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How to Raise a Reader - Books Guides

By Pamela Paul and Maria Russo

Illustrations by Dan Yaccarino

From the moment you’re expecting your first child, you are bombarded with messages about the importance of reading. For good reason: The benefits of reading at every stage of a child’s development are well documented. Happily, raising a reader is fun, rewarding and relatively easy.

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Start Them Early

First, Reacquaint Yourself With Reading

If you’ve let reading slide to the margins of your life, now is the time to bring it back. Make the space, and time, for books you read for yourself, and books you read with your child. If you want to raise a reader, be a reader.

Baby Books Are a Necessity

You may think you’re off the hook with books until your baby is at least vertical, but not so. Even newborns benefit from the experience of hearing stories (and they can’t complain about your taste in books). So take advantage. Here’s how:

Read out loud, every day. Any book. You can read anything to a newborn: a cookbook, a dystopian novel, a parenting manual. The content doesn’t matter. What does matter is the sound of your voice, the cadence of the text and the words themselves. Research has shown that the number of words an infant is exposed to has a direct impact on language development and literacy. But here’s the catch: The language has to be live, in person and directed at the child. Turning on a television, or even an audiobook, doesn’t count. Sure, it’s good to get started reading aloud the children’s books that will be part of your child’s library. But don’t feel limited. Just be sure to enjoy yourself.

Use your senses. Babies who are read to are learning that reading is fun and can involve all the senses: the feel of the pages, the smell of the glue (don’t go crazy), the visuals of the illustrations, the sound of the parent’s voice. Try it: Texturized books are especially good for your child’s tactile experience.

Mind your audience. Make eye contact, but don’t look for a particular reaction. It may seem like babies are not listening, but they are absorbing the experience. And the patterns, routines and attentive habits that are set now will last a lifetime.

Get your baby talking. Babies may start making sounds in response to your reading. This is why many books for this age contain nonsense words or animal sounds — they’re easier to mimic. Try it: If your child make a noise, respond. It may make no sense to you, but it’s communication. There’s a straight line from this moment to your first parent-child book club.

Toddlers

It’s hard to overestimate how important reading is to a toddler’s intellectual, social and emotional development. When you read with toddlers, they take it all in: vocabulary and language structure, numbers and math concepts, colors, shapes, animals, opposites, manners and all kinds of useful information about how the world works. What’s more, when you read out loud, your toddler connects books with the familiar, beloved sound of your voice — and the physical closeness that reading together brings. You are helping build a positive association with books that will last a lifetime.

Keep in mind:

Reading happens throughout the day. Nightly bedtime reading is a familiar routine for parents of toddlers — what better way to get your little ball of energy to relax before bed? Make sure the atmosphere is soothing and not rushed, and choose some of the many books that end, strategically, with a peaceful going-to-bed scene (though friskier books about sleep-avoiding children are fun, too). But read with your toddler during the day, as well. Offering to read books with toddlers is one of the best ways — some days, it can seem like the only way — to get them to slow down and focus. Sit close, and enjoy these moments of connection while it’s still light outside.

Introduce your own taste. You’ve been reading a long time, and you have a sense of what you like in grown-up books. As a parent, you have the chance to rediscover your taste in children’s books. Pull out your old favorites, and find what’s new that catches your eye when you’re in bookstores, libraries or friends’ homes. The good news is that the best authors and illustrators of children’s books aim to please their grown-up audience, too. Try it: Tweak the text when you’re reading out loud. Many classic children’s books are now considered sexist, racist, outdated and, in certain ways, downright awful. Feel free to make them better.

Respect your child’s preferences. Your child is already surprising you with independent tastes and opinions. Just as your child doesn’t like your kale salad, he or she may not appreciate the exquisite black-and-white crosshatching of Robert McCloskey’s “Make Way for Ducklings” as much as you did as a child. You may not be all that excited about fairies or talking trucks, but your child might be. Encourage children to express what they like about their books, and find more books like those.

The parent-child pas de deux. The more you can make reading mutually satisfying, the more it will be associated with pleasure and reward. If your child doesn’t like your silly ogre’s voice, don’t use it. Remember, it’s your child’s story time, too. Try it: Let your child turn the pages, to control the pace. (It’s also great for developing fine motor skills.)

It’s O.K. to interrupt. Don’t get so caught up in your own reading that you ignore your child’s comments and queries. Interruptions show that your child is engaged. Try it: If you find yourself saying, “Just let me finish this page,” stop and ask your toddler to repeat the question. If children don’t seem engaged by the words, ask what they see in the pictures. Point at things and invite them to explain or narrate the action.

Expand your toddler’s world. Sometimes toddlers seem “stuck” on a certain book you’re not crazy about. Don’t deny them the books they like, but try to actively steer them toward other books as well. Most important, don’t be afraid to expose toddlers to subjects they don’t have any context for. All topics — even geology, the history of art, and life in different cultures — can be broken down into small parts and made interesting by a great children’s book. Try it: At a certain age, children may start to gravitate exclusively to stories that feature a protagonist of their own gender. This is not true for toddlers. Take advantage of this time to expose them to a balanced menu of characters.

Choose diverse books. All children need to see themselves reflected in the picture books around them. If your child is a member of a racial or ethnic minority, seek out books that feature children who look similar to yours — they are getting much easier to find. White children also benefit from books that show children with different skin tones and ethnicities. All children need to encounter books that present the variety of cultural traditions and family structures that coexist in our communities. Exposing children to diversity in books will prepare them for life in a diverse world.

How to Grow a Reader

Emerging Readers

That magical breakthrough moment — when your child shows an interest in letters, and begins to make out words on a page or in the world itself — happens at different ages for different children, even within the same family. Most parents describe a long period in which a child can’t keep letters straight or identify words, then a quick burst of comprehension, followed by more regular, but still sudden leaps. It really can seem like magic — so don’t rush it.

Some strategies to support your emerging reader:

Mix it up. When children start to pick out words, allow them to read to you some of the time, but reading time shouldn’t be strained, exhausting or feel like a test. At first, try pointing to words you know your child will recognize and have him or her read them. When your child knows more words, try reading alternating pages.

Don’t abruptly withdraw your reading services. Being read to is an enormous comfort and part of your bond, and you don’t want to convey to your child that becoming an independent reader jeopardizes that together time. Continue reading aloud picture book favorites — and some more-sophisticated books they can’t read on their own yet, like Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” or Kate DiCamillo’s “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.”

Every child learns to read at a personal pace. There is no “correct” age for independent reading, and no special formula for getting every child to read by, say, age 5½. In fact, few 5-year-olds are ready to do full-on independent reading — even if many kindergarten programs are structured toward that goal. If you’ve been focused on raising a reader all along, you can feel confident that your child is taking the steps toward independent reading at the pace that’s personally right.

Don’t make reading work. Your child may already be under pressure to learn to read at school.

Reading at home should be beautiful, fun, curiosity-quenching and inspiring.It’s great if you can help support your child while learning to read, but your most important job is more profound: to foster a love of reading. Don’t put it on yourself to make your child hit particular targets.

Check in with the teacher. Talk with your child’s teachers, but don’t get nervous if your student is not reading at the same level as his or her peers.

Late readers often grow up to be better, more enthusiastic readers. That said, if you or your child’s teacher suspects a reading challenge, like dyslexia, get a formal evaluation. Your child may be under more stress about learning to read than you realize.

Early Readers

As your child begins to read independently, your role expands. Keep reading with your child, but also supply a steady stream of books that are appealing, and lots of positive vibes and good conversation about reading and books in general.

Ask, “what are you reading?” Make this question a big part of your life. When you’re with your child and a friend, ask what the friend reads, and start a conversation. Your child may want to read what friends are enthusiastic about.

Tip: Ask other parents what their children are reading, and offer to swap books.

Make reading associated with maturity. Reading is a grown-up pastime, and can be done independently.

