April
21
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All Books Count by Jen Vincent
My office door is plastered with the covers of books I’ve read since the start of the school year. I have books on display in my office. I love to recommend books and talk about books. People know I love books and they’ll bring me articles about books or share books they’ve enjoyed.
Last week, one of my colleagues stopped in to tell me that he heard on NPR that The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey earned the top spot on the American Library Association annual list of most challenged books for the second year in a row. It doesn’t surprise me but it’s always sad to hear when any books are banned.
I think what sometimes happens is that adults judge books without reading them and giving them a chance. I also think it’s possible that adults look at books and don’t think they are worthy of their child reading. Too often, parents seem to want to push their children to read harder books instead of just letting them read what they want to read.
All books count. All books are worthy of being read. Just let kids read. More than anything, let kids to find a love of reading and trust that in time, their reading interests will grow and evolve along with them.
But I totally get that it’s not always easy…
See, one day, our across-the-street neighbor stopped us and said she had a lot of books that her son outgrew and she wanted to know if we wanted them. Our kids are a few years younger than her son so she thought they would be just right for them. I am never one to turn down books. I was excited and let her pile the books into my arms. I wasn’t picky at all. In my mind, books are books.
Somewhere in the pile was this book:
SpongeBob Squarepants: The Bikini Bottom Bike Race by Scott Sonneborn snuck its way into our house. Would I have ever in a milion years bought this book of my own motherly volition? Probably not. Do I inwardly groan every time my kids ask me to read it? Possibly. Do I read it anyway? Most definitely.
My kids love it. There is one part that sends them into fits of giggles. To be honest, I really don’t get it. I’m not sure I’ll ever get it. And that’s okay, whatever makes them happy. We all have books we like more than others.
I do have to admit that as we were doing spring cleaning a few weeks ago, I added this to our donation pile. I didn’t think it would matter one way or another. But my husband saw the SpongeBob book, the only SpongeBob book we own, and he came to me to say there was no way he could let the book go because the kids love it so much. It’s not his favorite book either but he gets a kick out of seeing the kids crack up. He reminded me that what’s important is that they love the book.
And that’s why you’ll find SpongeBob Squarepants: The Bikini Bottom Bike Race on our bookshelf.
Because it’s a book that makes my kids laugh.
Because they’ll remember cracking up as their dad read their favorite part again and again.
Because even if it’s not my kind of book, it’s okay for it to be their kind of book.
Because it’s more important for them to love books than anything else.
Because all books count.
Jen Vincent lets her kids pick out any books they want at bedtime, even SpongeBob Squarepants, as long as they let her pick a book to read aloud, too. She is a Coordinator of Instructional Technology in the suburbs of Chicago. She tweets at @mentortexts and blogs at http://www.teachmentortexts.com.
I love this post. I agree and I find myself saying “All books count!” more often than I’d like. My students ask: Do graphic novels count? Do picture books count? Does the read aloud count? Yes. Yes. Yes. For so long others have told them that those books aren’t real reading. Sigh! Thanks for this post! This counts for some of my reading today. Lol!!
It’s sad to think that they had an experience with someone who made them feel like certain books didn’t count. I’ll never forget when a student told me her teacher only counted novels in verse as 1/2 a book on a reading log. It just didn’t make sense to me. Books are books! Hooray books!
I couldn’t agree more! Giving kids choice is the most important step in helping them become passionate readers. Thank you for this wonderful post which I’ll be sharing with teachers and parents 🙂
Thank you for reading, Carla! Choice is so important if we’re hoping to develop passionate readers. Glad you are spreading the word!
Cannot tell you how relieved I was when my kids outgrew Captain Underpants. To be honest I think without the school librarian, their class teacher and I directing them to other fiction they may have believed that was as good as it got.
And maybe they’ll always have a place in their hearts for Captain Underpants. The whole idea is that they loved reading enough to try other books but it doesn’t matter what book gets them hooked. Let them read!
It is hard to let kids read what they want to read based on our criteria. As a middle school teacher I am constantly reminded of that when I see a kid read book after book of a series that I would not necessarily put on my shelves. I’ve purchased books at their request only to see that reluctant reader find it and find their way into becoming a reader.
Choice is what it’s all about. It’s important to remember that kids may have different tastes than us, and like you said, a book we might not gush over might be the magical book for a student.
“All books count….”
Although, when we move beyond Captain Underpants & Sponge Bob into “darker” territory meant for older readers, institutions (schools, libraries, etc.) do face more of a challenge in stocking “controversial” books.
Many books targeted at the YA/Teen readership contain some seriously weighty content. Irrespective of our adult judgements of that content (or our purposeful withholding of judgment), is it the duty of educational institutions to more carefully ‘manage’ / limit access to these titles? And on what basis (age, maturity, expressed interest)?
