Why kids should meet authors at the library

Why Your Kids Should Meet Authors at the local library

Reading for pleasure is one of the most important things you can do for your kids (and yourself). Obviously I’m enormously biased, I write books for children and I want them to read, but that doesn’t change all the great research that supports it. Instead of extolling the virtues of reading, let’s explore why I recommend going to libraries, introducing your kids to authors, and how you can teach your kids to read for pleasure.

Reading isn’t just about learning

Neil Gaiman said “…it forces you to learn new words, to think new thoughts, to keep going”. There’s a lot more to reading than just learning. Perhaps most important of all is that it builds empathy and imagination. Unlike watching a movie, when reading you have to imagine how things are happening. You feel the excitement and emotion of the characters, visit new places, and see things as only you can. They imagine being another person and understanding how they feel. It forces your kids to think, imagine and in their own creative way, to expand their mental horizons.

“I prefer radio to TV because the pictures are better.” – Alastair Cooke KBE, BBC Journalist

Librarians know how to make reading fun

Growing up in London I had a small library nearby, and it was one of my favourite places. They always had something exciting going on, and always had something new to read. Librarians know how to bring kids into the world of books & keep them excited. It’s quite literally their job.

They often bring in book authors and illustrators for book readings & other activities. I love reading at my local libraries and schools. So far I’ve read at three libraries in Singapore, and I’ve got another two lined up over the next couple of weeks (There’s an events calendar on the NLB website, lots of neat things for you to do with your kids). I try to make the book reading sessions as interactive and exciting as possible. The kids spend lots of time asking questions, exploring ideas, and doing activities. Check out libraries in your area, or see if your local school librarian has something going on. I assure you, it’ll be worth it.

Meeting Authors & Illustrators

If you’re looking for a way to get your kids excited about reading, get them in front an author! There are so many reasons why this is great, but here’s four reasons why your children should meet authors at the local library:

• Inspiration. Meeting writers gets children excited to write & draw. At almost every book reading I do the kids ask how to write their own book. Even if they go home and write ONE comic or story on their own, that’s a fantastic outcome.
• Kids learn about the meaning & morals of books. A lot of children’s books often have deeper meanings & messages they’re trying to communicate. Doing the ‘What’s the moral?’ exercise with book creator is really fun & get’s them thinking about the deeper messages in the books.
• Questions, questions, questions! Once they’ve settled in, they want to know everything about books, authors, illustrators. The discussions at some of the readings are fantastic. So let them ask all the questions they can think of! (There’s no such thing as a bad question). You might even get some answers that surprise you!
• Bragging rights with their friends. Which kid doesn’t want a picture/signed book for show & tell?

I remember taking my kids to meet a real life Astronaut. That’s an experience that they definitely won’t forget and neither will I! An author might not be quite as exotic as an astronaut, but the impact is pretty similar on kids. Done right, it’s the only thing they’ll be talking about for a while.

Teach your kids to read for pleasure

There are many ways you can build your child’s interest in reading. Here’s what works with my kids, try them out and let me know if they work – or what works for yours?.

1. Monkey see, monkey do. If you want your kids to read, show them that you’re reading.
2. Set aside regular times to read. Whether it’s reading bedtime stories, weekend quiet time, or an afterschool story time, make a regular reading time.
3. Visit the library. It’s a family outing, and an way to let them feel empowered in choosing their own books.
4. Research things with books. Instead of doing an internet search, keep an interesting question open & find the answer in a book. Yes it’s the ‘old fashioned’ method of research, but it’s a great way to leverage their curiosity & teach a practical skill.
5. Get books on subjects they like. Whatever character or activity they’re interested in, there’s a book that’s all about that. Kids interests change quickly, so instead of building a library of your own – visit one 😊

TLDR

In summary, taking your kids to the library is a great way to keep them entertained, show that reading is fun, and get inspired by authors. Building good reading habits is invaluable, incorporating your local library into that can make for great family outings. If you’re not convinced by me, remember what Einstein said: “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales.”.