Some useful stats on reading decline 2022

The Top 10 Reading Statistics and Facts. The source of the following is https://comfyliving.net/reading-statistics/ 

·        43 million US adults possess low literacy skills.

·        People aged 15–44 in the US spend 10 minutes or less per day reading.

·        27% of adults in the US didn’t read a book in 2018.

·        The United States literacy rate positions the country as number 28 in the World Factbook.

·        6 additional minutes of reading per day can significantly improve kids’ reading performance.

·        Children who read at least 20 minutes a day are exposed to almost 2 million words per year.

·        One out of every five children in the UK can’t read at a satisfactory level by age 11.

·        Reading could help reduce mental decline in old age by up to 32%.

·        Reading fiction can make you a better decision-maker.

·        Reading increases emotional intelligence, and consequently, your career outlook.

Statistics About Reading in the United States

In this section, we’ll be looking at literacy rates and reading habits in the US specifically.

1. 43 million US adults possess low literacy skills. (NCES)

Although the literacy rate in America is 99%, only 79% have a literacy skill level of 2 or higher, according to PIAAC (Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies). In practice, this means around 21% have difficulty completing “tasks that require comparing and contrasting information, paraphrasing, or making low-level inferences.”

2. People aged 15–44 in the US spend 10 minutes or less per day reading. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

The time spent reading outside of work and school depends significantly on the age group we choose to observe. People aged 75 and older read over four times as much per day (44 minutes) as the younger generations.

3. There has been a decline in reading time among Americans from 23 minutes to 17 minutes per day. (Washington Post)

Interestingly enough, 17 minutes per day is also the amount of fitness activity that an average US adult gets. Despite the benefits of reading, statistics show we’re reading less and less every year. From 2004 to 2017, the average reading time of Americans dropped by six minutes.

Also, the percentage of Americans reading for pleasure on a given day plummeted from 28% to just 19%. Some age groups showed a greater decline than others, but none of them recorded an increase in reading time over the analyzed period.

4. Teenage reading statistics show over 80% of them don’t read for pleasure on a daily basis. (APA)

Research from the American Psychological Association confirms what you probably already suspected. Teenagers spend way more time on social media than they do reading.

But other media saw dips as well. From 2010 to 2018, teenagers spent less time reading and watching TV. Digital media is displacing most of the other leisure activities that used to be typical for the age group.

5. 27% of adults in the US didn’t read a book in 2018. (Pew Research Center)

Book reading statistics show adults without higher education are the least likely to have read a book. 44% of Americans with a high school degree or less surveyed in early 2019 hadn’t read a book in the last 12 months. Education level seems to be strongly correlated with time spent reading.

In contrast, 92% of college-educated adults in the US reported reading a book during the same period. Reading habits also seem to increase in lockstep with household income.

6. The average number of books read per year by an American is 12.(Pew Research Center)

If you’re wondering how many books the average American reads annually, this is your answer. Although some of these facts about reading may appear grim, Americans still read a fair number of books. The average for women in the US is 14 books in a year, while the median across all populations is four per year.

So, if you read more than four books a year, you’re reading more than half the country.

7. In terms of literacy rate, the USA ranks 125th out of 194 nations. (World Atlas)

This is concerning given that the US is considered a first-world country. Literacy rates are difficult to standardize, and the most widely accepted definition is the percentage of the population over 15 who can read and write. Some sources rank the US much lower based on reading behaviours and supporting readers’ resources, such as libraries. 

Reading vs visual medim as entertainment

Reading provides entertainment and serves as a means of escape from daily routines. Engaging in a captivating story or an intriguing narrative can be an enjoyable way to relax, unwind, and experience moments of pleasure.

Not only can we read to find ways to relax, unwind, and experience moments of pleasure we can watch a play, movie, or any other form of visual medium. Visual mediums have the advantage of combining storytelling with visuals, sound, and often music, creating a multi-sensory experience that can be immersive and captivating.

Like reading a captivating story, watching a play or movie can transport you to different worlds, introduce you to interesting characters, and take you on thrilling or emotional journeys. It allows you to become invested in the narrative, connecting with the characters and their struggles, experiencing their triumphs and defeats, and exploring a range of emotions.

Visual mediums also offer the advantage of visual spectacle, whether it's the impressive sets and costumes of a play or the stunning cinematography and special effects of a movie. These elements can enhance the storytelling and create a sense of awe and wonder, further enhancing the overall experience.