Try it: If your child’s bedtime is 7 p.m., extend it to 7:30 p.m. if the child stays in bed and reads.

A Few Words About Harry Potter

Don’t push Harry Potter too early. We love Harry Potter, but also feel there is no reason to read Harry Potter out loud to your child. If children are attracted to fantasy, they will come to love Harry so much, they’ll want to read the books on their own. In other words, Harry Potter is the dessert, not the vegetables. There are a lot of great books for kindergartners, but even the first Harry Potter book is not one of them. In fact, the sweet spot for the first four books in the series is the second through fifth grades; it’s fifth through seventh grade for the later books. There are some dark themes in the later books; the author, J.K. Rowling, wrote those understanding that her readers would grow into the later books as they worked their way through the series.

Our Reviews of the Harry Potter Series

Reluctant Readers, or Visual Readers?

For some early readers, a big block of text is like a giant, daunting stop sign. These children often get slapped with the label “reluctant reader,” when really they may just prefer more visual books. Resist applying that label and instead find books your early reader loves.

These tips can help you inspire a less enthusiastic reader:

Format doesn’t matter. Many chapter books with a highly visual, comics-influenced format (“Captain Underpants,” for example) were written specifically to help “reluctant readers” and children with challenges like dyslexia. The stories and characters can be rich and well developed, and children still learn reading skills with these more visually driven books. Graphic novels for young readers, meanwhile, have been steadily improving in literary quality, often winning prestigious awards and appearing on best-of-the-year book lists.

Make room for comics and manga. Don’t denigrate your child’s interest in this genre. Many of the most celebrated literary figures of our time not only grew up devouring comics, but also incorporate comics-inspired themes into their prize-winning novels: Michael Chabon, Junot Díaz and Jonathan Lethem, to name a few. Many children become avid readers through their love of comics. You may have even loved reading Archie, Smurfs or Superman before going on to read Gabriel García Márquez.

A book about a computer game is still a book. Plenty of reluctant readers are fans of popular computer and video games. Many of these games have book counterparts, which can be a great way to steer your child toward the pleasures of text. There are lots of books featuring Minecraft, Pokémon, Plants vs. Zombies, and the like. From there, you can expand your child’s repertory to graphic novels and comics, and then full-text books.

Don’t forget nonfiction. Some reluctant readers are fact-gatherers, who may be more inspired by reading nonfiction. If it’s presented in a highly visual format, all the better for conveying even more kinds of information. Look for books about presidents, states, ancient history, the solar system, animals, natural disasters, and other topics they’re interested in.

Never treat books as a chore. Don’t say, “If you spend 30 minutes reading, you’ll get to play on the iPad/eat ice cream/be paid a dollar.” Instead, treat reading as its own reward — a privilege, even. Nobody earns candy for eating cookies.

Our Favorite Graphic Novels, Memoirs and History Books

GRAPHIC NOVEL

“Bone” by Jeff Smith

The great Bone saga begins in this edition, as Fone Bone, Phoney Bone and Smiley Bone meet some scary monsters.
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GRAPHIC NOVEL

“Roller Girl” by Victoria Jamieson

Astrid decides to join a summer roller derby camp, but can she stay close to her best friend even though they are growing apart?
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HISTORY

“Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales”

Harriet Tubman’s escape from slavery is one subject covered in this nonfiction series.
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MEMOIR

“American Born Chinese” by Gene Luen Yang

When his family moves to the suburbs, Jin Wang wonders why he doesn’t fit in with the “all-American boys.” Read the review.
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MEMOIR

“Smile” by Raina Telgemeier

Raina experiences braces, boy troubles and other plagues of the sixth grade. Read the review.
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Foster a Family of Readers

It Starts With You

We’ll say it again because it’s easy to forget among the demands of parenthood: If you want your child to be excited about reading, you should be, too. These precious years when your child is living at home, observing your approach to life, are a great time to nurture your own reading habits.

Here’s how to make reading a family activity:

Beyond the “reading log” mentality. Many students have to keep “reading logs” from elementary school through middle school, a well-meaning, but somewhat controversial practice that risks turning reading into a chore. If your child must keep one, consider the fine irony in bugging your student to crack a book every night, if you rarely do it yourself. Seeing you choose to read can help with your child’s approach to mandated reading time.

Make reading a group activity. Just as younger children parallel play, older children parallel read. And reading together — separately — is a wonderful way to spend time in each other’s company. Try it: Instead of organizing family leisure time around TV, movies or video games, schedule a regular family reading time. As your children begin to choose their own books and read independently, they may be less inclined to talk to you about what they’re reading. But if they are reading right next to you, you’ll hear them laugh, exclaim or give some other response, which gives you an opening to conversation.

Foster Independent Reading Comprehension

Avoid giving your child an e-reader. Studies have shown that people, especially children, absorb and retain stories better when they read them in print. So there is a good pedagogic reason to urge your children to stick to paper. At night, screen time is known to interfere with melatonin cycles, which makes it harder to fall asleep.

Books belong everywhere. Even a devoted anticlutter person should make an exception for books. Create impromptu reading opportunities for your child by leaving books in places where they may be picked up in an idle moment. Discovered on a coffee table, a great photography book or a book about lizards may occupy children for long stretches. A big, visual, information-rich book like David Macaulay’s “The Way Things Work” can be an ongoing temptation for children of all ages. But don’t stop there. Leave paperbacks and magazines piled in the bathroom (yes, everyone reads on the toilet, even children), or anywhere they could catch a young reader’s eye.

Join — or start — a parent-child (any combination) book club. These are great ways to strengthen your child’s relationship to reading — and to you. Being in a book club together increases the opportunities for you to start conversations about books, which may lead to deeper conversations about other subjects.

Books to movies. A movie adaptation of a novel your child loves is a great way to re-engage with the book, opening a conversation about how a story can be told in different ways. Encourage your child to read the book before the movie adaptation hits the screen. Consider establishing a family rule: No one watches the film until everyone has read the book.

Keep the New Books Coming In (and Going Out)

Let your child build a personal collection. Children love collecting. Make your child’s book collection a point of personal pride and identity. Every child should have a special bookcase. Plan for long-term storage for the best of this collection. When your children reach adulthood and discover that you still have the books that meant so much to them in childhood, they (and you!) will appreciate it.

Books are for giving. Not every book your child owns is bound for the permanent collection. Keep a regular conversation going about which books your child is ready to hand down to younger siblings, cousins or friends. It’s also great to pass some on to shelters, doctors’ offices, schools, charity sales or local libraries.

Consider a birthday-party book swap. When your child is at the picture-book stage, ask guests to bring a wrapped book instead of gifts, and have everyone choose one on the way out. (Don’t forget to also wrap one from the birthday child — who gets to pick first!) It’s nicer than goody bags filled with candy or plastic toys, and teaches children that books are special.With older children, have guests bring an unwrapped book, and have them choose from the pile. Determine the order by pulling numbers from a hat, or through a contest or game.

Don’t let the steep price of books stand in your way. Make regular trips to the library (even better as a family) to keep a constant stream of new and intriguing books around the house. Many local libraries no longer have limits on the number of books you can take out at one time. And keeping a constantly rotating menu of books on hand exposes children to a variety of subjects, formats and genres, piquing their curiosity.

Local libraries are indispensable resources. They often offer:

Storytelling hours
Author visits
Community events for the whole family
Free computer access with kid-friendly games

Let your children become members as soon as they are old enough. A child’s first library card is a rite of passage, often the very first official membership card in a young life. Teach your children that library membership is a privilege and a responsibility. Most children really treasure their library cards, for good reason. It’s not just a ticket to great books, it’s a milestone.

Know Your Books

Here are the various types of books you and your child will encounter as she grows.

