The Book's Always Better...
You may have heard Ingmar Bergman died this past summer. Or you may not have. He was a very smart, creative man, and a favorite of critics and students of film.
But I believe he’s probably not as famous as Walt Disney or Steven Spielberg because he made what most of us call “art-house” films. His films are popular with “expert” film watchers, people who watch tons of movies and are looking for more than just a good, clean, popular entertainment, but they don’t hold any major box-office records.
All that to say, if people’s first movie-going experience was with Ingmar Bergman films, I suspect movies wouldn’t be as popular as they are today.
This is something we know about books, too. Part of the reason they’re not as popular as movies these days is because too often, for instance, an eighth grade English teacher assigns a paper on Silas Marner or some other “classic” chosen by academic professionals, but that is not suitable for fledgling readers. And then that class comes to the conclusion that reading is a drag.
This happened to me, and I daresay it’s happening every week to untold thousands of kids around the world.
And that is yet another reason why it’s so important that we parents, as we’ve been discussing, make the effort to be the first to introduce our kids—who we know better than any teacher ever will—to the right books.
To that end, I should mention that for all of you who’ve been looking for some concrete recommendations from little old me, you ought to check out a piece I did for Parade magazine (which is carried in a lot of local papers) this weekend.
They’re running a letter I wrote to my son, Jack, and a list of some books I truly hope he loves.
Have a great week,
JP
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I loved your Maximum Ride Excerpt at Parade! Can't wait for more!!!
Hi, I'm an avid reader of your books. I am also a 44 year old custodial grandmom of two babies. One is four the other 2.
It's funny that you should post this as I was just surfing for classic children's literature on the net.
Thank you for your blog and your interest in helping to teach children the love of books.
It's a priceless gift that will last a life time.
T
You left out The Outsiders and the book is MUCH better than the movie.
I read your Parade magazine article. I read to my 2 year old son every night --without fail- I cannot wait to introduce him to the books you have suggested! When he is older, of course!
Late in life, he will fall in love with your novels!
Thank you for your encouragement for parents through your article.
A look at the author of the books I love from a different angle is marvelous. I am an American teaching English in China, and the one thing I take my classes that the other teachers do not, is books. I try to read books as often as I can get away with it to my students. They love it, and it is easy to get them to understand. I also volunteer at a local bookstore to read to children to get their interest in books and the great characters children books offer. Your suggestions are appreciated for my adult and older students, they have to start somewhere, thanks.
I am also very happy to read that others especially writers, believe that the book is usually better. I grew up in a TVless world and am thankful for that. Reading is a passion with me. I have read many of your books and have thoroughly enjoyed every one. We need to give our students a love for reading. If it is relevant to their world, they will enjoy.
To me, it's a fact that the book is better, and it irks me that most of the kids my age don't read books unless one is assigned, they'd rather see the movie. Gah! I just want to grab them by the shoulders and shake sense into them! But violence is only the answer sometimes, so usually I just have to go immerse myself in a book and cool down.
I love your books, I read each one and await new ones anxiously. I enjoyed reading your Parade article and have one voracious reader/daughter, the two others read only as they need to for school work. My daughter's current books are by Stephanie Meyer (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse). I have read to all of my daughters since they were babies and have always loved my reading time with them.
Bravo! I am a Grade 8 English teacher, and I totally agree that many children get a negative first impression about reading. I really try to turn this around for my students. There is nothing like that feeling you get when you can't even walk from one room to the next without carrying your book and catching a few more sentences! Those books, once finished, are the ones that leave you feeling a bit lonely for the characters that no longer live by your side. I am now a mother of a beautiful 2 year old son, to whom we have been reading to since he was first born. He loves books already. In fact he is even starting to read (he recognizes over 65 words!). He is excited and amazed by words. Thanks to great authors like you, James Patterson, my son has years of reading to look forward to - as do I. incidently, one of my students asked me what book I wanted for Christmas this year, and coincidentally my response was "James Patterson"! Lucky me, I got what I wanted for Christmas!
LOVE THE EDUCATION,ENTERINING INFO,HAVING TUTORED READING, LITERATURE, HISTORY, REMEDIAL READING, AND ART EVERTHING YOU SAID IS IMPORTANT. KUDOS ON THE LIBRARY RECCOMMENATION, AND BOOKS! THANK YOU FOTR ALL YOUR WORK WITH CHILFREN AND LITERACY. THANKS AGAIN FOR LITERATURE,BOTH ADULT'S AND CHILDREN'S. THANKS TOO FOR UYOUR PASSION TO EDUCATE, TRO HELP AND TO INSPIRE US. KATHY