My Philosophy
On children’s books, that is.
Reading is important. Loving to read is important too. I believe that reading is the most empowering ability a person can possess. With that one skill, one can learn, experience, transform, grow and understand. Reading is an absolutely necessary part of life if one aspires to join the ranks of the intelligent, the cultured and the informed.
It’s never too early to start reading to a child. Fetuses are “especially receptive to sounds from the mother’s body and the external environment.”
It’s also never too late to start. Just because a child has not taken to reading doesn’t mean he or she won’t. You may just need to find what it is they love, a way in. If a child reads and enjoys just one thing, then you have a starting point and a foundation to build on.
Books provide comfort, a safe place to cuddle up and relax. They can provide moments of calm in what may otherwise be a hectic, crazy whirlwind of alarms, school, work, practice, meals, homework and life.
We can only ever experience life as ourselves but reading a book can provide an alternate point of view. We can know what it is to experience life as someone else. We can feel what others have been through, go places they’ve been, meet people they know, learn what they know. And these treasures can be accessed freely!
Reading can be a personal activity, something tranquil, an escape. Books take their reader to another place. Reading can be a group activity, a family can choose a book to read together, or a person can join a book club and share reading with others.
Have a difficult topic to broach with your young child? There’s a book for that. Want to visit a far off land? There’s a book for that. Need to learn about how rockets are made? Want to know what it was like to live in ancient India? Wonder what it’s like to live with a disability? Need to explain why butterflies migrate? There’s book for each of those too.
If you encourage reading, foster a love of books, and fill your home with them, you’ll have a reader on your hands. And once you have a reader, there are no limits to what can be learned.
b00kreader said,
January 20, 2013 @ 8:50 pm
I honestly cannot remember a time when I wasn’t reading, but I remember how my sister hated it. Now she reads as much as I do, it seems she was one of those people who had to grow into reading. It is great that you are helping to instill the love of books in children keep up the good work.
TurtleAndRobot said,
January 20, 2013 @ 9:20 pm
I actually had to grow into reading as well, and oh how I love it now!
minisculegiants said,
December 14, 2012 @ 5:34 pm
I completely agree: Once you can read, you can learn anything. That’s one of life’s greatest joys.
Lori Jean said,
December 14, 2012 @ 2:44 pm
Thanks for sharing your philosophy, and I couldn’t agree more! My boys and I are regulars at our small town library, and we enjoy discovering new passions and learning about what WE want to learn about! My mother told me as a girl she didn’t care what I read as long as I did read. Many blessings to you and your family.
TurtleAndRobot said,
December 14, 2012 @ 6:49 pm
I completely agree with your mother. And thank you for the kind comment.
skyblueseagreen said,
November 27, 2012 @ 11:27 pm
What a lovely service you do to all the Mommies and Daddies who are looking for the best books!
craftythrifterinnz said,
November 24, 2012 @ 7:36 pm
So true – my first was a great reader from day one, would sit still listen and enjoy. My second child, couldn’t sit still, couldn’t concentrate and was unhappy everytime a book showed up …… till my mother bought him ‘The very hungry catepillar’ He was FIVE! Perserverance paid off. I wouldn’t call him a voracious reader, it took a very long time – now in his thirties he actually reads novels. ♥ Don’t give up people.
lowimpactmama said,
November 18, 2012 @ 4:24 am
I love your philosophy! I spend large chunks of my day reading with my children (7 months & 2 yrs 8 months). It is so much fun! I was an avid reader myself as a child – still am as an adult – and reading together is one of the greatest pleasures my children give me. A particular favourite of my toddler at the moment is You Choose – we’ve been reading it for months but still Nick Sharratt’s wonderful illustrations give us new tales to tell.
Beyond the Masquerade said,
November 15, 2012 @ 7:03 pm
We’ve been lucky that both our children are very good readers, in fact, my 11 year old is better than me. I have a year 3-4s ability when I complete those online reading tests to check speed and comprehension.