Board Books

Birth to Age 3

Board books are small, thick cardboard books that fit in a baby’s hand. They can be safely chewed on or thrown across the room. They are equally visual and verbal; pictures tell the story as much as the words do. Research shows that visual reading is an important precursor to verbal reading, and babies need to develop this skill. Decoding pictures and decoding words are part of the same process. Becoming a reader starts as soon as your baby pays attention to board books.

What Makes a Great Board Book

Familiarity. Our tiniest family members like to see their own world reflected on the page — including other babies’ faces, and seemingly ho-hum household items like a stroller, a bottle or a crib. Everything is new to a baby. The pages of a simple board book may be boring to you, but pay attention to what delights your baby in a book, and find more like it.

A feast for the eyes. Board books should have big, bright images and comparatively few words. For very small babies, easy-to-see, simple black-and-white pages with big patterns are a great way to start. As your baby gets older, find board books with bold color combinations and high-impact graphic design. Babies don’t necessarily appreciate the softer, more subtle palettes that appeal to adults.

All hands on board. Lift the flap. Feel the textures. Pull the tabs. (Babies love to manipulate these features.) As soon as they can use their hands, lift-the-flap books are a wonderful way to make reading a tactile activity as well as introduce the element of surprise into story time.

Watch Out For

Board-book versions of your favorites. Not every book that started out as a picture book works in the format. The art has to scale down well, and there has to be a strong, simple visual component to the story. Don’t assume a board-book version of your favorite picture book is the way to go. It may be best to wait until your baby can experience that beloved book in its bigger, intended format.

Gizmos and sounds. Babies can get easily overstimulated, and they will also quickly tire of these bells and whistles. (You will, too.) Your live, human voice should trump everything else.

A lot of blah-blah-blah. Too many words, and too few or too finely detailed pictures will try a baby’s patience. Every word in a board book should count.

Our Favorite Board Books

“Goodnight, Gorilla” by Peggy Rathmann

A mischievous gorilla isn’t quite ready to go to sleep.
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“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle

The caterpillar is still hungry after all these years.
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“But Not the Hippopotamus” by Sandra Boynton

A shy hippo makes a big impact in this Sandra Boynton classic.
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"Maisy’s Bedtime” by Lucy Cousins

Maisy and her friends get ready for bed.
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Picture Books

Ages 2 - 8

Picture books are bigger than board books, with (be careful!) rippable pages and, usually, a slightly longer, more developed story. You can introduce picture books into the story time mix right from the newborn days, but the sweet spot for picture books is later toddlerhood and beyond. Your child’s awareness of the world is always expanding, and picture books tell more ambitious stories, going to new places, and helping the child to understand and navigate each stage of life (a new sibling, the beginning of preschool, conflict with a friend, fear of the dark, picky eating, and so on).

What Makes a Great Picture Book

It artfully combines great illustration and great words. Picture books are not just a lot of fun, they are an art form. As with board books, the images aren’t there merely to accompany the words — they work in tandem with text to tell the story. Sometimes you can suffer through some terrible text in the service of beautiful illustration. (And if you are reading a picture book to your child before she is reading herself, you can even get away with changing text that strikes you as outdated or just plain bad.) But the “greats” — the books you will keep in your library for years, and hope your children will pass on to their children — will have both incredible art and powerful, unforgettable language.

They are made by talented authors, illustrators and author/Illustrators. Some of the very best picture books are by author/illustrators like Maurice Sendak, Dr. Seuss, Leo Lionni, Jerry Pinkney, Lois Ehlert and Taro Gomi. These masters of the form can make a picture book seem like a whole world. But books written and illustrated by separate people can be just as amazing, combining a word-centric talent with a highly visual one — and you’ll often find well-known author/illustrators performing just one of those roles. Maurice Sendak and Ruth Krauss collaborated on the classic “A Hole Is to Dig,” for example. More recently, Adam Rex and Christian Robinson split duties on the charming “School’s First Day of School.” Tip: Get to know the names of well-regarded picture book authors, illustrators and author/illustrators.

They pay attention to the details. Every inch of a picture book is thought out, from the cover to the end papers. Feel free to judge these books by their covers — and look underneath them, as well, because often you’ll find a surprise on the reverse side.

They don’t get old. The all-time great picture books stay delightful even with frequent repetition. “The Snowy Day,” “Goodnight Moon,” “Where the Wild Things Are” are books you can read out loud repeatedly and not lose your sanity.

They let you look beyond words. Some of the great picture book are wordless, like Jerry Pinkney’s “The Lion & the Mouse,” David Wiesner’s “Flotsam” and Suzy Lee’s “Wave.” Wordless books are a fantastic opportunity to build your child’s visual literacy and help teach how to decipher images. Try it: Invite your child to tell you what is happening on each page and then ask, “What makes you say that?”

They use animals to create a “safe space” for children to work out problems. The ranks of great picture books have always been heavy with animal protagonists, as in “Little Bear,” “Frog and Toad” and “Pete the Cat.” It’s not just that children love animals — the critters in their books help them reflect on problems from a safe emotional distance. Animals are also often gender neutral and appeal to both sexes.

They make facts fun. Not every picture book has to tell a story. Many of the most memorable approach their role differently: They show fascinating information about life, often broken up into bite-sized chunks. The books of Richard Scarry, for example, give children a lot of stuff to look at (and sneak in ministories that don’t require a long commitment). For many children, picture books that are organized like catalogs or encyclopedias are even more compelling than stories, and even the most story-loving child likes to occasionally get lost in these “fact books. ”

Favorite Classics
Newer Picture Books

Favorite Classics
“The Amazing Bone” by William Steig
Can Pearl, a pig, and her new friend, a small talking bone, outwit a band of robbers and a hungry fox?
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“In the Night Kitchen” by Maurice Sendak
Mickey has adventures in the bakers’ kitchen as they prepare our morning cake.
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“The Carrot Seed” by Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Crockett Johnson
This book teaches the patience and technique needed to plant a seed and help it grow.
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“Millions of Cats” by Wanda Gág
An old man and an old woman decided to get a cat, but he found not one cat, but millions and billions and trillions of cats!
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“Harold and the Purple Crayon” by Crockett Johnson
Armed only with an oversize purple crayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of wonder and excitement.
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Newer Picture Books
“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” by Mo Willems
When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place.
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“Miss Rumphius” by Barbara Cooney
Alice made a promise to make the world a more beautiful place, a seed of an idea is planted and blossoms into a beautiful plan.
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“I Want My Hat Back” by Jon Klassen
The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back.
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“The Seven Silly Eaters” by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Marla Frazee
Each new addition to the household brings a new demand for a special meal.
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“The Stray Dog” by Marc Simont
A stray dog finds a new home.
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Early or Easy Readers

Ages 4-7

Early reader books use a limited number of words and are heavily illustrated. Most have a more workmanlike appearance than picture books. They often have no jacket and are slightly taller and narrower. Many are branded with names like “I Can Read” or “Step Into Reading,” and three or sometimes four levels. These are called “Leveled Readers” — you can always spot one because it will have a giant number or letter on the cover identifying its level. Your child is likely to encounter these in school, starting in kindergarten. For that reason, many parents shy away from bringing branded “leveled reader” books home, but there are plenty of early reader books that don’t create the pressured atmosphere those numbers can convey.

What Makes a Great Early Reader

Fun. Adventure. Playfulness. These are the books that invite your children into the world of readers, where they will spend the rest of their lives. That’s a leap filled with prestige and accomplishment. But if your child feels constantly judged, or that too much attention is paid to the pace of progress, the experience may not be fun. It may even get in the way of learning. You can help by making sure your child has early readers that surprise and delight. Dr. Seuss revolutionized this category and set the standard that still holds, so keep in mind the outrageous fun of Dr. Seuss when you select these books. No matter the topic or story, an early reader book should make reading seem like a club your child wants to be a part of — not a lesson to be graded on.

