his passion.
It was about a book. It was about a boy. And kids who are passionate about books read them.
And they should have let him buy it so he could read it.
I don't care if it's a strategy handbook for a game. It doesn't matter. Reading is reading. It's a gateway to an experience not enough people allow themselves. Whether it's a comic book, a drawing book, or a simple picture book. Let children read. Encourage them. Maybe they won't end up on a high school reading level like The Redhead, but you know what? They will certainly enjoy themselves. They will love those books. They'll read other books similar to the one they loved. Maybe they won't love all of the books. But kids who aren't encouraged end up not reading.
We have a whole different issue with The Redhead. Not all books in her range are appropriate for her age. Not all of the books she reads would be deemed appropriate by most parents. I know plenty of people who liken the Harry Potter series to witchcraft and blasphemy. She read the entire series and finished it early into her ninth year. She also recently completed The Hunger Games series, a series that is actually below her reading level range, and a set of books I definitely wouldn't recommend for all children her age. She is now on the second book in The Maze Runner series. In this case, it's a good idea to read these books first. Find out if your child is ready for the violence, the subject matter, the drama. Only a parent would know if it's appropriate for their child, which is exactly why I never tell people, "sure, your kid is ready for that book." I wouldn't dare. But if your kid is interested in one of those series....you should definitely find out if they're ready to actually read them. You don't want to lose that narrow window of opportunity, of their interest. Because once it's gone...it's gone.
So again I type: Let them read. It'll be okay, I promise. I promise that even though that child can't quite read the words on those pages, the world won't end. Maybe he'll just have to have his parents read those pages to him for now. And hey! That's wonderful too! We've been reading to The Redhead since in utero. She has always had an appreciation for books, at least since infancy. I have no idea what she thought while hanging out in the womb. But reading to your child leads to them eventually doing it on their own. Whether they read at age three, age four, age five...or at any other age. Whether they struggle for years. They will get there. But they need encouragement. Please don't misunderstand that for serious pushing, because I think of that as a whole other issue. One that can be just as severe as discouragement. Just encourage them.
Just give them books. Let them pick out their own books. And just let them read. Even if they don't want to read The Little House on the Prairie series. Which I wouldn't know anything about....
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