Furthermore, watching a play or movie can be a social experience as well. Sharing the viewing experience with friends or loved ones, discussing the plot twists or the emotions evoked, and analyzing the deeper themes and messages can add another layer of enjoyment and engagement.

Overall, whether it's through reading or visual mediums, engaging in a captivating story or narrative can be a fantastic way to relax, unwind, and find moments of pleasure. Reading offers an escape from reality, sparks the imagination, and allows you to immerse yourself in different worlds and experiences. 

Overall, reading and visual media serves as a powerful tool for personal enrichment. It enriches our lives, expands our horizons, and fosters a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us. We should embrace both wisely and not worry that one may displace the other. The choice between written narratives and visual mediums ultimately comes down to personal preference and the specific qualities each medium brings to the table.

Reading as a tool for language skill etc.

The decline in reading skills worldwide, as reported by UNICEF, highlights the need for alternative activities to promote language skills, cognitive development, imagination, empathy, and emotional intelligence in children. While reading is undeniably valuable, there are various tools and activities that can supplement and enhance these skills.

Interactive learning apps and games provide engaging and educational experiences that incorporate language skills, cognitive challenges, and imaginative play. These digital tools contribute to cognitive development and language acquisition.

Listening to audiobooks and podcasts allows children to immerse themselves in stories and ideas, fostering language skills, vocabulary development, and imaginative thinking. It enhances cognitive abilities and encourages creative thought.

Engaging in storytelling and creative writing activities encourages language skills, imagination, and empathy. By creating their own stories, characters, and worlds, children promote cognitive development and emotional intelligence.

Watching educational videos and documentaries exposes children to diverse subjects and real-world experiences, stimulating curiosity and enhancing cognitive development. It broadens their understanding of the world and fosters empathy.

Conversations, debates, and group activities are valuable in developing language skills, empathy, and emotional intelligence. Interacting with others helps children develop communication skills, perspective-taking abilities, and social awareness.

Artistic and creative activities such as drawing, painting, music, and drama enhance imagination, self-expression, and emotional intelligence. These activities stimulate cognitive development and provide alternative avenues for personal growth.

Exploring nature, traveling, and engaging in real-world experiences broaden children's horizons, stimulate imagination, and foster empathy. Exposure to different environments and cultures promotes cognitive development and emotional intelligence.

Interactive educational apps and e-learning platforms offer engaging reading experiences with features like read-aloud options, interactive quizzes, and gamified learning. These tools enhance language skills, comprehension, and vocabulary development.

Text-to-speech (TTS) technology converts written text into spoken words, aiding language acquisition, vocabulary development, and comprehension, especially for struggling readers or those with reading disabilities.

E-books and digital libraries provide accessible and engaging reading materials with adjustable font sizes, audio narration, and interactive elements. These platforms enhance reading experiences and make them more inclusive.

Digital storytelling tools empower children to create and share stories using multimedia elements. This promotes creativity, language development, and imagination, offering an alternative form of storytelling.

Technology-based language learning apps and platforms improve reading skills in second languages through reading exercises, vocabulary building activities, and comprehension tasks.

Online communities and forums focused on literature and reading provide opportunities for discussion, book recommendations, and reading challenges. These platforms foster a sense of community, encourage reading habits, and promote reading comprehension through conversations.

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies offer immersive experiences that enhance reading comprehension and engagement. Through interactive visualizations and virtual environments, these technologies provide unique and impactful reading experiences.

It is essential to acknowledge that reading remains an essential and unique tool for language acquisition, cognitive development, and empathy. Encouraging a balanced approach that incorporates various activities will provide children with a well-rounded foundation for growth and development. While technology cannot fully replace reading, it can complement and support literacy development, particularly in regions with limited access to traditional reading materials.

Despite the benefits of alternative activities, it is crucial to prioritize a balanced approach. Encouraging children to engage in actual reading with physical books or printed materials is essential for building foundational reading skills, fluency, and deep comprehension.

Experience the Magic: Embrace the Power of Reading and Visual Media

Step into a world of enchantment, where every page holds a new adventure, and every screen unveils a captivating tale. In a world brimming with daily routines and responsibilities, it is essential to find a moment of respite, a chance to escape the mundane and immerse us in a realm of wonder and pleasure. Both reading and visual media offer unique and interesting ways to transport ourselves to extraordinary realms.