Rhyme or other clues. Many early readers use rhyme — it’s a way to give a fledgling reader a clue about what an unfamiliar word may be — but they don’t have to. Repetition and word patterning can be just as helpful.

Good art and clean, interesting graphic design. The art on every page of an early reader should help the child decode the words. Make sure these books have an inviting design. Many of the best early readers will have very few words — sometimes only one or two per page! Rest assured, your child is reading when making it through a book like that. It is a satisfying and impressive accomplishment.

Our Favorite Early Readers

“The Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss

It’s cold and wet and Sally and her brother are stuck in the house with nothing to do … until a giant cat in a hat shows up.
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Waiting

“Waiting Is Not Easy!” by Mo Willems

Impatient Gerald has to wait for Piggie’s promised surprise.
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“Dog and Bear: Three to Get Ready” by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Uh-oh. Bear’s head is stuck in a bucket. Oh, my. Oh, no. Fortunately Bear’s good friend Dog is there to rescue him.
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“Ballet Cat” by Bob Shea

Ballet Cat and Sparkles the Pony are trying to decide what to play today.
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“What This Story Needs Is a Pig in a Wig” by Emma J. Virján

What this story needs is a pig in a wig, on a boat in a moat with a frog, a dog, and a goat on a log.
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“Ball” by Mary Sullivan

This books only uses two or three words throughout, with a story that’s fun and easy to follow.
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Chapter Books

Ages 6 - 10

When children flow right through easy readers, they may start to talk about chapter books. If not, introduce the idea yourself — they’re probably ready, or will be soon. It’s an exciting moment! Something about the feat of working through a bunch of chapters makes a young elementary school student feel gloriously grown up. Early chapter books are mostly published in series, because new readers who finish a book frequently want more time with the characters.

What to Look For

Forever friends, complex plot. Remember Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins, Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown, Fern, Charlotte and Stuart Little? Chapter books are where your child meets characters who will be important friends — they will play big, ongoing roles in a reader’s life as he or she grows into a more independent, self-sufficient person. In these books, children also begin to follow longer, twistier stories, to enter into enchanting and breathtaking literary fantasy worlds with their own rules and logic, and to discover stories that will help them work through the many changes they are experiencing in their world and in themselves.

Visual interest still matters. If your child is shying away from or struggling to read chapter books, seek out the more visual ones, with at least one illustration on each page. Books from “The 13-Story Treehouse” series or “The Notebook of Doom” series do the trick. These books are often unjustly dismissed as too “easy” or “cartoonish,” but you should ignore that prejudice. The best of these heavily illustrated early chapter books are brilliant!

What to Watch Out For

Long, long, loooong series. The first chapter books your child encounters are often part of series that have turned into mega-franchises by now: “Magic Treehouse,” “Flat Stanley,” “Fancy Nancy.” Some of these series have books counting into the hundreds, which makes many parents groan. As strong as the original concepts may be, the freshness factor may indeed be lacking in later titles. Still, if your child is into these, keep them coming. Tip: Borrow, swap and otherwise obtain these books used, as your child races through each one once, never to crack it open again.

Reluctance to try something new. The early chapter book mega-series franchises also hog up valuable shelf space in libraries and bookstores, so make an effort to introduce your little fan to newer, lesser known series, many of which are more literary, nuanced reads, with better art and more interesting language. The books in some of these series are best read in order, but with many your child can jump in at any point.

Our Favorite Chapter Book Series

“Ivy + Bean” by Annie Barrows

Two friends — who never meant to like each other — share adventures.
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“Nate the Great” by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Kids can use their problem solving skills to solve mysteries with Nate.
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“Dory Fantasmagory” by Abby Hanlon

Here comes a lovably energetic little sister with a BIG personality — and an imagination to match!
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“Bad Kitty” by Nick Bruel

A cat goes berserk, in alphabetical order.
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“Anna Hibiscus” by Atinuke
Join Anna Hibiscus as she splashes in the sea, prepares for a party, sells oranges, and hopes to see sweet, sweet snow!
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Middle Grade Books

Ages 8-12

Many people consider middle-grade books the best of children’s literature, because they focus on the golden years of childhood, before the transformations, challenges and responsibilities of adolescence. These books don’t contain the level of violence or sexuality acceptable in young adult novels, though some middle-grade books intended for the older end of the spectrum may include mildly violent scenes or a first kiss.

The recommended age range for a middle-grade novel is not usually apparent on the book itself. You can find it on a publisher’s site (sometimes!) or in a reputable review, but keep in mind that your child may — or may not — be ready for a book with some content that skews older. If your child brings home a book you object to, you will have to decide where you stand on censoring your child’s reading choices. But keep in mind that with books — as opposed to movies or TV shows — children can easily tune out or skip over material they’re not emotionally ready for.

What to Look For

What’s my place in this big, crazy world? Children of this age are interested both in defining their own identities and in investigating questions about the larger world. A good middle-grade book can be surprisingly philosophical, taking on notions like fairness, justice, freedom and compassion. Some of the best are historical fiction set in challenging time periods like the Civil War, the Holocaust or the Civil Rights Era. They often deftly address, in an age-appropriate way, real-world problems your child is just becoming aware of: ideas like racism, refugees, the foster care system and mental illness. Tip: Whatever personal challenge your child is navigating — bullying, the end of a friendship, social anxiety, a cross-country move, or death or illness in the family — there is a good middle-grade novel that can help him or her get through it. Ask a librarian or experienced bookseller for a recommendation.

The kid stays in the picture. In great middle-grade novels, children are the protagonists; they solve problems, have adventures unmediated by adults and are generally the stars of their own shows. That’s why orphans are so common in classic children’s literature. Even in contemporary middle-grade fiction, parents seem to die or be otherwise unavailable at an improbable rate, forcing child characters to bravely confront challenges.

But grown-ups count, too. Even so, a great middle-grade novel will have at least one admirable adult character, and sometimes a few. This is the age that children realize the grown-up world is fallible, but they still need role models to help and guide them.

Series are still big. Just as with chapter book readers, middle-grade readers like to stay with their favorite characters for multiple books. Middle-grade series lean more toward fantasy than realism, so in each book, young readers are likely to learn more about the rules, history and structure of a series’s world.

Fantasy worlds rule. Many of the best middle-grade books are fantasy, and some of the best fantasy novels, period, were originally intended for middle-grade readers (from “A Wrinkle in Time,” to a certain young boarding-school wizard). Middle-grade readers like a chance to escape through reading. That’s where fantasy novels come in — they offer fully thought-out worlds that have their own rules, with just enough distance from reality for a young reader to reflect on the rules of his own world.

The Best Series
Stand Alone Favorites

The Best Series
“Percy Jackson” by Rick Riordan
A boy battles mythological monsters. Read a review.
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“The Secret Series” by Pseudonymous Bosch
Snooping sleuths suffer assaults on the senses.
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“The Giver” by Lois Lowry
Exploring human connections in a postapocalyptic world.
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“Because of Mr. Terupt” by Rob Buyea
Seven children offer their own perspectives on what makes their teacher so special.
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“Birchbark House” by Louise Erdrich
The story of a young Ojibwa girl living on an island in Lake Superior around 1847.
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Stand Alone Favorites
“When You Reach Me” by Rebecca Stead
In this taut novel, every word, every sentence has meaning and substance.
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“Flora & Ulysses” by Kate DiCamillo
A cynic meets an unlikely superhero.
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“Wonder” by R.J. Palacio
A boy with a facial deformity enters a mainstream school.
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“The Watsons Go to Birmingham” by Christopher Paul Curtis
A novel that is both comic and deeply moving.
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“The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate
Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated book is told from the point of view of Ivan himself.
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Young Adult

Ages 12-Up

The category of Young Adult, or Y.A., books is a relatively recent invention, meant to specify books written both about and (primarily) for teenagers. These books range from the lyrical and literary to the racy and commercial, but they are all concerned with coming-of-age themes like navigating conflicts with authority or a first serious romantic relationship. These days, dark subjects like suicide and abuse are common.

