Turns out, all those Baby-sitters Club books I read had a lasting impact on my reading fluency -- and inspired me to tackle other texts I might have been reluctant to try on my own.
This idea of letting kids choose the books they want to read (and re-read...over and over), even if they're not educational texts, is finding newfound respect. Recently authors and educators Jeffrey Wilhelm and Michael Smith spoke to a packed auditorium about their new book, Reading Unbound, in which they explore the educational benefits and often-rigorous intellectual and psychological work involved in reading books like vampire stories, horror, fantasy, romance and dystopian fiction. (And, it goes without saying, baby-sitters.)
We have a series of video clips of the authors explaining why what we lovingly call "junk reading" is so crucial. Check 'em out below, and then go download a free sample of their book.
Why should we encourage kids to read what they want?
Why kids need to read what they want…and why we should let them:
Why is reading for pleasure important?
How can reading for pleasure help kids in the future?
How can informational text provide the same kind of pleasure as non-informational texts?
Can reading for pleasure provide the type of complex text the Common Core requires?
How can parents and teachers connect pleasure reading with learning?
What do kids gain from reading outside of school?