Picture this: as you delve into the pages of a gripping novel, the stresses of the day fade away, and you embark on an enthralling journey. The power of reading lies in its ability to engage your imagination, allowing you to co-create vibrant worlds and vivid characters within your mind. With every turn of the page, you uncover new depths of emotion and experience moments of pure delight. Reading is a gateway to relaxation and self-discovery, a medium that stimulates the mind and provides solace in its enchanting embrace.

However, let us not overlook the mesmerizing allure of visual media. Imagine sitting in a theater, as the curtains part to reveal a meticulously crafted stage or immersing yourself in the magic of a cinematic masterpiece. Visual mediums, with their amalgamation of storytelling, visuals, sound, and music, possess an extraordinary ability to captivate our senses. They whisk us away to far-off lands, where we witness captivating characters face exhilarating challenges and embark on emotional odysseys. These mediums have the power to ignite our imagination, leaving us breathless with awe and wonder.

It is not solely the visual spectacle that enthralls us; it is the sense of connection we forge with the narrative. Through visual media, we become companions to the characters, sharing in their triumphs and tribulations. We explore a tapestry of emotions, allowing the stories to resonate deep within our hearts. The magic of visual media lies in its ability to bring stories to life, enveloping us in a multi-dimensional experience that immerses us.

The joys of reading and visual media need not be solitary pursuits. We can share these mediums experiences, fostering connections with others. Picture yourself gathering with friends or loved ones, discussing the twists and turns of a plot, or analyzing the profound themes conveyed. In these moments, the joy is not derived from the story itself, but from the shared experience of interpretation and exchange. Such discussions deepen our appreciation and provide a vibrant tapestry of insights, enriching the overall experience.

Both reading and visual media hold immense power to enrich our lives, expand our horizons, and forge deeper connections with ourselves and the world. They offer different avenues for relaxation, unwinding, and experiencing moments of pleasure. It is not choosing one over the other, but embracing both as complementary tools in our quest for personal enrichment.

As you move forward, accept the power of a book or the enthralling tapestry woven by visual media. Embrace the power of stories, whether written or visual, and surrender yourself to their transformative allure. Let them ignite your imagination, evoke a myriad of emotions, and guide you on extraordinary adventures. In this realm of boundless possibilities, both reading and visual media await, ready to transport you to realms you’ve never dared to dream.

Reading Culture is in decline worldwide.

I have a friend who takes pride in not being a reader. Surprisingly, he is not alone in this. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, in the US, people aged 15-44 spend only 10 minutes or less per day reading. However, it's worth noting that the amount of time spent reading outside of work and school varies significantly across different age groups. For instance, individuals aged 75 and older read over four times as much per day, averaging 44 minutes. In contrast, my friend rarely reads, except for when he comes across a sports story in the local paper. He believes that reading was necessary during his school and work years, but now that he's retired, he sees no reason to continue reading.

As for me, I'm an avid bookworm, devouring around 8 to 10 books every couple of weeks. I firmly believe in the importance of reading and the numerous benefits it brings. Let me share some insights with you.

First and foremost, reading expands our knowledge and exposes us to a multitude of subjects. It opens up new worlds, presents us with fascinating facts, and offers unique perspectives that we might not encounter otherwise.

In addition to broadening our understanding of the world, reading also plays a significant role in developing our language skills. Immersing ourselves in written words and sentences enhances our vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension. As a result, we become better at expressing ourselves and grasping complex ideas.

However, it's not just the United States that has seen a decline in reading; this trend is observable worldwide, according to the United Nations. Many are concerned about this trend and worry that as a result of not reading as much, society as a whole is becoming a less knowledgeable and a less empathetic.

Some attribute this decline to the digital revolution, which has provided alternative ways of acquiring information and narratives through visual and oral mediums. Oral storytelling, for instance, has been a fundamental means of sharing knowledge, culture, and experiences throughout history. When we listen to oral stories, we establish an emotional connection with the storyteller, developing empathy as we hear their voice, tone, and the emotions they convey. Oral narratives can vividly paint pictures and offer diverse perspectives, much like reading stories does. Engaging with oral storytelling allows us to empathize with others and enhances our emotional intelligence.

Similarly, visual storytelling in the form of movies, TV shows, and theater breathes life into stories, providing a multisensory experience. Through music, dialogue, and performances, visual mediums allow us to connect with characters through their facial expressions and body language, facilitating a deeper understanding. Visual storytelling complements reading and oral narratives by offering another way to engage with narratives, emotions, and perspectives.