Our Favorite Y.A. Books

“Graceling” by Kristin Cashore

Katsa lives in a world where selected people are given a Grace, a special talent that can be anything from dancing to swimming. Katsa’s is killing.
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“The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green

A 16-year-old heroine faces the medical realities of cancer. Read the review.
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“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak

A girl copes with life under the Nazis by stealing books. Read the review.
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“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie

Arnold Spirit Jr. is the geekiest Indian on the Spokane Reservation. Read the review.
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“Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson

You can read “Brown Girl Dreaming” in one sitting, but it is as rich a spread as the potluck table at a family reunion. Read the review.
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The Best Level 1 Reading Books For Your Budding Reader

Parenting

by Megan Hungerford

July 19, 2021

Amazon / Scary Mommy

The best level 1 reading books can help your future bookworm fall in love with reading. But before you fill that bookcase full of your childhood favorites, it’s important to know that there are levels this -ish, mama. Yes, literal levels. When shopping for books for new or learning readers, you don’t want anything too easy or too difficult. You also want to be sure that it’s something that will actually hold their attention and get your LO interested in books (hopefully enough to want to continue reading on their own). It’s a lot to take into consideration! While filling up a bookshelf with the classics may be an understandable first instinct, it’s important to get what you’re child will both enjoy and learn from.

“Let your child’s library be determined by what they want to read. Building reading fluency is all about practice. And if your child is reading what appeals to them, they will want to read more and more,” advised Rachel Matson, the associate editor at Scholastic. “Passion for the book is more important than if your child is reading above or below level.”

That’s right. It doesn’t matter if the book is about ponies, pirates, or Olaf the Snowman — as long as they want to read it!

What is a level 1 reader?

Generally, there are five different categories (I Can Read, Ready to Read, Hello Reader, Step into Reading, and Brand New Readers) and four easy reader levels (Levels 1-4), each with various subcategories for different ages. Level 1 readers are usually around five or six years old, the age most children begin kindergarten. Unfortunately, there isn’t one set of industry standards across publishers that categorizes level 1 reading books. (Which makes this hella confusing for us parents). However, all the best level 1 reading books have the same characteristics: a simple vocabulary with familiar high-frequency words, repetition, and illustrations that support the text on every page. Shira Stein, a New York-based literacy specialist and tutor, gave Scary Mommy a little insight:

“Most publishing companies issue some version of early leveled readers. And these books can be very helpful in supporting your child learning to read because they are written with this specific audience in mind,” recommends Stein.

The Five Finger Rule

But how do you know if that level 1 reading book is right for your reader? Stein recommends using the Five Finger Rule! “If your kiddo opens a book and runs into 5+ unfamiliar words, that book is too hard. But zero unknown words is too easy,” Stein explains. So, it’s best to find a sweet spot in the middle. A book that has 2-3 new words per page is perfect for your learning reader.

I know that seems like a ton of info, mama — but don’t worry. We’ve sifted through all the leveled easy reading books from different publishing houses to collect the best level 1 reading books that are actually easy to read. Check them out below!

The Best Level 1 Reading Books

'Hello, Hedgehog: Let’s Have a Sleepover!' by Norm Feuti

Scholastic Books’ Associate Editor Rachel Matson recommends “this cute-as-can-be sleepover story which is all about having empathy for your friends,” as one of her top level 1 books. Part of the Scholastic early reader line Acorn, Hello Hedgehog: Let’s Have a Sleepover! is the second of the five book series. The Acorn book line features easy to read text, a short story format, and captivating tales illustrated in full color. “Perfect for kids just learning to read. They have age-appropriate humor (no crude/gross humor), good grammar, and are relatable for young kids. Three to seven year-olds will enjoy them (and their parents). The hide-and-seek part is a big favorite” said one happy Amazon customer.

$4.99

'Jump' by David McPhail

Jump into reading with this high quality, guided reading level A book by David McPhail. Part of the award winning early reading series from Holiday House, the book features acclaimed author-illustrators that create compelling narratives with simple text and gorgeous original artwork. McPhail uses cozy watercolor illustrations to depict kids and animals leaping in the air with this beginner book perfect for early kindergarten. “Awesome book,” reviews one happy customer on Amazon. “I love how even though these books are for beginning readers the illustrations and books are just as rich as higher level ones!”

$7.99

'Go Dog Go!' by P.D. Eastman

This classic beginner’s book written by P.D. Eastman—edited by Dr. Seuss—features silly dogs zipping around town in everything from a car to rollerskates. With so many fun-loving characters, it’s no wonder why this beloved book has been a favorite for generations. One Amazon customer reviews, “from colors and numbers and locations, to the time of day, basic temperature, and size comparisons, there are lots of learning moments in this book. But I think it’s the fun illustrations and simple humor that has kept us coming back to Go, Dog, Go!” Kids of all ages (and reading abilities) will giggle when they hit the classic line “I do not like your hat” (which is so humorously met with a frosty “goodbye”). And parents will rarely tire of sharing this classic with their kiddos.

$4.99

'Frog Meets Dog' by Janee Trasler

Chosen as a best book of 2020 by the Chicago Public Library, the Frog and Dog series is guaranteed to elicit giggles from the whole family. The first story in the series, Frog Meets Dog, tells how the two characters first encounter grows into friendship while also highlighting the importance of showing kindness. Perfect for fans of Hop on Pop, the simple text features repetitive rhyming texts allowing early readers to quickly recognize the cadence of the book while sounding out words. “We love this book!” said one Amazon customer. “Such a fun, easy reader that also shows kids it’s important to be kind. The fun and silly illustrations are perfect for all kids learning to read!”

$4.99

'Soccer Time!' by Terry Pierce

What’s more exciting than scoring a goal? Finally reading a book all on your own — obviously! That is exactly what author Terry Pierce captures in this truly beginner book for the sports-loving kid. Simple sentences chocked full of alliterations and word families makes this a book little learners will enjoy reading again and again. “This is a cute book with easy to learn words and nice illustrations. Definitely coming back for more of this brand,” raved an Amazon customer. This Step 1 book from the Step into Reading series is ideal for a 4 to 6 year old who knows their alphabet and can’t wait to start reading!

$4. 99

'Elephant & Piggie: The Complete Collection' by Mo Willems

Create an instant Elephant & Piggie library with all 25 titles in one complete set by author- illustrator Mo Willems. Any new reader will love giggling their way through the side splitting and always heartwarming adventures of these two wonderful friends. The set includes teacher favorites like There is a Bird on Your Head! and Today I Will Fly!, and come highly recommended by New York City based reading specialist, Shira Stein. “My favorite books for the beginning reader age group include anything by Mo Willems, but especially the Elephant and Piggie books.” states Stein. But don’t forget how much parents love them too! One parent on Amazon reviews, “My daughter loves Elephant and Piggie books. The stories are hilarious, and the characters are kind and friendly. The best part is that the books use simple vocabulary and my daughter for the most part can read them on her own.”

$99.99

'Fox Tails: The Great Bunk Bed Battle' by Tina Kügler

“A must-have for any child with siblings,” recommends Rachel Matson, Associate Editor at Scholastic. The first book of the hit Fox Tails series features brother and sister Fritz and Franny, and their highly imaginative bedtime routine that ends up looking a lot like sibling shenanigans. Any young reader with siblings and only children who pine for a larger family will respond to the rambunctious stories with vivid illustrations. “A marvelous read,” reviews one customer on Amazon. “The story and the illustrations are both charming and imaginative. Includes a drawing tutorial and a “What’s your story” prompt to keep the story going.”

