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By Jamie Zibulsky, Anne Cunningham, and Chelsea Schubart

Throughout the process of reading development, it is important to read with your child frequently and to make the experience fun, whether your child is a newborn or thirteen. This may not sound like news to many parents, but the American Academy of Pediatrics is just announcing their new recommendation that parents read with their children daily from infancy on, and it is expected that this announcement will serve as a reminder to many parents and a call for educators and policymakers to help parents who lack the time, resources, and skills to read with their children encourage reading development. We are so excited about this new development because the benefits of shared reading accrue over time and we believe that this announcement will create the energy needed to help many young children become successful, motivated readers.

Although reading together is important at all ages, the specific strategies parents use will change dramatically as their children get older. The strategies parents use will also be dependent upon their children’s interests, temperament, and abilities. There is no one “right” way to read together.

Figuring out the best way to engage in shared reading with a child while he or she is young gives parents an opportunity to use cuddle time together as a way to also help a child understand a book more deeply, and to simultaneously teach specific reading skills. Perhaps as important, children who have an enthusiastic reader as a role model may stay determined to learn to read, even when facing challenges, rather than becoming easily discouraged. The magic of shared reading comes from this combination of warm, interpersonal experiences, playful and captivating storytelling, and opportunities for learning. This winning combination helps children not only learn to read, but learn to love and value reading.

There are many questions that parents often ask about reading together with their children, and some of those questions are answered below. We hope that thinking through these issues inspires parents to start reading with their children regularly (even if they are already a bit older), and create family reading rituals that last a lifetime!

How can I get my child more engaged in reading time?

If you are having difficulty engaging your child in reading time, try searching for books on topics that she finds interesting (even if those topics are not ones that you find engaging). If your child enjoys looking at comic books, embrace this type of reading, rather than discouraging it. Although it might be surprising to hear, they include much richer language than we encounter in a typical day. Reading any printed material also helps children get comfortable turning pages, and give you the chance to talk with your child about new ideas and vocabulary words.

Many children also respond well to having some freedom and getting to make choices during reading time. You may want to let your child to choose the book you will be reading, whether you are picking books out in the library or off your own bookshelf. You can also let your child select where and when you will read…within reason, of course.

Most importantly, try to make the reading experience enjoyable by focusing on what goes well. Praise your child just for sitting down with you to read, even if she only wants to sit briefly. The next day, try to get her to sit through a few pages of the story and sit a bit longer. Reading time should be a time to relax and bond with your child. If she acts up, simply end reading time, but do so calmly and try again later.

How do I know if my child is actually listening while I am reading to him/her?

Asking questions throughout the story that actively engage your child in the reading process should encourage him to listen more closely while you are reading. If you think your child is not listening as you read, try asking a question or two on each page in order to get your child to interact with the story and actively express himself. If he seems particularly distracted, simply end reading time, but do so calmly and try again later.

How long should I spend trying to explain something to my child if they get frustrated?

Reading time should be a relaxing, bonding experience for both you and your child. Rather than trying to teach many new skills during any one reading session, pick just one idea to focus on each day, whether it is a new vocabulary word or letter to identify. Setting manageable reading goals will help make this time feel fun, rather than stressful, for you both.

If you ask a question about a book that your child is having trouble understanding, respond calmly and either restate your question in a simpler way or give a clue regarding the correct answer. If she seems to be frustrated, move on and return to the concept at another time. Story concepts might become clearer to children with repeated readings of the same story.

What if my child wants to read the same book every night?

Repeated readings of a story actually help children to more deeply understand the plot. In addition, your child will grow more familiar with the story and the words that make it up. You can even try having your child read to you. If he is familiar with the book, he might be able to decode words he would not be able to decode in an unfamiliar context. If your child is not ready to actually read the words on the pages, have him retell the story to you using the pictures and what he recalls from other readings of the story. By asking questions and making comments, you can continue to build his vocabulary and background knowledge, even while reading a familiar story.