When we engage with fiction, poetry, or imaginative writing, it ignites our creativity and enables us to envision new worlds, characters, and ideas. It stimulates our imagination and encourages innovative thinking, making reading a powerful tool for expanding our minds.

Both oral and visual storytelling engage our senses, evoke emotions, and enable us to connect with characters and their stories. Each medium has its own strengths in conveying narratives and perspectives. If we as a society continue to embrace all forms of storytelling—reading, listening, and watching—we gain a more comprehensive understanding of diverse narratives and perspectives. This, in turn, enhances our empathy, emotional intelligence, and our ability to see the world from various angles.

The key lies in recognizing that different storytelling methods complement each other, providing a richer and more immersive experience. So, whether it's through reading, listening to stories, or watching visual media, we should actively engage with all of them. By doing so, we broaden our understanding, nurture empathy, and sharpen our perspective and our thinking skills.

How To Read Books Online For Free:

I am an avid reader, and I usually read a book every one or two days if I can. I have always loved reading, as it allows my imagination to soar. I prefer reading an actual book, but I do use Audiobooks and from time to time I enjoy reading books online. For those who enjoy this type of reading, the following article may be useful.

To enjoy reading books online, you don’t need a tablet or e-reader. Here are five good websites that allow you to read books online for free The following is from an article posted on the Mirror and written by Shefali Fernandes in July 2021.

Books play a quintessential role in everyone’s life by introducing them to a world of imagination, providing knowledge of the outside world, improving their reading, writing, and speaking skills as well as boosting memory and intelligence. Evidence suggests that being immersed in a book-oriented environment is beneficial to educational achievement. People who read a lot often have a better vocabulary than those who don’t. The more you read, the more words you’re introduced to. The importance of books in our life cannot be undermined for they not only help in broadening our horizons but also act as doorways for connecting us with the world around us.

Another reason that highlights the importance of books in our life, is that books help in building our confidence. When we read a book, we get to learn about the struggles and hardships of various characters. Studies show that it only takes about six minutes of reading to slow down a person’s heart rate and reduce muscle tension. When you’re experiencing anxiety, reading a book helps you focus on something other than your stress. Considering a book’s effect on anxiety, it makes sense that reading before bed could improve your sleep.

10 Reasons Why Books are Important:

1.     Books relieve stress.

2.     Books are therapeutic.

3.     Books build confidence.

4.     Books improve your memory.

5.     Books enhance your vocabulary.

6.     Books help in self-improvement.

7.     Books illuminate your imagination.

8.     Books improve your communication.

9.     Books improve concentration and focus.

10.   Books help you form your own unique perspective.

How to Read Books Online For Free:

Project Gutenberg:

Project Gutenberg is one of the most important sources of free ebooks on the web. It was founded in 1971 by American writer Michael S. Hart and is the oldest digital library. Most of the items in its collection are the full texts of books in the public domain. No fee or registration to read books online. Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books or eBooks.

Project Gutenberg eBooks require no special apps to read, just the regular Web browsers or eBook readers that are included with computers and mobile devices. There have been reports of sites that charge fees for custom apps, or for the same eBooks that are freely available from Project Gutenberg. Currently, there are over 60 thousand eBooks in the PG catalog.

Website: https://gutenberg.org/  

The Internet Archive:

The Internet Archive provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, movies/videos, moving images, and millions of books. The Internet Archive has been around since 1996, is a member of the American Library Association, and is at the forefront of digital archiving. The Internet Archive operates 33 scanning centers in five countries, digitizing about 1,000 books a day for a total of more than 2 million books, financially supported by libraries and foundations.

The Internet Archive allows the public to upload and download digital material to its data cluster, but the bulk of its data is collected automatically by its web crawlers, which work to preserve as much of the public web as possible. The Archive also oversees one of the world’s largest book digitization projects.

Website: https://archive.org/

Open Library:

Open Library is an online project intended to create “one web page for every book ever published”. Created by Aaron Swartz, Brewster Kahle, Alexis Rossi, Anand Chitipothu, and Rebecca Malamud. Open Library is a project of the Internet Archive, a non-profit organization. It has been funded in part by grants from the California State Library and the Kahle/Austin Foundation.

Open Library provides online digital copies in multiple formats, created from images of many public domains, out-of-print, and in-print books. Open Library is an open project: the software is open, the data are open, the documentation is open, and we welcome your contribution.

