One of my objectives for the blog this year is to focus a lot more on children’s books. Those of you who read my posts regularly will know that I am passionate about children’s literacy and ensuring that, in this electronic age, reading remains an activity that all kids do. We know that reading improves a child’s mind in many ways, improves their vocabulary, writing skills, and academic outcomes, to name just a few of the benefits. But it’s still something that I know many parents struggle with. There are just so many distractions – for adults and children alike!
Books are also not cheap: you can expect to pay £6-7 for the average paperback, and often more for the hardback and picture books that are so vital when they are younger. A book every week or two is therefore a big ask for parents on a budget, especially if it comes with a bit of a risk – what if they don’t like it after 20 pages? Money wasted?
The answer for many is the public library. As we know, many local libraries are under threat, so it is a case of “use it or lose it”, I’m afraid. In my local borough, under 13s can borrow up to 20 books and four audiobooks at any one time. The loan period is 3 weeks and can be extended many times before you have to return (unless someone else has reserved the title). You can reserve books, search the online catalogue and renew online as well. What’s not to love? And all for free.
The only downside is fines – 6p per day per book for children, 15p for adults – so you need to keep on top of the due dates. However, my local library service sends emails a few days ahead of time to remind me what is due back when. It can be easy though if you build in a visit to the library every 2-3 weeks. I guarantee your kids will look forward to it and it’s time you get to spend with them, talking about, handling and looking at books.
I spent some time earlier this month scanning the new releases on my local library service online catalogue and picked up a few very interesting looking titles.
I’m going to be reviewing these over the next few weeks, starting with titles for primary school age children.
So, why not make it a goal to spend more time at the library with your children this year. Give it a try, there’s nothing to lose!
If you are a parent, what do you think are the biggest challenges to getting (and keeping!) your children reading?
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Julia's books 
I think it is such a shame that reading to children at the end of the school day no longer happens with any regularity (if at all). I read to my primary classes every day without fail. Sometimes I would be serialising a story, other days I would read an extract from a book, leave off at a cliff edge and then ask who wanted to be the first to borrow it and find out what happened. I bumped into an ex-pupil not long since with her two year old son. She said, ‘you made me a reader and now I’m passing it on to him’. It was one of my proudest moments.
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