Anne E. Cunningham, Ph.D. and Jamie Zibulsky, Ph.D. are the authors of Book Smart: How to Develop and Support Successful, Motivated Readers. Anne Cunningham is Professor of Cognition and Development at University of California Berkeley Graduate School of Education and Jamie Zibulsky is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Learn more at Book Smart Family. Suggestions are adapted Book Smart: How to Develop and Support Successful, Motivated Readers by Anne E. Cunningham and Jamie Zibulsky. Read their previous blog posts.

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I was recently interviewed at The Book Base. Thanks for reading!

How long have you been a blogger?

I’ve been blogging at Bildungsroman for close to 8 years now.

Approximately, how many books do you read every year?

I average about a book a day, so I read around 300 books a year, more if you count scripts and screenplays.

What were your favourite books as a child?

My favorite books as a child included The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks, and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. I was also a huge fan of The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin.

What are you reading at the moment?

I recently finished My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher, her inspired follow-up to her wonderful debut novel The Opposite of Invisible. I am about to begin Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald, which I picked up because, like the protagonist, I am a vegetarian and environmentalist (though she is even more “green” than I am!) I am also reading, re-reading and memorizing three scripts as I prepare for projects which are about to go into production: a webseries, a short film, and a world premiere play. (I’m an actress.)

If you had to pick one, what’s the best book you’ve read in the last twelve months?

To name only one book I’ve read this year as an overall best would be like a parent trying to pick a favorite child and feeling as those she neglected the others. The only way to make it easier is to categorize:

Juvenile fiction, realistic: The Summer I Learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt

Juvenile fiction, fantasy: Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

Detective mystery meets mythology: A Hundred Words for Hate by Thomas E. Sniegoski

The paranormal meets mythology: Spirits of the Noh by Thomas Randall (The Waking, Book Two)

Historical fiction meets the paranormal: The Secret Journeys of Jack London, Book One: The Wild by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon

Realistic teen fiction: Doggirl by Robin Brande

The end to a series, realistic teen fiction: Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart (the fourth and final Ruby Oliver book)

Non-fiction: Self-Management for Actors by Bonnie Gillespie

Who are your three favourite authors?

Christopher Golden, Thomas E. Sniegoski and Lewis Carroll.

Which book has had the greatest impact on your life?

You pose another difficult question! It would probably be any and all of my favorite childhood books: The Westing Game, The NeverEnding Story, Anne of Green Gables, and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Also, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Each reflects a different part of me, as a person and as a writer. Each holds a piece of my heart because I connected to them so strongly, and those connections remain strong to this day.

Which books are you most eagerly anticipating?

The Fallen 3: End of Days by Thomas E. Sniegoski, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark: Emerson Blackwood’s Field Guide to Dangerous Fairies by Christopher Golden and Guillermo del Toro, The Secret Journeys of Jack London: The Sea Wolves by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon, The Waking: Winter of Ghosts by Thomas Randall. Also, The Lost Crown: A Novel of Romanov Russia by Sarah Miller, which was released last month and is patiently waiting for me to read it on a day with no interrupt

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In the new novel Legacy by Tom Sniegoski, a teenaged boy named Lucas finds out that his father - who has never been part of his life - is a superhero. How would you react if you discovered your parent was a superhero?

If you were a superhero, who would you be, and what superpowers would you possess? Would you like to slip into the costume of an existing superhero, like Batman, Wonder Woman, or Rogue, or would you rather be a character of your own creation? Tell us your heroic name.

Think outside the box: Instead of only picturing spandex-clad people flourishing their capes, consider everyday heroes. What can we learn from these unsung heroes?

Feel free to repost this prompt at your own blog, and leave your thoughts or the links to your own posts in the comments below!

I firmly believe that there's a hero inside each of us. As I recently posted in response to the wonderful What a Girl Wants: Holding Out for a Super Heroine post at the Chasing Ray blog: There are so many wonderful characters who save themselves rather than waiting around for someone else to rescue them. There are so many real people who do the same. The world would be a better place and populated with stronger people if we all had such personal conviction, strength, and determination, and the courage to be a hero. I challenge people every day to believe in themselves, to achieve their potential, and to strive for excellence.

