How to Give Your Child a Lifelong Love of Reading

How do you create an active reader? Why is reading good for creativity and vital for teaching the next generation resilience and positive mental health? In the digital age of never-ending screen time, you could argue that the power of books has diminished. But while screens have changed the act of reading, Alex Johnson believes reading is even more important, and that people value books more than ever. This is visible in the sales of printed special editions, the revival in reading aloud, the increased interest in poetry anthologies, and the rescuing of "lost words" from obscurity. But with so many competing distractions, which are the best books for children to read and how can we access them? How do we get children to start reading? How can we encourage them to be curious and maintain their interest? In this book of practical advice, Alex Johnson brings his tremendous enthusiasm and informed passion to answer these questions.

Alex Johnson is a professional blogger and journalist, part of the Independent’s online team. He is the author of Bookshelf, Book Towns, and Improbable Libraries. 

Contents

Introduction
Why reading is good for children 1
Jacqueline Wilson 7

Chapter One How to find good books 11
Cressida Cowell 28
Cat Anderson 32

Chapter Two Starting to read 35
Abi Elphinstone 65

Chapter Three How to go places
The importance of non-fiction 671
Hollie McNish 91

Chapter Four How to encourage their reading 95
Tracy Goodyear 111

Chapter Five Sounds and pictures
Enjoying the varieties of reading 117
Ken Wilson-Max 144

Chapter Six How to maintain interest
Getting out and about 147
Michael Rosen 167

Appendix One Helpful sources 171

Appendix Two CLPE reading recommendations 183

Acknowledgements 209