$4.99

'Ice Cream Soup' by Ann Ingalls

Part of the Penguin Books Young Readers series, this level 1 book explores what happens when an ice cream cake gets overloaded with too many ingredients. Ann Ingalls masterfully crafts a story that is not only appropriate for young readers, primarily ages 4-6, but tells it with easy-to-read text full of short and simple words. “These Penguin Young Readers are what I think of as a true Level 1, for the kid who is just putting everything together and starting to read. It’s such a great feeling for my little man to be able to read the whole book himself. This is the first book my son ever read all by himself, and it’s probably my favorite out of this series,” said a parent reviewer on Amazon.

$9.33

'Meet the Sight Words' Level 1 Boxed Set by Kathy Oxley

Created specifically for four to five year olds who are just starting to read by recognizing sight words and sounding out CVC words (consonant vowel consonant words such as ‘cat’ and ‘fan’). These books focus on the 16 most frequent kindergarten sight words (also known as star words or high frequency words) that kids are taught to memorize in their early reading journey. One parent reviews on Amazon, “I bought Level 1, 2, and 3, and my son loves them! The biggest win is that these books, coupled with his few lessons on sight words, have enabled him to quickly be able to start recognizing these words and actually reading full sentences!”

$13.46

'Here is Big Bunny' by Steve Henry

Here is Big Bunny is a visual treat for young readers. Steve Henry creates a cute and captivating story while changing just one word on each page to help budding readers gain confidence and momentum. And during the entire story, there are more than 150 adorable animal characters involved in their everyday city life to enjoy, while hints of Big Bunny are seen behind trees and through windows. “Delivers more every time you look,” said one Amazon customer. “Bursting with energy, the colorful city scenes are filled with animal characters engaged in fun activities. There’s a lot for children to discover, including the mystery of the shapes seen moving between the pages. The text is short, simple, and just right for beginning readers.”

$4.99

'Princess Truly: Off I Go!' by Kelly Greenawalt

By now we know that representation matters. And that is why we love the Princess Truly books from Scholastic’s Acorn series. Princess Truly features a little girl who has magical curly hair. In Off I Go!, she uses her magical curls to travel the world while making arctic friends. And in I am a Super Girl, Princess Truly uses her magic locks to actually become a superhero! Talk about girl power! This easy to read, highly entertaining book series will not only inspire our young female readers, but teach boys that girls are just as strong as they are. One mom on Amazon reviews, “This is a great story book! My kiddo says ‘Mommy, she has my hair!’,” How awesome is that?

$4.99

First Little Readers Parent Pack (Level D)

The first little readers pack contains 25 unique eight-page stories that build early reading confidence at just the right level for your developing reader. The books feature simple text, picture clues, and decodable words that will help your child find success in reading with adorable stories about everything from dinosaurs to pizza. “My kindergartener was struggling to use the tools available to beginner readers (e.g. picture clues and sounding out words), so I bought this set for more practice at home,” reviews one parent on Amazon. “The past couple of weeks, I have seen significant improvement at home, and her teacher reported this morning that they’ve also seen improvement at school.” Is your little one totally new to reading? Or are they more advanced? The First Little Readers Parent Packs are also available in guided reading levels A through level G-H.

$13.59

Get the Giggles: A First Joke Book

Does your kiddo love cracking a joke? Or maybe they just love giggling at the punchline. Either way, if your kids like to laugh (and quite frankly what little one doesn’t), then Get the Giggles: A First Joke Book is the perfect level 1 book for your house. The 32-page colorful easy reader features the beginning of a joke on one page with the punchline on the back. One parent on Amazon reviews, “My five year old’s favorite book. If you have an early reader, this is the book you need! My daughter has read this book so much that she has memorized every single joke! It gives her big belly laughs as well as great confidence to read to others. This one is all five stars!”

$3.99

'Moo Dog' by David Milgrim

Get ready to have fun with a zany dog and bird duo who like to moo. Although the other animals are confused by these mooing animals, the book ultimately rings through with the timely theme of shamelessly being who you are (and having a blast doing it). One parent said, “This has been a great reader for my kindergartner. He was tired of repetitive books. This one is more of a short story using a variety of sight words. A lot of the pages look like a comic book style, my kid definitely thought that was fun.” Get ready to have the whole house mooing with the adorable tale of Moo Dog!

$3.99

'Cat Days' by Alexa Andrews

“Wonderful for hesitant readers,” said one parent in Amazon reviews. “My child can read, but is hesitant to do so. This book gave her confidence to read. We checked it out at the library so many times I surprised her with her very own copy. Happy Girl!” The adorable easy reader follows the story of an orange tabby cat as she moves through her day. She learns where the best place to sit is, makes a new friend, and in the end curls up to a nice long nap. A great easy reader with sweetly simple illustrations that make this one of the best confidence building level 1 books on the list.

$3.99

Looking for more ideas to get your kids reading, learning, playing, or moving? We’ve got all the best mom-approved kids gear here!

SHOP THE STORY

'Hello, Hedgehog: Let’s Have a Sleepov...

$4.99

'Jump' by David McPhail

$7. 99

'Go Dog Go!' by P.D. Eastman

$4.99

'Frog Meets Dog' by Janee Trasler

$4.99

'Soccer Time!' by Terry Pierce

$4.99

'Elephant & Piggie: The Complete Collection' by Mo Willems

$99.99

'Fox Tails: The Great Bunk Bed Battle' by Tina Kügler

$4.99

'Ice Cream Soup' by Ann Ingalls

$9.33

'Meet the Sight Words' Level 1 Boxed Set by Kathy Oxley

$13. 46

'Here is Big Bunny' by Steve Henry

$4.99

'Princess Truly: Off I Go!' by Kelly Greenawalt

$4.99

First Little Readers Parent Pack (Level D)

$13.59

How to read 100 books a year

Is your list of books to read growing? Do you buy books that you don't even touch later? It's time to fix it.

belchonock/depositphotos.com

Buy a lot of books

Read constantly

Read faster

Do not disperse attention

Properly approach choice

Read several books simultaneously

Remember read

Warren Buffett, one of the most successful businessmen in world, describes his day like this: "I just sit in the office and read all day. " He advises everyone read as much as possible, and that is indeed a worthy goal. How to make reading permanent habit?

If you have read this article, you are probably also concerned about the fact that you read fewer books than you would like. Every year we read less and less. After school, university, work, family, new worries, obligations appear - and reading goes to second plan.

But in order to really achieve something in this world, you need to constantly gain new knowledge. And books are one of the best sources of information and other people's experiences. So let's set ourselves a goal of reading at least 100 books a year.

“

Fools learn from my own experience, I prefer to learn from the experience of others.

- Otto von Bismarck, the first Chancellor of the German Empire

Books cost both time and money. But if everyone can find the time, then the situation with money is more complicated. And here you have two options: earn or save.

andriano_cz/depositphotos.com

But make sure the books are worth your investment. Maybe, you personally do not need books and the Internet with television perfectly replace them. In such If so, just don't worry about reading less books. There is nothing terrible in this. Most people simply don't need it. They can safely give 200 dollars for a pair of shoes, but will regret spending the same amount on 20 new books. It's up to you what to choose.

But if you want to know more, you have to buy. The point of this advice is that the more books you have at home, the more choices you have, and this will help you read more.

Here's why. Reading most of the books you don't plan ahead. You don't sit down in January and say, "In the first week of June, I'll be reading this book". Usually you finish a book and look through your bookshelf to decide what to buy. what to take next. If there is no suitable option at hand, you stop reading, until something worthwhile catches your eye. Therefore, it is important that you always have a small supply books.

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Daniella Winkler/unsplash.com

“

Have a stock of books — means to always have a reason to read.

Read at least 1 hour a day on weekdays and more during weekends and holidays. Find time for reading in your schedule. Don't make excuses for being too tired or too busy.

Maria Victoria Portellesr/unsplash.com

Reading all the time means reading when you are:

on the train;

feed the baby;

eat;

are in line at the hospital;

are bored at work.