That being said, I always smile when a close friend of mine calls me Supergirl. Please note that my superhero costume would be more modest than hers. It would be purple with matching fairy wings. Back in July, author and readergirlz diva Holly Cupala posted about the superhero image generator at The Hero Factory and, based on the options available, I created this.

Storywise - be the story bound in books, comics, or graphic novels, or expressed on stage or screen - I like characters who save themselves and others, rather than waiting around for someone else to save them. My favorite fictional characters tend to be are strong, bold, curious, and intelligent, such as Anne Shirley from the Anne of Green Gables books by L.M. Montgomery, Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Tinker Bell from Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, various residents of Fantastica from The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende, and Jenna Blake from the Body of Evidence books by Christopher Golden and Rick Hautala. True, they all needed help at times - think of Anne and the sinking dory - but they also were able to make their way through the world and the story due to their own resilience. They had strength (emotional strength, strength of character and conviction being more important to me than physical strength) and smarts. Some had more "traditional" heroic experiences: Anne saved lives, as did Jenna.

Back to the first question I posed in this piece: What would I do if I found out my parent was a superhero? I already know my mom is a hero - a single mother who raised two children, kept a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, food in our stomachs, love in our hearts, and smiles on our faces. She helped us and encouraged us. Even though I'm an adult, she is my most trusted confidante and biggest supporter. Simply put, she rocks.

She also appreciates Tom's sense of humor, but that's another story and will be told another time. :)

This just in: Legacy made the ALA BBYA & the ALA Quick Pick nomination lists! Woo hoo!

Learn more about Legacy by Tom Sniegoski:
http://www.sniegoski.com/legacy.html

Learn more about the author:
http://www.sniegoski.com/

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Looking for the perfect books to give to your loved ones? Thinking about expanding your own personal library? Consider a few things before you go shopping:

* Give what you like. If you really enjoyed a certain book, get a few copies and give them to your best friends, then have fun discussing it with them. Have your own little book club! (Take some tips on how to organize a book group from readergirlz, where you'll also find plenty of recommended reads.)

* Get what you like. There's no shame in stocking your library with light, fun reads as well as longer, more serious tales.

* Bulk up on the classics. I'm a huge fan of The Great Gatsby and the Anne of Green Gables series. If you liked the romance in Twilight, get Wuthering Heights; if you liked the vampires, get Dracula.

* Make mix tapes. Create playlists for books, then burn them onto CDs and give them away with the books. If you need some ideas, check out my book-related playlists.

* Treat yourself to a little something! Get that book you've had your eye on for the past few months. If you like writing, buy or make yourself a journal and a nice set of writing pens. Remember: Recyclable and refillable pens and pencils are more cost-effective and better for the environment!

I've written a bunch of booklists with holiday book shopping in mind, including an article for SparkLife which focused on selections for teens. Categories and titles within that piece include:

If you're going to buy just one . . .

For horror fans: Soulless by Christopher Golden

For realistic drama: A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian.

If you're looking for a specific genre . . .

(Click links for specific book reviews or related booklists at Bildungsroman. You will see that I have first listed an author's name, then a title. This is because each author has multiple books I would recommend, either within that category or in general.)

Realistic drama with a touch of romance: Books by Sarah Dessen (The Truth About Forever), Deb Caletti (The Nature of Jade), Elizabeth Scott (Bloom)

Contemporary drama with teen male protagonists: Books by John Green (Looking for Alaska), Markus Zusak (I am the Messenger) - and more!

Contemporary drama with teen female protagonists: E. Lockhart (The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks), Catherine Clark (The Alison Rules), Rachel Cohn (Gingerbread), Christopher Golden (Body Bags, first in the Body of Evidence series)

Intense, edgy drama: Sara Zarr (Sweethearts), Rachel Cohn (You Know Where to Find Me), Laura Kasischke (Feathered), Elizabeth Scott (Living Dead Girl)

Sci-fi, fantasy, or horror: Christopher Golden (Prowlers, first in a quartet), Tom Sniegoski (A Kiss Before the Apocalypse, first in a series), Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty, first in a trilogy), Scott Westerfeld (Peeps), Justine Larbalestier (How to Ditch Your Fairy) - and more - and some more!