Website: https://openlibrary.org/

Smashwords:

The Smashwords Store provides an opportunity to discover new voices in all categories and genres of the written word. Once you register, the site offers useful tools for search, discovery, and personal library management. Most of their books are affordably priced and multi-format. Over 70,000 of our books are priced at free. Smashwords is a free eBook publishing and distribution platform.

We make it fast, free and easy for authors and publishers to distribute eBooks to the world’s largest eBook retailers and library eBook platforms. Authors and publishers retain full control over how their works are published, sampled, priced, and sold. The eBooks on Smashwords can be read online using our online readers, or they can be downloaded to other reading devices such as the iPhone, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, or other e-reading devices.

Website https://www.smashwords.com/

Google Books:

Google Books is a service from Google Inc. that searches the full text of books and magazines that Google has scanned, converted to text using optical character recognition (OCR), and stored in its digital database. Google Books allows users to view full pages from books in which the search terms appear if the book is out of copyright or if the copyright owner has given permission.

Google Books set out on an audacious journey to bring the world’s books online so that anyone can access them. Searching for a book is exactly like typing a question into Google, but unfortunately, not all books on Google Books are available for free.

Website: https://books.google.co.in

Love of Books

“In each word, all words. — Yet, speaking, like writing, engages us in a separating movement, an oscillating and vacillating departure.”  Maurice Blanchot

My grandson is 8 and he is a reader. My wife believes that if a child can read, they can do, almost anything. I agree. I have always been a reader since I could remember and when I was his age, I loved books just as much as I hope he does. In the 1950s there was no World Wide Web, no Instagram, no instant communications, nor was there Facebook. We did not have a TV, so we could only learn about the world from our parents, the radio, our friends or from printed books.

We were poor by today’s standards when I was his age and buying a book was not an option, but belonging to the library was an option. So, most of what I read came from our library. Every two weeks we would go to the library and while my mom picked out her books, I would browse the shelves reading covers and opening up books to sneak a quick read of a few pages. I wanted to spend hours grazing on the feast that was there for us, but time was always too short. I would pick out about 5 or 6 books that would capture my attention for the next two weeks.

Books are special, there is something magical about a book — the texture of it in your fingers and the way it looks on the stand by your bed or snuggled in with others in the bookshelf.

During the day, after school I had chores, so the only time I could read was when I went to bed. That's when a new world would open up to me in the books I loved to read. When my mom would come in and say lights out I would read under the bedclothes with a flashlight. I was always a bit nervous that I would be caught and the book hauled away, but I never was caught. 

I read stories of exotic places and I imagined I was there.  I read about Tarzan of the Apes, Tom Sawyer, and Huckleberry Fin and found the genre of Science Fiction and Mystery which I still read today. And the more I read, the more I wanted to read.

Reading set my imagination on fire, I remember watching the story of Tom Sawyer on TV when I was about 16 and I thought, he doesn't look like the person I saw when I read the book. 

Why do we read?  We read to remember. We read to forget. We read to make ourselves and remake ourselves and save ourselves. “I read the way a person might swim, to save his or her life,” Mary Oliver wrote in looking back on how books saved her. 

I read and it helped define me as I grew up; many of us read to understand who we are and why we are here. We read to become selves. The gift of reading is that books can become both the oxygen to keep you from suffocating and the very wind that sculpts the canyons of your life, turning it in this direction or that, crossing great distances and opening new territories of being, cutting through even the toughest foundation. 

Hermann Hesse wrote in his visionary 1930 meditation on “the magic of the book” and why we will always remain under its generous spell, no matter how the technologies of reading may change.

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Reading to your grandchildren part 3

The following list is from the Australian Booksellers’ Association list of 50 Favourite Kids’ Books, voted on by 5000 participants from a database of all children’s books in English and published here

1. Possum Magic — Mem Fox and Julie Vivas

Mem Fox’s best-selling first picture book about Grandma Poss, who uses her best bush magic to make baby Hush invisible.

2. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone — J.K. Rowling

The first book in Rowling’s series sees the young Harry journey to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he hones his magical powers and confronts Lord Voldemort.

3. The Very Hungry Caterpillar — Eric Carle

First published in 1969, Carle’s collage-style illustrations follow a caterpillar as it eats its way through a variety of foods to emerge, at the end of the book, as a butterfly.

4. The Fault in Our Stars — John Green

Young adult novel that tells the story of a 16-year-old cancer patient, Hazel, who attends a support group where she meets and falls in love with a former basketballer and amputee.

5. Where is the Green Sheep? — Mem Fox and Judy Horacek

There are blue sheep, red sheep, a bath sheep and a bed sheep. But where is the green sheep.?

