One day, an eight-year-old boy came up to me with a list of books he needed help finding. His grandfather was with him with a proud smile on his face.
“He loves to read,” said the grandfather.
“That’s wonderful to hear,” I responded. “So do I.”
The boy, Owen, was shy, but handed me the crumpled post-it note. I scanned the catalog to see what we had. However, I noticed he asked for books with varying levels: a juvenile picture book (generally for preschool to first grade readers), Spot, lift-the-flap board books (for babies and toddlers), Magic Tree House chapter books (second grade to middle school), and non-fiction, research books.
I did not ask him about this. Instead, I took him to grab the first book: “Finding Winnie”, a picture book about the inspiration behind Winnie-the-Pooh. As I pulled it off the shelf, his grandfather mentioned to him that it might be too easy, but Owen seemed happy with it.
Then, we went to the board books where I found two “Find Spot”, lift-the-flap books. His grandfather frowned and said, “Well, aren’t these books a little young for you?”
But Owen was all smiles as he took the books.
“I haven’t read these before!” he said.
His grandfather seemed puzzled and, shockingly, a little uncomfortable. As if he was embarrassed his child wanted a book that did not equate his intelligence level.
I decided to intervene.
“Actually, it is normal and quite alright for a child to enjoy a lower-level book,” I said. “It might be nostalgic to him, or maybe he likes to break up his reading with more simple books. Either way, this shows he reads for pleasure and enjoyment, which is the most important part of a child’s reading development.”
“Yeah!” said Owen. “I love the lift-the-flaps!”
His grandfather appeared pleased with this explanation, and they continued on with collecting books.
I reflected on this interaction later. Although the child could obviously read at a higher-level, he enjoyed reading books targeted at younger ages. This is not random or odd.
Adults will read “Harry Potter” for the pure enjoyment of it. This book is considered a children’s book; however, many adults (including myself) will read this series for nostalgic reasons and enjoyment. Children are no different. A third grader might want to read Pete the Cat books, even though their level is past that.
At times, I think parents see this as a negative; however, it definitely does not have to be. In fact, ‘reading for pleasure’ is a concept I advocate the most as a librarian. Once a child associates books with happiness, they will identify learning with satisfaction and joy. This idea will translate into adulthood and benefit them for the rest of their lives.
Reading is a journey. We do want children to advance in their reading skills and abilities; however, we must remember that reading for a lot of people is a past-time and a way to unwind. This association is the same for children. If your child wants to enjoy a book they used to read as a baby or a young child, take this opportunity to bond with your child and take life less seriously.
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