I always think that this argument is odd because so many young adults are teenagers are dealing with seriously weighty content in their own lives–how we can deny that child the experience of seeing her own life reflected in those pages?
On the other hand, many young people have not had to suffer through some of the situations depicted in YA novels. What responsibility (if any) do institutions have to those young people?
It’s not an issue of blanket policies “denying” access in a Draconian manner. But, on the other side, should this kind of content be available to any and all irrespective of age, maturity, personal experiences? Where/how do we “draw the line” other than having “all or nothing” policies?
I look at books as opportunities to explore and to open up discussions. I bought books and recommended books to students based on what I was comfortable with sharing. There were definitely some mature books that I had to gauge whether I thought they were appropriate for a student. Whether students are dealing with heavy situations and might find solace within the pages of a book or whether they aren’t dealing with heavy situations but find the opportunity to stretch their understanding of the world and what others might be dealing with, books give kids the opportunity to live through someone else’s lens.
This also seems like a great opportunity to reach out to parents and to talk to them about what books are available to students and what books might be great for them to read and discuss with their teen.
The Day My Butt Went Pycho is still one of my son’s favorite books. I’ll never forget the two of us reading that book the summer before his fifth grade year. Now as he prepares to head to college, the book will be packed with him. As John says “mom sometimes I just need to laugh”. That to me is the power of books and reading.
What a great story! I love this. Thank you for sharing. So great that you have that memory to share. And so great that he knows what he likes!
Yay for this post! And it’s true for grown-ups, too. I’m a voracious reader, and I’ll freely admit that much of fiction reading is escape reading. I read loads of mystery series that are light and easy and not necessarily Literature. We all read for different reasons and have different tastes, but reading can enrich every life.
I love this: reading can enrich every life. I wholeheartedly agree. It’s so important to have a variety of things to read and to expose students to different genres. I think this helps them grow into adult readers who can follow their reading whims and read what makes them happy!
I had a colleague tell me once she always told her students that audiobooks “don’t count”–I just don’t understand how we as English teachers would ever try to discount pleasure a student has had from reading, no matter how it’s delivered.
It doesn’t make sense to me either. It’s a different kind of reading. I love the term “reading with your ears”. I am a huge believer in audiobooks and would send students home with the audiobook to listen to and the physical book to follow along with the narrator. It’s interesting to me how reading aloud to a young child can be seen as imperative but being read aloud to after we learn how to read is seen in a different light. I’m glad you believe in audiobooks!
This is the single reason I get kids to love reading. I make absolutely no judgement about books. I tell the what I love and I might tell them why I don’t love something but I get so excited to see anyone read. Reading is this integration of experience, written word, and changing thoughts. It is not possible for me to read the same way anyone else does because of the need for we are as individuals to be present while reading. I am not you and therefore I cannot judge. Thank you for your eloquent words. There is a reason I love you too. 🙂
Thank you, Ms. Kimberly! I love you and I love your sentiments. It makes me smile to think about kiddos being celebrated for their reading choices no matter what they chose to read. I can just see their faces lighting up to know that you are thrilled with what they have picked out. So great!
Great post, Jen.
And to continue the discussion about monitoring access to books with “serious” or “dark” content: I’m wildly opposed to this idea. For example, reading about something does not mean you have experienced something. A book with a sexual assault is not an assault on your mind. It is a way to understand how someone who’s experienced that might feel.
Second, for any reader who has experienced this trauma, labeling these books as dark or mature or what have you labels the child who’s experienced this. If a student needs parental approval to read a book about a trauma they’ve already experienced, they are likely to feel renewed shame about something that was almost certainly beyond their control.
Teachers don’t always know what traumas their students have suffered. Parents often deny it. Let’s just trust our kids to read what feels important to them. Let’s honor their choices instead of fearing them. Let’s make sure they always have someone to talk to about things that confuse or frighten or depress them–whether they’ve read these things or experienced them.
Far from being the most dangerous things students face, books are about the safest way to develop understanding, compassion, and the all-important sense that they are not alone.
Agree, agree, agree. Thank you for articulating this. I responded as well but realize that I can go on and on about this. I had a student once who was deaf and his parents kept him very sheltered from the world. In 8th grade, he was in Health class and encountered the term “rape” for the first time. His interpreter did her best to explain it to him. My kiddos are still very young. I know there are going to be some hard or awkward or uncomfortable conversations we are going to have to have at some point but I’m counting on them reading about some of these things in books so they can build their understanding in a safe way but at the same time build empathy for experiences others have had.
I can go on and on but what it does boil down to is…let the read! And talk to kids about what they read, what they think, what questions do they have…but let them read!