It’s nice sitting in front of the fire listening to a story.
At the moment our daughter is reading The Chronicles of Narnia – The Magicians Nephew, and she’s reading aloud so that we can all enjoy the story
marsha4852 said,
November 15, 2012 @ 6:02 pm
I would love to write Children’s books one day and you have provided me some ideas and inspiration with what you have shared here.
I’ll have to take some notes so I don’t forget, but I want to get right on it after nano is done.
Btw, thanks for liking my post. I would not have found your site had you not done so.
radhika25 said,
November 15, 2012 @ 2:00 am
I love that you are writing children’s book reviews! I thought I was the only one obsessed with kid’s books. Am signing up to follow your blog
Karina Rook said,
November 14, 2012 @ 3:04 pm
I loved to read to my kids, I think the humorous books were our favorite. The author Babette Cole managed to broach controversial topics with ease, and have us all in stitches at the same time.
Good books are the best gift for a child, at Xmas, birthdays, or just because….
TurtleAndRobot said,
November 14, 2012 @ 3:33 pm
I am a big fan of Babette Cole! Especially Mommy Laid and Egg, Prince Cinders, Dr. Dog and Princess Smartypants.
daretoshineteo said,
November 12, 2012 @ 12:54 am
So true…our lil six year old daughter is unschooled and is a ravenous reader…when we offer the opportunity, our children’s natural curiosity blossoms!
LK Trowers said,
November 10, 2012 @ 10:53 pm
I’m so glad I read this. I began reading to my son when he was a matter of only 12 weeks old. Now at 13 years of age, I no longer read to him because he reads voraciously for himself and has a book case to the ceiling filled to overflowing. I miss not reading aloud anymore but enjoy the fact that he now recommends books to me instead. You are absolutely right – it is never too young to read to your child. There are so many wonderful children’s books out there these days and I never tire or introducing my younger nephews and nieces to the joys of a good story well told.
mkdickerson said,
November 10, 2012 @ 7:35 pm
You are a wonderful ambassador for reading. Your blog inspires me. Growing up, my mother was constantly encouraging me to read, because, she said, reading could change my life. Reading could help me to become a better person and realize my dreams. And it she was right. The world needs people like you with a real passion to pass on the love for reading.
TurtleAndRobot said,
November 10, 2012 @ 9:47 pm
You are very kind. I so appreciate your comment. Thank you!
atothewr said,
November 10, 2012 @ 3:48 pm
I love the way you close that, that’s a great statement to make about reading. I hope I can do that for my son.
lauriebest said,
November 9, 2012 @ 8:07 pm
I totally agree with your philosophy. I have always been an avid reader and it has rubbed off (sometimes with difficulty!) on my three kids. My eldest daughter recently finished her PhD in Creative Writing and, as you have discovered, now deigns to write a humorous blog with me, her proud mom! We hope you continue to enjoy our blog. As an aside, I remember the Book House series fondly from my childhood. You are so fortunate to have known and worked with Maurice Sendak!
TurtleAndRobot said,
November 9, 2012 @ 8:38 pm
Congratulations to your daughter! And thank you for your kind comment.
Kathy's Chronicles said,
November 8, 2012 @ 9:43 pm
I love your philosophy. Books are such a refuge. Some of my favorite moments growing up were getting lost in books. And now as a mother, the favorite moments in my day are sitting with a book and a child on my lap during reading time. I’m excited to see more of your selections!
JulesPaige said,
November 8, 2012 @ 3:12 pm
My grandson is under three, and loves books. When reading a chubby board book with few words – those that describe colors or names that he says I congratulate him on ‘reading’.
Angela Hunter Geiss said,
November 7, 2012 @ 4:57 pm
So true…I was an avid reader…see me under the covers with the flashlight at 14…when I was in my Stephen King phase…I am so fortunate that both my boys ages 6 and 2 love their books and going to the library…
TurtleAndRobot said,
November 7, 2012 @ 7:24 pm
Readers tend to raise readers and that’s a beautiful thing!