Poetry and verse novels: Lorie Ann Grover (Hold Me Tight), Lisa Ann Sandell (Song of the Sparrow), and Stephanie Hemphill (Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath) - and more!

Non-fiction gift books: Prince of Stories: The Many Worlds of Neil Gaiman by Hank Wagner, Christopher Golden and Stephen R. Bissette, Things That Make Us [Sic] by Martha Brockenbrough

Read the entire post at SparkLife!

For even more ideas for various age groups (ranging from babies and toddlers to adults) and genres, consult my booklists, including:

If Then for Elementary School
If Then for Middle School
If Then for High School
- These lists are set up like so: If you like that book, then you'll also like this book!

Tough Issues for Teens
- One of my longest and most often hit booklists.

Suggested Sets
- Created with gift-giving in mind!

Also browse through my book reviews (I have a few hundred posted) and my best of the month and best of the year booklists.

I will be posting my complete and official Best Books of 2008 booklist here at Bildungsroman on either New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Here's a teaser to tide you over until then!

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From Saturday's Globe and Mail: The heartbreaking truth about Anne's creator - Kate Macdonald Butler reveals a long-held secret about her grandmother, one of Canada's most beloved authors, Lucy Maud Montgomery

The piece begins with this:

For many years, my family has kept a troubling secret. What has made things even more difficult is the fact that the person it involves was not only my grandmother, but one of Canada's most beloved authors, Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Her most famous novel, Anne of Green Gables, is still a bestseller after 100 years. In addition to Anne, my grandmother wrote 19 other novels, personal journals and hundreds of short stories and poems. As well, she has been the subject of several biographical studies.

Despite her great success, it is known that she suffered from depression, that she was isolated, sad and filled with worry and dread for much of her life. But our family has never spoken publicly about the extent of her illness.

What has never been revealed is that L.M. Montgomery took her own life at the age of 67 through a drug overdose.

Katie goes on to detail the circumstances which led to her grandmother's tragic decision, and honors her memory with a great deal of compassion and respect. Read the entire article online.

I found this article via The Swivet, who, in turn, learned of the news from Gwenda. My initial reaction:

Oh, wow.
Oh, my.
Oh, Mrs. Montgomery.

I have always loved L.M. Montgomery's writing, especially the Anne of Green Gables series. I often mention the Anne books or discuss the main character here at my blog. View all Bildungsroman posts tagged with "Anne."

Rest in peace, Lucy Maud Montgomery.

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What is reader resonance? It's relative, I think.

I think of reader resonance in terms of the story and its characters sticking with the reader. I also factor in the probability of the book being re-read. In other words, while appeal is more applicable at the onset - Will people want to read this? Will it sound interesting to them? - reader resonance is the reaction after completing the book - Does the story stay with the readers? Do the characters stay with the readers?

It's easy to say that a book is GREAT! immediately after reaching the satisfying conclusion. It's right then, right there, in the moment of completion, so it might feel like it's the best book ever. But do you still exclaim a week, a month, a year after you've read it?

It's been years since THE ALISON RULES by Catherine Clark was published, and I still think about it. I still 'know' those characters. I still tell people about that book. The same with SWOLLEN by Melissa Lion, THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER by Sarah Dessen, and other titles. Some are bestsellers, some aren't. Some (THE GREAT GATSBY, THE NEVERENDING STORY, ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES) are classics, some are contemporary. Some can be found in most big-name bookstores and some are out-of-print.

Their publication dates don't matter to me. Their fame doesn't matter to me. Their covers don't matter to me. Other people's reviews of these books have no bearing on my opinion of these books. These books are here with me because, for one reason or other, they echo. Whether they whisper or scream, old or new, they are here with me for good.

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