I absolutely love that your husband took the book out of the donation pile! I have a bin of SB books in my class. Some years it gets lots of love and some years it doesn’t. But it is there for kids who want love SB. I even have a pop up SB book 😉 Great post Jen!
I was so surprised! But I’m happy for it, too. I’m glad they are sharing reading with him. Thank you!
Lovin’ this post. Thanks, Jen. Count me in!
Thanks, Annette!
Awesome! I feel that way about the wimpy kid series. If the children want read let them read whatever they want eventually they will find something else and everyone is happy.
It’s just so important to trust kids to know what they like. It’s all about reading.
As always, these posts stretch my thinking about reading. Thank you, Jen, for this gutsy and thoughtful (and challenging!) post. Guess I won’t pitch all those Berenstain Bears books after all!
Well, I won’t be pitching our SpongBob book…probably ever! Thanks for recognizing that this was gutsy…I hope all the SpongBob lovers out there aren’t cross with me!
I agree that children should be allowed to read what they want. I have that conversation quite often when concerned parents approach me about their kids reading comic books or “getting stuck” with an author or a writing style. All reading is important and valuable. They say that all children are readers, but some haven’t found their favorite book or author yet. How are they going to find it, if we don’t allow them to read what they want?
Exactly! We have to let them explore. I often think about this when a parent has a strong reader and wants to challenge him or her. I agree with challenging kids but I also don’t want kids to miss out on great stories even if they aren’t at their reading level. It’s great that you have a relationship with parents and can engage in conversations like this!
Great post. I teach 4th grade. I find, positve reading experiences in early grades leads to independent readers in Later grades.
I hope that kids get to experience positive reading experiences all through school but I agree that positive reading experiences at early ages can make the difference in them becoming independent readers and maintaining that.
Thanks for this important message that ALL books count. Yes, yes they do!
Thanks for celebrating books with me!
Wow, I am late to the party, and you’ve opened a topic that obviously touches a lot of hearts, Jen. Just wanted to say great post, and a rich conversation too. There are those dear books that fit at a specific time in a life, no matter what. They’re like hugs when you need them, serious, funny, explaining…
Thank you! It’s interesting to think how we have books that represent milestones in our reading lives. I like how you mention that they all serve a different purpose. So true!
I teach classes for struggling readers in a middle school. Last week as this session drew to a close, I overheard some 8th grade students talking about taking the class for the next session. “It’s an easy credit,’ a boy commented, “All you have to do is read and talk about it and then do the lessons with Mrs. B.” I was delighted because in doing these things my students are making double digit improvements. Choice of reading material and uninterrupted reading time are the cornerstone of the class. I don’t care if it seems easy to my students-they are learning to love their books. I’d let them read Sponge Bob if they wanted.
That’s great! It’s great that they are enjoying the learning so much that it doesn’t feel like work. It should be enjoyable!
Amen!
I always come across a few parents each year who question the books that I allow their child to take home from the library. Thank you for writing this. I would like to share this perspective to the parents that question my opinion of letting them choose the books they are interested in reading to help them develop that LOVE for reading and not develop a worry for choosing a book that their parents/teachers would approve of.
Thanks! 🙂
I one hundred percent agree. And also recognise how hard it can be to give children the chance (freedom) to explore taste. I work on a salt and pepper premise with my students. You choose one then I’ll choose one, but only if they promise to give me an honest response, so my next choice can be better. Kids often feel they have to say they like what we chose for them to read. It’s the polite thing to do. I ask them to tell me what they really thought. I also read their recommendations. It has opened me up to a whole lot of reading I might never have done. Some good – some not so much. Magazines can be underrated. My son’s reading material mostly comprises Rugby magazines. I sighed for many years until I had a wee epiphany. He LOVES reading them. The quality of writing is good. One article in this month’s issue – a front pager – Perspiration not Inspiration: Why work ethic matters more than talent. How can I not want him to read that?! And the article is four quite densely packed pages long. The first two paragraphs have more challenging and technical vocabulary in them than the latest blockbuster books I’ve picked up! Of course, I still do hope, deep in my heart, (actually not that deep) that he’ll come to love other kinds of reading too!
Well said!
I could really use some help in this department. I manage a K4-8 library in a private religious school. I am a big proponent of letting kids in library read what they want to read. Over the last 10 years, I have reassured many a teacher/parent that it is okay for kids to check out graphic novels; they are indeed “real” books. I have developed a YA section with my 6-8 graders in mind. It is getting more challenging to make sure my YA books are age appropriate. I have no desire to be the book police, but is it wrong that I don’t stock books that are written more for the high school audience, especially those that are more sexually explicit or have lots of profanity? And if a 5th grader brings The Fault in our Stars to school to read in a brown bag book cover, is it my job to let parents know that they should talk with their child about the books he/she is reading?