6. The 39-Storey Treehouse — Andy Griffiths

In Griffiths’ and illustrator Terry Denton’s tree house there’s a chocolate waterfall, a non-erupting active volcano, a baby dinosaur petting zoo and the Believe It Or Else museum.

7. The Magic Faraway Tree — Enid Blyton

In the Enchanted Wood fairy folk live on every branch of the Magic Faraway Tree, home to the Land of Spells, of Topsy-Turvy and Do-As-You-Please.

8. Where the Wild Things Are — Maurice Sendak

Max, sent to his room in his wolf suit, rages at the injustice. When his room transforms into a jungle, Max sails to an island where he fights the Wild Things.

9. Diary of a Wombat — Jackie French and Bruce Whatley

Traces the busy life of Mothball, a “wombat with attitude” who wrestles unknown creatures, runs her own digging business and even trains her humans.

10. The Gruffalo — Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

A mouse wards off predators intent on eating him by conjuring a fictional creature, half grizzly bear, half buffalo.

11. Matilda — Roald Dahl

The story of young girl gifted with magical powers but saddled with dimwitted parents.

12. The Book Thief — Markus Zusak

Nazi Germany, 1939: Liesel learns to read and shares the books she steals with the Jewish man hidden in their basement.

13. Tomorrow When The War Began — John Marsden

A group of teenage friends returns from a week-long camping trip to the bush to discover that all the people are missing and pets and livestock are dead or dying.

14. Anne Of Green Gables — L.M. Montgomery

Published in 1908 and set in Canada, tells the story of an orphan girl sent to live in a farming community in King Edward Island.

15. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory — Roald Dahl

Charlie Bucket realizes his dream of entering the famous chocolate factory of Willy Wonka.

Here are five more books as a Bonus

16. The Hobbit — J.R.R. Tolkien

Follows the quest of hobbit Bilbo Baggins to win a share of the treasure guarded by the dragon Smaug.

17. The Secret Garden Frances — Hodgson Burnett

A spoilt, sickly child, Mary Lennox, becomes fascinated by a locked garden.

18. Wonder — R.J. Palacio

Born with a terrible facial deformity, 10-year-old Auggie longs to be normal. Now, for the first time, he is being sent to a “normal” school.

19. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows — J.K. Rowling

In the seventh and final novel in the series, Harry has turned 17, Dumbledore is dead and Lord Voldemort’s powers are increasing.

20. Are We There Yet? — Alison Lester

Much loved picture book by veteran Australian author and illustrator traces the around-Australia journey of eight year old Grace and her family.

Read to your grandchildren part 2

The National Educations Association (USA) list

1.   Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

The novel tells the story of a livestock pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a barn spider named Charlotte. When Wilbur is in danger of being slaughtered by the farmer, Charlotte writes messages praising Wilbur (such as "Some Pig") in her web in order to persuade the farmer to let him live

2.   Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

One-night Max puts on his wolf suit and makes mischief of one kind and another, so his mother calls him 'Wild Thing' and sends him to bed without his supper. That night a forest begins to grow in Max's room and an ocean rushes by with a boat to take Max to the place where the wild things are. Max tames the wild things and crowns himself as their king, and then the wild rumpus begins.

3.   The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return

4.   Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

“Do you like green eggs and ham?” asks Sam-I-am in this Beginner Book by Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss’s beloved favorite has cemented its place as a children’s classic. In this most famous of cumulative tales, the list of places to enjoy green eggs and ham, and friends to enjoy them with, gets longer and longer.  Originally created by Dr. Seuss, Beginner Books encourage children to read all by themselves, with simple words and illustrations that give clues to their meaning.

5.   Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room—to the picture of the three little bears sitting on chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one—the little bunny says goodnight. In this classic of children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.

6.   I Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch

The following is from the authors webpage

Love You Forever started as a song.

“I’ll love you forever,

I’ll like you for always,

as long as I’m living

my baby you’ll be.”

I made that up after my wife and I had two babies born dead. The song was my song to my dead babies. For a long time, I had it in my head and I couldn’t even sing it because every time I tried to sing it I cried. It was very strange having a song in my head that I couldn’t sing. For a long time, it was just a song but one day, while telling stories at a big theatre at the University of Guelph, it occurred to me that I might be able to make a story around the song. Out popped Love You Forever, pretty much the way it is in the book.