And most importantly: read while others watch the news on TV or check for the 113th time of the day Facebook*.

kasto/depositphotos.com

Padurariu Alexandru/unsplash.com

Milada Vigerova/unsplash.com

If you can do this, you can easily read 100 books per year. Most people read about 50 pages per hour. If you read 10 hours per week, you will read 26,000 pages in a year. Let's assume that on average there are 250 pages. Simple arithmetic: so you can read 104 books in a year. Moreover, you can even take a two-week break, and then you get exactly 100.

This is a good result, worth the time spent. What can not be said about reading the news on social networks.

“

read? I don't spend much time watching TV (the only exception is football season when I watch one game a week). I watch very few films. I don't spend Lots of commuting time to work. I don't spend a lot of time shopping.

- Shane Parrish, blogger Farnam Street

Looking at the statistics, the average person spends 35 hours a week watching TV, an average of one hour a day commuting to and from work and at least 1 hour per week for shopping. In total, this gives 43 hours a week, and at least some of that time could be spent reading.

The obvious way to read more is to learn to read faster. And for most of us, quick wins are much more appealing than routine, slow reading.

Wavebreakmedia/depositphotos.com

So how fast can you read?

Staples, one of of the largest companies in the United States, engaged in the sale of office equipment, collected data on reading speeds of different people as part of an e-book advertising campaign. There are also Russian-language services for measuring reading speed. For example, you can check yourself here.

According to research Staples, the average adult reads about 300 words per minute. But this is, of course, conditional. data. The rate depends on age and some other demographics.

A 3rd grade student reads about 150 words per minute.

8th grade student - 250 words per minute.

Average college student - 450 words per minute.

Average high-level manager - 575 words per minute.

Average college teacher - 675 words per minute.

Speed Reader - 1,500 words per minute.

World Champion Speed Reader - 4,700 words per minute.

But fast reading is not always the best way to read more. Reading comprehension is much more important. Often high reading speed or reading obliquely leads to the fact that we retain worse in memory information and forget the details. However, if you can improve your speed a little reading while maintaining reading comprehension is fine. This will definitely be beneficial. But reading faster isn't the only way to read more.

You can read quickly, or you can read a lot. The combination of these two skills is a great way to teach yourself to read and not get bored, but at the same time, each of these skills is valuable in itself.

Tulane Public Relations/flickr.com

In fact, for many people it is important not only to read book from beginning to end, for them the story itself is more important. Reading speed doesn't have that much values if you are reading for pleasure.

From this point of view, the desire to read more means having more time to read and getting more information in general: from books, magazines, blog articles, and so on.

And let's start with the main question. How how many books do you read in a year? According to research, the average adult reads 17 books a year.

The key word here is average. Because the gap between those who reads, and those who do not read, too big. There are those who read much more than 17 books in a year, there are those who read much less - not a single one. According to a 2013 survey, 44% of Russians generally do not take a single book in hand for the whole year.

So let's look at 3 easy way to take in more information.

Method
by Tim Ferris

Method No. 1

Tim Ferris, author of How to Work 4 Hours a a week and at the same time not to hang around in the office “from call to call”, live anywhere and get rich” and others bestsellers, has its own technique that helps to increase the speed of reading by 3 times. This technique consists of two techniques.

Use a pencil to follow and set the pace (this is how some people run their finger along the lines during reading). Many often return to what they read, jumping with their eyes along the lines. Such indentation slows down reading. But if you point your way with a pencil, then stop getting lost in the text, which means you can read faster.

Start every new line not from the first, but at least from the third word and finish reading the line in three words to end. Try to figure out the rest on your own or capture it with a peripheral vision. At first, do not worry about whether you understand what you read or not, because that the main goal is to adjust your eyes to the new reading speed. Ferris claims, that one should strive to read a line in half a second. Repeat this process until you get used to this speed, at which point reading comprehension will also start improve.

The first technique can be used to master second. With practice, you will train your peripheral vision and begin to quickly perceive words that your vision is not directly aimed at.

“

Untrained readers spend half their time in the margins, moving from the first word to the last. This means, that they spend 20–25% of their reading time on parts of the page that do not contain no information.

— Tim Ferris, writer

Use technology

Method #2

Is there room for innovation in reading? The emergence of new method confirms that it is. The Spritz speed reading system helps you read faster and platforms like Makeright to digest the contents of a book faster.

Spritz

Shows one by one word from an article or book at a time inside a special field. Each word in red one letter is highlighted to facilitate concentration. You set the speed at which it is convenient for you to perceive the text, gradually increasing this indicator. You can install readers that use Spritz technology on your smartphone (there are options for both iOS and Android), download your books and read them faster.

Makeright

Service that publishes summaries of popular books on business, psychology, science and health. You literally in 15 minutes you will learn the main provisions from the work of interest to you, the most saving your time. If you are interested in the book, then buy the full version and enjoy.

Buy eBook

Method no. 3

People who prefer e-books read in an average of 24 books per year, while adherents of traditional paper publications - only 15.

This is quite understandable. E-books are easy to use, portable and convenient. FROM they make it easier to spend a little time reading when there is a free minute. Of course, maybe you won't read 9 right awaymore books a year, but at least interesting spend time in line or on public transport.

This seemingly counterintuitive advice comes from the author of the seemingly controversial book The Art of Talking About Books You Haven't Read, Pierre Bayard.

belchonock/depositphotos. com

Bayard is convinced that books should not be approached with simplified position "read" and "not read" - there are several more options:

books we read;

books we flipped through;

books we have heard about;

books whose content we forgot;

books that we never opened.

Have you ever come across a book that the rest, just amazing, but which did not hook you in any way? And it's not because this book really sucks.

Just not all books fit to each. The book may be a top seller, but you may be disappointed written. Or maybe this book fell into your hands at the wrong time.

Anyway, if you can't turn the page, put the book aside and take hold of one that truly brings you joy and pleasure.

Possibly to read more books, you should look at the process of reading from the other side? For example, for to keep abreast of fashionable literary novelties, you do not have to read bestsellers from the cover to the crust - just run them obliquely. Conversely, for books that really matter to you, approach more thoughtfully and seriously.

Read literature that is relevant to what is happening in your life. people already 2 Books have been written for 000 years, and among them there were many who found themselves in the same situation as and you: struggling teenagers, aspiring artists, broke entrepreneurs, new parents, and so on.

Read books that related to your profession or hobby. Read about the people who make you feel Delight. But don't pick up a book just because it's a bestseller or classics.

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“

time to read about things that don't interest you at all.

There are no strict rules for reading, so you can do whatever you want.

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Sometimes I read 5 books at a time. Yes, I I can read 50 pages of one book in the morning, and in the evening take up another. Although this is also a matter of taste. Someone else will probably prefer to read the book from beginning to end, before than take on another.

If you are reading something difficult, save for the evening something easier. For example, before going to bed it is nice to read biographies. Yes, and artistic Literature is best in the evening.

But I can't read a book about investments lying in bed with a pen and notepad. If I do so, then I simply won’t be able to fall asleep until 3 in the morning, because the brain begins to work actively, assimilating new knowledge.

Knowledge is good because it can be used. But to keep knowledge in memory, you need a system. We offer you 3 memorization methods to choose from. They can be used individually or as part of a system.

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METHOD #1

Train your brain with impressions, associations and repetition

To better remember the books you read, you need to understand how our brain stores information. In this he is helped by impressions, associations and repetition. Let's take a look at an example. Let's say you're reading How win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie, did you enjoy the book and you want to remember as much as possible.

Impressions

Link the impressions to the text. Stop and try to imagine a picture in your head with yourself in the lead role. For example, when Carnegie describes his dislike of criticism, imagine that you get the Nobel Peace Prize and then throw away your prize. Another the way to turn on impressions is to read the passage aloud. Some of us are better perceive information aurally rather than visually.

