“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” - Dr. Seuss
We are sure as a parent, you would love to see your child- read, know, learn and explore. Reading as a life skill can do wonders if it is nurtured and utilized in the right way. As parents and educators, it is important to urge their children and students to develop and continue the habit of reading. But often, we come across the fact that parents are no quite sure the kind of books that need to give their children as per their age.
But before going to that let us understand the dynamics of reading in this age group.
In this age group, children’s reading perspectives change dramatically. While they continue to master pronunciation and build vocabulary, they also need to read more and understand more complex texts. There is a constant test of their comprehension skills and ability to process facts and concepts.
“According to Scholastic’s Kids & Family Reading Report, only 35 percent of 9-year-olds report reading five to seven days a week compared to 57 percent of 8-year-olds. Attitudes toward reading change as well: The number of kids who say they love reading drops significantly from 40 percent among 8-year-olds to 28 percent among 9-year-olds.”
Parent often come across a phenomenon which is called ‘decline by nine’ among children in this age bracket. It is basically the decreasing interest of children have in reading once they reach age 9 or so. Though Grade 3 is considered as a benchmark for reading proficiency and milestones, it might happen that their reading frequency might begin to drop during this time.
However, parents can identify this symptom (if any) in their child and continue to encourage reading in different ways. Here comes an important question that which books to choose for your child in this age group.
As per George Bernard Shaw, “Make it a rule never to give a child a book you would not read yourself.” And, this is a very important statement. So, here are some nice books suggestions for you which your child would love to read and explore.
1) Diary of a Wimpy Kid- It is an American fiction book series by author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney. The series follows Greg Heffley, who illustrates his daily life in a diary. It is fun to read and understand with funny illustrations as well.
2) Charlotte's Web- It is a book of children's literature by American author E. B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams; it was published on October 15, 1952, by Harper & Brothers. The novel tells the story of a livestock pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a barn spider named Charlotte. It is a cute and lovely story for kids to read.
3) Sudha Murthy- This age group might already be reading her books. Now it is time to explore into a bigger novels which might deal with a social concept or a perspective. They will also get to learn new vocabulary and expressions.
4) How I Survived Middle School- It is a nice series that the elder ones will like. It is written by Nancy Krulik, who has written more than 100 books for children and young adults. The series centers around a preteen girl named Jenny McAfee as she enters and goes through middle school.
5) Harry Potter- This one needs no introduction. If they have watched or liked the movies, they will definitely enjoy reading the series. And, now it is not only reading, they will be able to interpret and analyze better.
6) Ruskin Bond- His ageless books are a wonder for children of any age group and even adults. This is a great age to introduce his books to your child or if they are already reading it, it is time for them to explore more into his works. It had a flavour of everything that young readers will enjoy.
7) Geronimo Stilton- The series is about a fictional state of Earth which is now dominated by anthropomorphic mice and rats and focuses on the title character, a mouse who lives in New Mouse City on Mouse Island. These books are also filled with nice illustrations. It written by Elisabetta Dami under the pen name of the title character.
8) Indian Mythology- This is also an apt age group to read, understand and explore Indian mythological tales. This will help them to understand our culture, values and traditions. These great tales also teach them about life lessons, morals and stories of right conduct. This is the age they will be able to understand and interpret them as well. Apart from mythology, Indian folklore can also be introduced.
9) Hilo Series- This is one graphic novel that the younger ones will really enjoy. It is about D.J. and Gina, two otherwise ordinary children who befriend Hilo — an alien boy who can’t remember where he comes from or why he fell to Earth. With amazing comic illustrations, this series is fun to read.
10) The Wild Robot- This is the touching story about a robot named Roz, who gets stuck on a secluded island. Not knowing how she got there, or why, she is forced to adapt to her surroundings and become one with the wild. It has a bit if everything - nature, sentience, and technology.
You can also explore genres like simple horror, English classics like Treasure Island, Around the World in 80 Days, 20,000 Leagues Under the see and others, Comic strips like Tintin and others.
Here are some of the important reading milestones for this age group-
· Reading independently: They should be able to read longer novels with lesser illustrations.
· Reading out loud: They should be able to read with the right expressions and tones.
· Understanding paragraphs: They should be able to understand punctuations and interpret the text.
· Referencing: They should be able to decode and understand the meanings using their analytical abilities.
· Comprehension: They should be able to summarize the text as a whole and also narrate parts of it on their own.
What books are your child in this age group reading? Share with us.