Right Time, Right Book?
The NY Times is having a discussion over the right time for which books i.e. should a 6-year old read Harry Potter? There are a series of short essays from various people on the subject.
As a former children's bookseller, I would err on the side of waiting for certain books. You can read almost any book to any child at any time but many themes are possibly too big for some kids as presented in some books.
They could read them at 6 and then again at 12 and get something different. That would be okay (and to be expected) except that if the theme worries the child or causes upset at a younger age, was that worth it?
Those books will always be there; it's not like they go away.
As a former children's bookseller, I would err on the side of waiting for certain books. You can read almost any book to any child at any time but many themes are possibly too big for some kids as presented in some books.
They could read them at 6 and then again at 12 and get something different. That would be okay (and to be expected) except that if the theme worries the child or causes upset at a younger age, was that worth it?
Those books will always be there; it's not like they go away.
Comments
My science head child, first struggled with reading. Then, after a year of private tutoring because SPD deemed he wasn't far enough behind to get in-school help, he could hardly set books down long enough to sleep. Problem is, the "science" related fiction books available for grade schoolers are terribly dumbed down, so he read the field guides, encyclopedias, reference books - but that didn't count for reading fiction. After devouring the Animorphs series - three a week on average - I turned him loose on adult science fiction books. Were there topics in there pretty advanced? Yup. Some he asked about, some he googled, others I'm pretty sure he missed entirely the first time through. His vocabulary was off the charts good. The now Engineering student doesn't appear harmed by early exposure to a wide array of topics and concepts.
HP
I've never withheld a book from my kids, but after the LOTR experience I've recommended against reading certain choices, and so far my kids have listened.
Then she read Unfinished Tales & the History of Middle Earth.
Then she read them again.
;)
I didn't push them on her, but she was fascinated with the writing. In my experience kids will stop reading if they arent getting anything out of it.
I had a harder time finding appropriate books for her sister who had taught herself to read when she was three & picked up Island of the Blue Dolphins when she was six ( after reading the Little House series when she was five).
At least they had more appropriate books available to them than I did. I remember reading The Tin Drum, Valley of the Dolls, & The Story of O, when I was in elementary school. ( my parents had eclectic taste & my grade school didnt have much of a library)
On Harry Potter, my kids enjoyed the early books at 7 or 8. I would not have gone past book 3 with them, though, until they were 12 or 13, as I think they would have been bored with the "teen" themes of the later books when they were younger.