Associations

Link the text to something you already know. This method best used in conjunction with the technique of repetition. In the case of the Carnegie book, if you want to remember some principle, remember a specific example from your life when you could use it. Prior knowledge is the basis for building strong associations.

Repetition

The more you repeat, the more you remember. You you can immediately reread the passage you like or leave a bookmark to come back to it later.

By combining these elements, you will be able to memorize better and better. The more you practice, the more you will memorize.

WAY #2

Focus
on four reading levels

In his book How to Read Books, Mortimer Adler identifies 4 levels of reading (each new level of perception of the book is based on previous one):

Elementary

The one we were taught in school.

Inspection

Inspection reading can take two forms: fast, insufficiently careful reading or scrolling through the preface, table of contents, indexes and title pages.

Analytical

Involves a thorough, comprehensive study of the book.

Thematic

Read other books on the subject and compare your experiences.

Better understand the context and content of the book simple rules will help.

Classify the book according to topics.

State the main contents of a book. Be brief.

Make a list of the main parts in sequence and establish connections between them. Describe very briefly the content of each.

Identify the problem or problems the author is trying to solve.

When you take apart a book, you fix it in memory of the impressions received from it. Analysis of publications similar in subject matter will help not only to better understand the material, but also to remember it for a long time.

METHOD #3

Take notes

Take notes - This is one of the most popular and effective ways to remember the books you read.

When reading a book, do pencil notes in the margins, and highlight important passages with a marker. If you read e-books, add bookmarks and save text. But don't underline everything that seems even slightly interesting to you. Select only what which impresses you.

If you read what If you definitely want to remember, turn down the corner of the page. For e-readers books: take a picture of the screen and save it as a note.

When you finish the book, go back to the folded pages and run your eyes over the notes.

Write in your own words (using the application or a regular notepad), what was the book read about and what advice given by the author.

Write down the most important quotes.

“

When I I finish a book, I put it aside for a week or two, and then I come back to it. I look at my notes and the places I marked as important. I write them out. Or I put the book down again for a week or two.

- Shane Parrish, blogger Farnam Street

It's not that you just make a copy books. This is how you process information that may be useful to you in the future.

It doesn't matter which note-taking method you use. The main thing is that he was. Keep it as simple as possible so that when you finish reading the book, you want to take advantage of them.

Read as much as you can, but remember to The most important thing is to apply the acquired knowledge in practice. If you spend a lot of time for reading books, make sure that this activity gives you something in return.

subject:

Author and layout — Lera Merzlyakova.
Editor — Natalya Skornyakova.

Sources: How To Read 100 Books A Year
The Art of Reading, Remembering, and Retaining More Books

7 ways to read a book in one day what you want to read far exceeds what you have already mastered. For those who want to do more than possible, speed reading specialist Peter Kamp has prepared his guide, which will help you systematize the process of reading and start reading one book a day. MIF publishing house - about seven main methods from the book "Speed Reading. How to remember more by reading 8 times faster.

1. Launch the Internal Reading Accelerator

Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent on sophisticated devices that can increase reading speed, even computer programs are created for this purpose, but all this cannot compare with the reading accelerator that each of us has. It may surprise you, but your powerful accelerator, which will also make you more attentive, is your hand. More specifically, the index finger.

Run your index finger across the lines along each line below the word line. The eyes should follow the "pointer", and not vice versa. Make the movement of your hand so fast that your eyes barely keep up with the meaning of what you read. At such a speed, you suppress internal articulation - it will not be possible to physically pronounce the words. Read for twenty minutes every day using your accelerator. Although it may seem a little uncomfortable at first, you will quickly get used to it. And almost immediately, as soon as you start using your hand while reading, your speed will begin to increase.

2. Stop going back

Going back slows down your reading speed significantly. We usually do a lot of backtracking, going back and re-running through some points, which happens about every 10 words of a text. There are two types of backtracking: conscious and unconscious. Sometimes it may seem to you that you did not understand the text very well, so you decide to go back and reread it. This is a conscious return, there is nothing particularly wrong with it. This may not be the most effective method for improving reading comprehension, but it is certainly one of the options. The unconscious return is due to the fact that when you learned to read, you formed bad habits. It occurs when the eyes wander unconsciously through the text and back.

Now get ready to work a little on getting rid of the habit of going back and learning to see more than one word at a time. Open the book anywhere you want to start and use your hand to read as much as you can in 3 minutes. Put a mark where you left off. Go back to the beginning and read the same passage again in 3 minutes. Try to speed up and move beyond the set mark.
Fragment of the painting "Good Friends". Albert Edelfelt, 1881
3. Don't speak the text you read

In addition to backtracking, another reason that prevents you from reading faster is the mental pronunciation of words. Since we were taught to read aloud, almost all of us mentally pronounce the text that we see. When our school teacher was convinced that we understood what was being said, she told us to read silently, and it was from then that everything began.

Read new material for 3 minutes using your hand. Make a note where you left off. If desired, calculate the reading speed. Practice reading the same passage for 2 minutes. You must definitely reach the mark you made. For the last step, read the same passage for 1 minute. You will notice an increase in reading speed after doing a few exercises. Once you start practicing, you will begin to develop the ability to perceive more than one word at a time.

4. Learn to better understand what you read

If you do not understand the text you are reading, there may be several reasons. First, you lack vocabulary. You can read a book on medicine or a computer programming language where many of the words are simply incomprehensible to you. Obviously, as a result, you will not understand the text well. In some cases it can be almost like reading in a foreign language.

The best solution to this problem is to start with easier books on the subject, and then, as you build up your knowledge and vocabulary in this area, move on to more complex ones. If you still need to read material that is difficult to understand, then most likely you will have to check in the dictionary, and perhaps even memorize the meanings of new and complex words. The first step to reading comprehension is to determine the topic of the paragraph. As a rule, you do it without even thinking. However, it is important to train this skill in order to cope with more complex texts.
Fragment of the painting "Portrait of a Girl with a Book". Alexander Deineka, 1934
5. Don't read just for the sake of reading

Because of what we've been taught, we too often slip into reading for the sake of reading, or for the sake of moving from one word to another, as we've been taught.

The way of reading must meet the goals that you set for yourself when mastering this or that material. Perhaps you are reading a chapter in a business textbook because your teacher has given you a task to study it. Maybe you are reading a novel just for fun, or maybe a scientific work on literature that needs to be carefully studied. The more specific your goal, the easier it is to read.

Before reading, you should ask yourself two questions. First: how significant is the material that I read in general? Once you answer this question, try to further narrow your goal by answering the second one. Second, what do I want or need to remember (as specifically as possible) from the material I'm about to read? The answer to the first question simplifies the answer to the second.

For example, you are reading a newspaper. You select an article. But how important is it? Is this an article about a car accident that you will forget a few weeks later? Or about a new technology that could make life easier for millions of people? Or is it about a new fashion trend that will be obsolete in a few weeks anyway? By asking yourself this simple question, “How important is what I read to me in the long term?”, you can assess the significance of the text.

6. Recognize signal words

The faster you can recognize different words, the faster your reading speed. Each text has so-called signal words that help the author and reader to structure the text. When you see certain words, you expect something new, or a plot twist, or a description, and sort of prepare "free space" in your head for this. You may encounter the following signal words in the text:

Time category: “at time”, “when”, “during”, “after”, “before”, “first”, “after this”, “last” , "soon", "before", "earlier".

Addition: "for example", "in addition to this", "besides", "besides", "in addition", "moreover".

Alternatives: "however", "nevertheless", "on the other hand", "on the contrary".

Conclusion: "In a word", "thus", "therefore", "as you see".

Fragment of the painting "Girl with a book". Charles Guerin, 1906
7. Follow the storyline

Reproducing information is perhaps the most difficult test of comprehension.
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