7.   Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

The summer Opal and her father, the preacher, move to Naomi, Florida, Opal goes into the Winn-Dixie supermarket and comes out with a dog. A big, ugly, suffering dog with a sterling sense of humor. A dog she dubs Winn-Dixie. Because of Winn-Dixie, the preacher tells Opal ten things about her absent mother, one for each year Opal has been alive. Winn-Dixie is better at making friends than anyone Opal has ever known, and together they meet the local librarian, Miss Franny Block, who once fought off a bear with a copy of War and Peace.

8.   Oh! The Places You Will Go by Dr. Seuss

From soaring to high heights and seeing great sights to being left in a Lurch on a prickly perch, Dr. Seuss addresses life’s ups and downs with his trademark humorous verse and illustrations, while encouraging readers to find the success that lies within. In a starred review, Booklist notes, “Seuss’s message is simple but never sappy: life may be a ‘Great Balancing Act,’ but through it all ‘There’s fun to be done.’” A perennial favorite and a perfect gift for anyone starting a new phase in their life!

9.   The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

The story of The Little House sends a message of being careful what you wish for and about family values. The grandfather cared for his family so much that he wanted to make sure this house would last a lifetime. He built it so that no one could take away a gift that would outlast his time on Earth. This lesson in the story is very important in any stage of a child or adults life. There are a million activities one could do with this book and as a teacher, I would have students look up the history of their house and find out all the neat little things you just never think about. This book was wonderfully written and perfectly illustrated.

10.         The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

The Polar Express is an old-fashioned steam train that takes children to the North Pole on Christmas Eve to meet the red-suited gentleman and to see him off on his annual sleigh ride. This is a personal retelling of the adult storyteller's adventures as a youngster on that train. The telling is straight, thoughtfully clean-cut and all the more mysterious for its naive directness; the message is only a bit less direct: belief keeps us young at heart. These are scenes from a memory of long ago, a dreamy reconstruction of a symbolic experience, a pleasant remembrance rebuilt to fulfill a current wish: if only you believe, you too will hear the ringing of the silver bell that Santa gave him and taste rich hot chocolate in your ride through the wolf-infested forests of reality.This review was written by Kenneth Marantz, Art Education Department, Ohio State University, Columbus Reed Business Information, Inc.

11.         Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner

Skippyjon Jones is no ordinary kitten. Oh, no. . . .He’s actually El Skippito, a great sword-fighter ready to battle banditos the world over! With a little imagination and a whole lot of fun, this frisky cat dons a mask and cape and takes on a bad bumble-bee to save the day. And along the way, he’ll be sure to steal young reader’s hearts

12.         Thank You Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco

The real-life, classic story of a dyslexic girl and the teacher who would not let her fail. Patricia Polacco is now one of America's most loved children's book creators, but once upon a time, she was a little girl named Trisha starting school. Trisha could paint and draw beautifully, but when she looked at words on a page, all she could see was jumble. It took a very special teacher to recognize little Trisha's dyslexia: Mr. Falker, who encouraged her to overcome her reading disability. Patricia Polacco will never forget him, and neither will we.

13.         The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss

Poor Dick and Sally. It's cold and wet and they're stuck in the house with nothing to do . . . until a giant cat in a hat shows up, transforming the dull day into a madcap adventure and almost wrecking the place in the process!

Read to your grandchildren part 1

I thought I would compile a list of top children’s books from various sources. We are getting close to Christmas and many of you do your shopping early and one of the best gifts you can gift is the gift of a book. 

The first 12 are from Today’s Parent and list what they think are the top 100 Canadian children’s books. The next 13 are from the National Education Association and is from their top 100 Books. The final list is from Australia. The reason for this list is my grandson who is in grade 2 is reading at a grade 5 level according to his teachers and so I thought I would do some research on books from Australia or Canada that will stimulate his imagination. 

You may have some children or grandchildren who are good readers or who you want to become good readers so this list of 25 books is a start.

Top 12 Canadian Children’s Books as chosen by Today’s Parent

01 / 100 The Sky is Falling by Kit Pearson, Puffin

During World War II, 10-year-old Norah and her brother are sent away from their parents in England to navigate a new life in Canada, in this touching historical account.

02 / 100 Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, Penguin Canada

Melodramatic and relatable Anne-with-an-E is an 11-year-old orphan who finds love, loss and belonging in picturesque Prince Edward Island.

03 / 100 The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert W. Service, Ted Harrison, Kids Can Press

Famed Canadian painter Ted Harrison illustrates the haunting classic gold rush–themed poem.

