Ravens
are quite competent readers. They have begun to build their reading
skills, but may still need help with some word meanings and pronunciations.
When you read with your Raven, reading time should still be shared.
They will be able to navigate a lengthy novel on their own, but your
involvement is still important for many reasons:
- They
will continue to recognize reading as important in your life (and
thus theirs).
- Books
in this level will play an even larger role in shaping them as
human beings. As a caring, responsible adult, you'll want to share
in something this momentous.
- You'll
probably really enjoy the books in this section yourself.
You may not have the
time to read all the novels your children will devour at this stage,
but it isn't enough for them to say "I read this and liked it." Without
having read at least part of the book yourself, you won't be able
to engage in an intelligent conversation with them about the whats
and the whys. Read a few pages with them each evening and ask them
to catch you up on the in between. You'll be able to gain a feel and
flavour for the language and pace of the book, and will gain much
insight into their interpretations from what they tell you. You can
always read the whole thing later if you think an important discussion
will benefit from that.
The
subject matter for this group is meatier, and its complexity is appreciated
by the child who is emerging into maturity and a greater sense of
self and responsibility. The themes of adventure and fantasy are
permitted more depth in these books. Whole worlds can be created,
rich in detail and history. These books have more room to dig for
identity, more room to rest or turn inside a character's mind. So
well defined are some of these worlds that they have become part of
our human understanding: Narnia, Toad Hall, Zuckerman's Farm, Omri's
Cupboard.
This
is the age where your child will really be able to dig into the full-bodied,
all encompassing pleasure of reading. These books are generally much
longer than the thinner volumes of the Butterfly section, which means
they can more fully appreciate the longer escape into somewhere else.
And at this stage they will be ready for that.
As
at every level, have fun with your young reader. They will have greater
opinions about what they want to read, so invite them to read through
the BOOK REVIEWS with you. There may be parts of their personal experiences
that you won't know about, and you may miss something perfect for
where s/he is at this particular time. Enjoy these books together.
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