This
is a critical stage in the process of turning your child onto the
lifelong pleasures of reading. Having cracked the code of deciphering
words, children at this level have not only moved beyond words to
sentences, but can read beyond sentences to understand meaning. At
this stage, they are ready for the rich body of literature that is
called First Novels. These are genuine chapter books where words take
precedence over illustration; where sustained, multidimensional characters
are developed who will pull your child into a world they'll become
lost in. The characters in these books will become their friends;
the created worlds will seem real. Ironically, however, right on the
brink of this tremendous liberation, is the time most children will
get turned off reading.
Whether your child makes it out of the cocoon
or not will depend on a number of factors, and why s/he is in danger
of getting stuck warrants discussion.
There are at least three key things that
can hold your child back:
- Many
forms of easier entertainment are competing even more strongly
for his/her attention. At the age of 7 and 8, as many children
are becoming more independent (without the constant factor of
adult supervision), friends, sports activities and TV are tempting
enticements away from a medium which is more personal and challenging.
- Many
parents stop reading to their children at this level, reasoning
that they can read themselves. What used to be an important
family activity is now seen to lose value in the child's eyes.
- Reading
ability at this stage may not be a match for the depth of story
your child craves. While Butterflies are reasonably competent
readers, no child should be stuck in the rut of preset parameters.
What good is a story if we feel ourselves wishing there were more
to sink our teeth into.
If
your child does not cross this reading threshold, s/he will start
to fall behind in school and trail classmates into High School.
Sadly, s/he will also be deprived of a richness which can positively
shape character and nurture insight and inspiration. Think of the
frustration of a two year old who is trying to communicate strong,
emerging emotions without a full command of language, and who will
thus resort to hitting and crying to make a point. The situations
are parallel.
Communication - your child's ability to
convey their thoughts and ideas to others - makes possible their
interaction with each other. It gives them the ability to think
clearly through issues. It is not an area you want to let slip.
Your
role is critical during this stage, but as serious as the implications
are, you should approach this issue with enthusiasm and not fear.
After all, your goal is to help your child find the immense pleasure
in reading. The last thing you want to do is turn it into a chore
or a penance. One of the most important things you can do is
retain your role as your child's read-aloud partner. This doesn't
mean that your child sits passively while you do all the reading.
The emphasis here is partnership. Ideally, you'll settle
into a pattern which will start here and never end, where the reading
is shared. Alternate chapters with your Butterfly, or have him/her
start off or finish up. They key is to do it together so that s/he
can see that reading still has immense value for you, and together
you can explore books that s/he couldn't quite navigate solo.
Make time every day for reading with your
Butterfly. While the chosen books should not be confined to the
ones I've listed in our catalogues and newsletters, or even necessarily
to the level of first novels, the books I review for this reading
level specifically can provide a rich and fertile bridge across
the tricky threshold of this time.
Illustrations
still play a part in Butterfly books, but they very definitely play
the subordinate role. These readers are capable of conjuring their
own image from the written words, but welcome the occasional visual
almost like stepping stones.
The length and complexity of the books I
review for Butterflies will vary, and I'll attempt to give you a
sense of that in my write-ups. Many of the books have one or more
sequels which allow your child to hold on to a cherished character.
All of them will have an originality and richness of spirit which
defies the formulaic and empty approach of many lesser quality series
books.
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