04 / 100 Stella, Star of the Sea by Marie-Louise Gay, Groundwood Books

Stella is eager to swim in the sea, but her little brother, Sam, has some reservations in this whimsical first book of the Stella series.

05 / 100 Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel, David Franklin, Harper Trophy Canada

In this exciting fantasy novel, a young Silverwing bat named Shade is separated from his family and must embark on a dangerous journey to find them.

06 / 100 The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier, Sheldon Cohen, Tundra Books

In a small Quebec town, life revolves around playing hockey and the Montreal Canadiens, but trouble brews when Roch outgrows his Habs sweater and receives a Toronto Maple Leafs one as a replacement.

07 / 100 Lost in the Barrens by Farley Mowat, Emblem Editions

A Cree boy and a Caucasian orphan living with his uncle set out on an exciting—and, at times, nail-biting—Arctic adventure.

08 / 100 This is not my Hat by Jon Klassen, Candlewick Press

A little fish steals a large sleeping fish’s teeny bowler hat. He’s pretty sure the big fish won’t catch him!

09 / 100 The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, Michael Martchenko, Annick Press

In this classic girl-power tale, Elizabeth’s betrothed, Prince Ronald, is captured by a terrible fire-breathing dragon. She uses her wits to save him, but was it worth it?

10 / 100 Shi-shi-etko by Nicola I. Campbell, Kim LaFave, Groundwood Books

Based on true events, this bittersweet tale follows a young Aboriginal girl through her last few days with her family before she’s sent to a residential school.

11 / 100 Alligator Pie by Dennis Lee, Frank Newfeld, HarperCollins

A fun collection of poetry by Canada’s Father Goose includes classic rhymes like “Skyscraper” and “Wiggle to the Laundromat.”

12 / 100 Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang by Mordecai Richler, Dušan Petriu Tundra Books

Misunderstood Jacob Two-Two finds himself at the mercy of the mean Hooded Fang after insulting a grown-up.

Why We Love Certain Books

There are books that speak to my soul and feel as if the author knows and understands me. Here is one explanation of why we love certain books. In the plot, we move from one important moment directly to the next – whereas in life there are endless sub-plots that distract and confuse us. In a story, the key events of a relationship unfold across a few dozen pages: in life, they are spread over many years and interleaved with hundreds of business meetings, holidays, hours spent watching television, chats with one’s parents, shopping trips and dentist’s appointments. The compressed logic of a plot corrects the chaos of existence: the links between events can be made much more obvious. We understand – finally – what is going on.

Writers reveal people’s secret thoughts and motives. The characters are much more clearly defined than the people we actually encounter. On the page, we meet purer villains, braver more resourceful heroes, people whose suffering is more obvious or whose virtues are more striking than would ever normally be the case. They – and their actions – provide us with simplified targets for our emotional lives. We can love or revile them, pity them or condemn them more neatly than we ever can our friends and acquaintances.

We need simplification because of the complexity of our lives. The writer, in books that get us, puts into words feelings that had long eluded us, they know us better than we know ourselves. They seem to be narrating our own stories, but with a clarity, we could never achieve. 

So often we feel lost for words; we’re impressed by the sight of a bird wheeling in the dusk sky; we’re aware of a particular atmosphere at dawn, we love someone’s slightly wild but sympathetic manner. We struggle to verbalize our feelings. Feelings that we see as too complex, subtle, vague and elusive for us to be able to verbalize. The best writers home in on the angle of the wing; the slow movement of the largest branch of a tree; the angle of the mouth in a smile. Through the writer’s words the nuance of life, become more visible.

When the book touches us, the writer builds bridges and cut through to the common core of the experience. By selection and emphasis, they reveal the important things we share. They show us where to look. They help us to feel.

In the pages of a story, we meet someone, perhaps a person who is very beautiful/handsome, tender, sensitive, young and/or dying; and we weep for the character and all the cruelty and injustice of the world. And we come away, not devastated, but refreshed. Our emotional muscles are exercised and their strength rendered newly available for our lives.

The task of linking the right book to the right person at the right time is not easy, but when we happen to come across the ideal book for us we are presented with an extraordinarily clearer, more lucid, better-organised account of our own concerns and experiences: for a time at least, our minds become less clouded and our hearts become more accurately sensitive. Through authors words, we become a little better at being who we always really were or wanted to be in life. Enjoy. My thanks to Ronnie at Time Goes By for the link.